The Principal Teachings of Buddhism

Je Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1357-1419), one of Tibet's greatest spiritual masters and the "father" of the Gelugpa School of Tibetan Buddhism, continues to inspire thousands, if not millions. The book at hand contains as its "root text" a fourteen stanza poem written by Je Rinpoche for his disciple, Tsakho Önpo Ngawang Drakpa. The bulk of the book is a commentary on the poem composed by Pabongka Rinpoche (1878-1941), one of the Gelupka luminaries of of the twentieth centuries and translated by one of Pabongka Rinpoche's outstanding disciples, Sermey Khensur Lobsang Tharchin Rinpoche (1921-2004). While the "root text" is a masterful epitome of the Path, it is hardly a primer work intended for the beginner. For the more experienced student, however, it is a most inspiring and inspired work.

This is a highly accessible exposition of the three principal paths of Buddhism, being renunciation, the wish to achieve enlightenment for all sentient beings and the correct view (the wisdom realising emptiness).Based on a poem written by one of the most precious masters of Tibetan Buddhism Lama Tsong-Kha-Pa, the commentary is relatively brief yet lacks nothing in detail.The small size of the book makes it both a wonderful reference work and perfect travelling companion.I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism.