The fourth volume of the Dalai Lama’s definitive Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, now in paperback.

Delve into the substance of spiritual practice in Following in the Buddha's Footsteps, the fourth volume in the Dalai Lama's definitive series on the path to awakening. His Holiness discusses the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, why they are reliable guides on the path, and how to relate to them. He then describes the three essential higher trainings in ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom that are common to all Buddhist traditions, showing us how to live a life free of harm to self or others and how to develop single-pointed concentration and the higher states of concentration available to earnest practitioners. The chapters on wisdom are in-depth teachings on the noble eightfold path and the four establishments of mindfulness for developing greater awareness and understanding of our body, feelings, mind, and other phenomena. Together these topics form the core of Buddhist practice.

This is a book to treasure and refer to repeatedly as you begin the path, progress on it, and approach the final goal of nirvana.

“His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Ven. Thubten Chodron continue to give generously to the Buddhist community, and in particular to the community of Western Buddhist practitioners. This fourth volume in the magnificent Library of Wisdom and Compassion maintains the high standards set in the first three: it is comprehensive without sacrificing relevant detail, it is precise without sacrificing accessibility, and it is of enormous value to practitioners and teachers but still of great interest to scholars of Buddhism. Following in the Buddha’s Footsteps shows us how, after gaining confidence in the Buddhist path, to transform that confidence into practice, and how a broad set of practices fit together into a single path.”

“This authoritative volume serves as a rich source of information on two major themes—the bases of Buddhist faith and the framework of Buddhist training—each viewed from the two complementary perspectives of the Pali tradition and the Indo-Tibetan tradition.”

“Following in the Buddha’s Footsteps clearly lays out how to take the journey to exploring and developing our mind’s highest potential, following the Buddha as the unmistaken qualified guide who discovered the unmistaken qualified path all the way up to the final destination: enlightenment. The chapters in this book are logical, historically accurate, in-depth instructions and directions on how to skillfully and diligently create a meaningful Dharma practice.”