The late Chogye Trichen Rinpoche (1919-2007) was one of the greatest Tibetan masters of his generation, not only for his own Sakya tradition but also for Tibetan Buddhism as a whole. His experience in building or renovating temples in Tibet led him to become almost uniquely knowledgeable about the various relevant subjects of Buddhist culture, including architecture and sacred art.

The translator, David P Jackson. had the privilege of knowing and working with the author for many years. A long-time historian ofTibetan Buddhism. he previously published a detailed hagiography of the venerable author's life entitled Lama of Lamas.