Preface We should consider how our human life is precious, rare and meaningful. Due to the limitations of their body and mind, those who have taken rebirth as animals, for example,have no opportunity to understand or practice the spiritual path. Only humans are free from such hindrances and have all the necessary conditions for engaging in spiritual paths, which alone lead to everlasting happiness. This freedom and possession of necessary conditions are the special characteristics that make our human life so precious. Although there are many humans in this world, each one of us has only one life. One person may own many cars and houses, but even the richest person in the world cannot possess more than one life; and when that life is coming to an end, he or she cannot buy, borrow or manufacture another. When we lose this life, it will be very difficult to find another similarly qualified human life in the future. Our human life is therefore very rare.

If we use our human life to accomplish spiritual realizations, it becomes immensely meaningful. By using it in this way, we actualize our full potential and progress from the state of an ordinary, ignorant being to that of a fully enlightened being, the highest of all beings; and when we have done this we will have the power to benefit all living beings without exception. In this way, by using our human life to gain spiritual realizations we can solve all our human problems and fulfill all our own and others' wishes. What could be more meaningful than this? Through contemplating these points, we will arrive at the determination to engage in spiritual practice. This book, which I have prepared for daily spiritual practice, is a collection of many important instructions from my other books. Its subject matter is profound, but because its presentation is simple, even if you are a beginner you will not find it difficult to understand. If you put the instructions into practice, you can solve your daily problems and find true happiness. In particular, I believe that for those who are already familiar with my other books, the instructions presented here will provide a powerful method for gaining the deepest experience of both the stages of the path to enlightenment and training the mind.

If you read this book with a positive mind, free from negative views, you will definitely receive great benefits. I pray that everyone who reads this book experiences inner peace and accomplishes the real meaning of human life. Geshe Kelsang GyatsoUSA, March 2001.