Booklist Review

Ever since the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, Westerners have been fascinated by Tibetan Buddhism, and many have found their way to the Dalai Lama's lucid books. The next step in understanding this immensely complex tradition is to become familiar with its key texts. The literature of Tibetan Buddhism is vast and confounding, but Thurman, a highly respected Tibetan Buddhist scholar and an American Tibetan Buddhist monk, paves the way with this accessible, "essential" collection. He explains that the "essence" that sets Tibetan Buddhism apart from other Buddhist traditions is the belief in the existence of living Buddhas, and the possibility of becoming one oneself. The path to enlightenment is found with the help of a teacher, and mentor worship is as intrinsic to Tibetan Buddhism as monasticism, asceticism, tantric disciplines, the dharma, and reincarnation. Thurman, a mentor in print as well as in spirit, has wisely organized the carefully selected texts (many in verse form) according to the "essence" they elucidate. --Donna Seaman