His Holiness Sakya Trizin, the head of the glorious Sakya lineage, one of the four primary schools of Tibetan Buddhism, presents here the essential Buddhist teachings of the four noble truths, universal compassion, and the proper motivation for practice. This book opens by sharing a private teaching His Holiness gave to a young newcomer seeking to understand this great master's spiritual heritage. His Holiness's advice inspires us to integrate the living power of these teachings into our daily lives.

Full of timeless wisdom, Freeing the Heart and Mind contains, in addition to this introduction, an explanation of the teaching Matchless Compassion by the Indian saint Virupa, and a selection of commentaries on the essential teaching called Parting from the Four Attachments. Developed as the first volume in a course of study for students of the Sakya tradition, it nonetheless stands alone as an excellent entry into the teachings of the Buddha.

Freeing the Heart and Mind includes a full-color photo insert of Sakya lineage masters.

Freeing the Heart and Mind: Introduction to the Buddhist Path, His Holiness Sakya Trizin, Wisdom Publications, Paperback, 184 pages, $15.95

His Holiness Sakya Trizin is the revered forty-first throne holder of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, which dates back to 1073. He is a member of the Khon family, who have been important teachers of Buddhism in Tibet since the eighth century. A brilliant master, he manifests profound wisdom and compassion, and his command of English renders his teachings particularly beneficial to students in the West. He was born in 1945 in Sakya, Tibet, and in 1959 escaped with tens of thousands of Tibetan people to India, where he continues to live and work tirelessly to rebuild the Sakya tradition. He has guided the establishment of over thirty monasteries in India and Nepal and has helped found Sakya centers around the world. His seat in North America is Tsechen Kunchab Ling in Walden, New York. Freeing the Heart and Mind is his first book to be made widely available.

	Contents: FREEING THE HEART & MIND
	Part 1: Introduction to the Buddhist Path
	Preface	vii
	PART ONE: Entering the Dharma Path	1
	Introduction to Buddhism
	His Holiness Sakya Trizin	3
	PART TWO: Developing Compassion	19
	The Life Story of Mahasiddha Virupa
	Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen	21
	Training the Mind in Matchless Compassion: Pith Instructions of the Glorious Virupa
	Compiled by Muchen Sempa Chenpo Konchog Gyaltsen	33
	An Explanation of Matchless Compassion
	His Holiness Sakya Trizin	41
	PART THREE: Parting from the Four Attachments	63
	The Life Story of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo
	Sakyapa Ngawang Kunga Sonam	65
	Root Verses of Parting from the Four Attachments
	Sachen Kunga Nyingpo	71
	An Explanation of Parting from the Four Attachments
	His Holiness Sakya Trizin	73
	Instructions on Parting from the Four Attachments
	Jetsun Dragpa Gyaltsen	129
	Pith Instructions on Parting from the Four Attachments
	Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen	137
	The Key to the Profound Meaning: A Manual of Instructions on Parting from the Four Attachments
	Gorampa Sonam Senge	141
	Heart Nectar: A Song of Experience
	Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo	157
	The Lineage of Parting from the Four Attachments	161
	Dedication	163
	Glossary	165