The Essence of Superfine Gold : A Guide on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment : The Third Dalai Lama Book

Contents: Translator’s note. Acknowledgements. A brief biography of the Third Dalai Lama. 1. A Song of Experience. 2. Prologue to the Essence of Superfine Gold. 3. The authenticity and excellence of the Lamrim. 4. The greatness of the instructions of the Lamrim. 5. How to listen to and explain the teachings. 6. How to rely on the spiritual teachers. 7. Training the mind after reliance upon the spiritual teacher. 8. How to extract the essence of this life of leisure and endowment. 9. Training in the path shared with beings of lesser capacity. 10. Training in the path shared with beings of medium capacity. 11. Training in the path of a being of greater capacity. 12. Training in the practices of engaging Bodhicitta. 13. How to specifically train in the last two perfections. 14. How to specifically train in the Vajrayana. Dedication. Colophon. Notes. Relevant Tibetan texts.

"The Essence of Superfine Gold is the most famous literary composition of the Third Dalai Lama (1543-1588). It is condensed but comprehensive commentary on Je Tsongkhapa’s (1357-1419) A Song of Experience which is the seminal guide on the stages of the path to enlightenment of the beings of three capacities. Although brief, this text summarizes the three principal paths of the teachings of the Shakyamuni Buddha.

Also included in this volume is Je Tsongkhapa’s A Song of Experience, plus a brief biography of the Third Dalai Lama and the relevant Tibetan texts for both teachings."