Robert Thurman expertly and lucidly surveys the basic teachings and varieties of Tibetan Buddhism. A concise summary of Buddhism's development across Asia, with particular emphasis on its evolution in Tibet, provides a vital orientation, but the core of this much-needed volume is the first-ever collection of key Tibetan teachings on Buddhism and attaining enlightenment. Here are all the essential texts, freshly translated: the hymns to Tara, the liberator goddess; the riddle-like songs of Milarepa, the wandering poet-saint of the Himalayas; instructions for living the compassionate Bodhisattva Way of Life; selections from The Tibetan Book of the Dead; and more. Excerpts from rarely published tantric practice texts complement Geshe Chaykawa's Seven Point Mind Training and selections from Nagarjuna's Five Stages. Master teachers from all the major schools - Longchempa, Nagarjuna, Shantideva, Atisha, and Tsong Khapa - speak to the modern reader, providing advice on how to integrate Tibetan Buddhism into daily life. Further enhanced by explanatory notes and a bibliography designed to serve as an introductory course, Essential Tibetan Buddhism is a unique guide to this rich spiritual tradition, invaluable to newcomers and seasoned students alike.