Exploring the esoteric subject of Dzogchen, His Holiness offers insights into one of Buddhism's most profound systems of meditation. He discusses both the philosophic foundations and the practices of this system--taking into account the approaches of various schools and teachers.

To these teachings, His Holiness brings all those qualities which are so uniquely his--the accumulated knowledge of years of study, his curiosity, humor, and compassion, and his seemingly infinite subtlety of mind. Paying tribute to the uniqueness of Dzogchen, His Holiness sets it within the wider spectrum of Tibetan Buddhism as a whole. He explains the essence of Dzogchen practice and addresses subjects such as why it is called "the pinnacle of all vehicles," what its special features are, and the crucial principles of the other Buddhist paths that a Dzogchen practitioner should know.

Dzogchen: Heart Essence of the Great Perfection, The Dalai Lama, Shambhala Publications, Paperback, 256 pages, $21.95

His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born in 1935 to a peasant family in northeastern Tibet and was recognized at the age of two as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. The world's foremost Buddhist leader, he travels extensively, speaking eloquently in favor of ecumenical understanding, kindness and compassion, respect for the environment, and, above all, world peace.