Dzongsar Khyentse is one of the most creative and innovative young Tibetan Buddhist lamas teaching today. The director of two feature films with Buddhist themes (the international sensation The Cup and Travelers and Magicians), this provocative teacher, artist, and poet is widely known and admired by Western Buddhists. Moving away from conventional presentations of Buddhist teachings, Khyentse challenges readers to make sure they know what they’re talking about before they claim to be Buddhist. With wit and irony, Khyentse urges readers to move beyond the superficial trappings of Buddhism—beyond a romance with beads, incense, and exotic people in robes—straight to the heart of what the Buddha taught. In essence, this book explains what a Buddhist really is, namely, someone who deeply understands the truth of impermanence and how our emotions can trap us in cycles of suffering. Khyentse presents the fundamental tenets of Buddhism in simple language, using examples we can all relate to.

书和人一样，是要讲缘份的。 一本好书，一本深入浅出、精简而全面的佛教通论…… 作者是一位出色的老师，秉承藏传佛教里最优良的传承和教育，享誉世界，他以自己的浅白文字和编选度，将佛教扼要地作出说明。 对佛教的义理、历史和各种传承有一个精确的综观。 既适合初学者，也能使资源的佛教学者感到惊心动魄、充满挑战；非佛教徒的读者，看了也可以激动荡脑力。