About the author: quoting from the book's back cover, "Ven. Lobsang Gyatso was born in Kham province, Tibet, in 1928 and educated at Drepung Monastic University. In 1973 , with the blessing of H. H. the Dalai Lama, he founded the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, where he has been the Director since its inception. He has lectured in many countries and has authored numerous books and articles. Above all, he is a meditation master who lives his life according to the Buddhist philosophy of wisdom and compassion." About the book: quoting from the book's back cover, "After his enlightenment the Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths, which became the foundation for all Buddhist practice. The first truth diagnoses the nature of our existential illnesses and neuroses. The second explores their causes and conditions for arising. The third shows that the causes of our problems can be removed and that we can be free from suffering. The fourth includes the many paths of practice that Buddhism offers to realize that goal. The Buddha has shown that the spiritual path is pragmatic and works directly with everyday experience in order to fundamentally transform the practitioner." This work contains an appendix, chapter notes, a glossary and is well indexed.