In the seventeen years since Diamond Key for Opening the Wisdom Eye was first published, the number of publications related to meditation and mindfulness has skyrocketed. As the practice of meditation has grown, more people may be experiencing its benefits, but there is also a risk of watering down and distorting the Buddha's authentic teachings on the subject. This makes the original purpose of this book even more relevant today. Extensively revised, this second edition includes color photos to illustrate various concepts and objects of meditation, further clarifies difficult passages, and provides additional information.

The subject of this book is meditation as well as the Five Paths and Ten Bhumis. The Five Paths and Ten Bhumis are the complete spiritual road map for the attainment of Nirvana or liberation and Enlightenment or omniscience. The ultimate result of training in Shamatha and Vipassana meditation is to lay the groundwork for the journey through the sequential order of the Five Paths and Ten Bhumis. To lay the groundwork, a clear distinction is made between what meditation is and what meditation is not.

Furthermore, a clear understanding and proper method of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist meditation is presented to help remove many of the preconceived ideas about Buddhist meditation, which in its authentic form. remains a fairly new concept and practice within the Western world and its culture. In addition, in conjunction with the presentation on Vipassana meditation, this book clearly explains the Buddhist concepts of subtle impermanence and emptiness. The presentations on subtle impermanence and emptiness are based on the flawless teachings of the great third and fourth century Indian Masters Nagarjuna, Chandrakirti, and Dharmakirti. These masters' teachings on subtle impermanence and emptiness are considered the most logically and scientifically accurate within Buddhist tradition.

Diamond Key for Opening the Wisdom Eye: A Guide to the Process of Meditation, Geshe Dakpa Topgyal, Radiant Mind Press, Paperback, 170 pages, $21.95

Geshe Dakpa Topgyal, a Tibetan Buddhist monk, was born in the Western region of Tibet. He entered Drepung Loseling Monastery at the age of ten and received his geshe degree (Doctorate of Religion and Philosophy) twenty-two years later in 1992. He has lectured throughout the U.S. and Europe, serves as spiritual director of the Charleston Tibetan Society and the South Carolina Dharma Group, and has written numerous books. In addition to his years of experience and expertise, he brings a kind heart and a sense of humor to his teaching that is both disarming and endearing.

Tsering Rabgyal, a fully qualified traditional Tibetan thangka artist, studied thangka painting and other ancient Tibetan art forms for seven years at the Norbulingka Institute in Dharamshala, India. Since then, he has continued to preserve and promote the culture of Tibet by creating commissioned artwork and teaching the ancient, unique Tibetan arts to students. Having immigrated to the United States from India, he now lives in New York City.