"The vow to perfect oneself in order to perfect others is called the thought of enlightenment, or bodhichitta. This implies that every single action, word or thought, even the most trivial, is dedicated to the good of all beings To accomplish the good of others, we must first perfect ourselves, by purifying and transforming our minds. This is the aim of what we call the preliminary practices, which establish the foundations of all spiritual progress."
In this book Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche explains a key practice text composed by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892) on the Vajrayana preliminaries: taking refuge, generating the thought of achieving enlightenment for the sake of all beings, performing the meditation and recitation of Vajrasattva to remove hindrances on the path to enlightenment, offering the mandala to accumulate merit and wisdom, and developing proper reliance on a spiritual teacher. Clear, direct and personal, these instructions illuminate the heart of Vajrayana practice. Included here are the Tibetan text as well as the mantras and prayers commonly recited in conjunction with this practice.

Excellent Path to Enlightenment, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Snow Lion Publications, Paperback, 128 pp, $21.95

Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, whose remarkable life came to an end in September, 1991, was one of the foremost poets, scholars, philosophers and meditation masters of the Mahayana, Mahamudra and Great Perfection traditions of Vajrayana Buddhism. He was highly respected by thousands of students in Tibet and throughout the world.

	Contents: Excellent Path to Enlightenment
	The General Premilinaries
	Introduction	9
	TheGeneral Preliminaries	11
	The Extraordinary Premilinaries
	Taking Refuge	29
	Bodhichitta, the Thought of Enlightenment	37
	Vajrasattva	51
	Mandala Offering	63
	Guru Yoga	73
	Conclusion
	The Three Supreme Methods	87
	Text and Outline of the Practice	93
	Appendix	103
	Glossary	117
	Notes	123