Awakening Wisdom: Heart Advice on the Fundamental Practices of Vajrayana Buddhism

"This short work really covers the basics for getting started with Buddhist practice yet at the same time a very helpful reinforcement for those well-steeped in these teachings. On the face of it, this is a commentary of a particular ngondro, but it is really geared to simply connecting people with practice. Part I covers motivation, the basic clearing the air yoga, the four thoughts. Part II covers mantras and tonglen. Part III are the ngondro practices themselves: the reasons and practice of the three-fold refuge, generating the altruistic mind or bodhicitta, the six perfections, purification practice, manadala offerings, guru yoga, the transference of consciousness at the moment of death. While these may send like technical subjects - and this is a traditional presentation - there is a warmth and sweetness to this making it accessible and very inviting to beginners"--