Each section of the book leads into the next, showing how, by peeling away our habitual assumptions and projections, we can directly encounter the intrinsic purity of our own mind. This is it, Dzogchen, the great completion.

The first facet, "One Thing Leads to Another", offers sutra texts on dependent origination. The second, "Increased Transparency", includes the Heart Sutra and indicates that all phenomena, whether seemingly outer or inner, subject or object, are empty and devoid of inherent existence. This leads onto the third facet "Encountering the Other", the story of how the Buddha Chakrasamvara manifested in order to deal with cruelty and malicious behaviour. The fourth Facet, "Getting Lost Invites Trouble", offers two accounts of how pride and self-confidence can lead a person astray so that their provocations lead to a display the Buddhas' wrathful power, enforcing transformation and the abrupt end to the careers of heartless bullies.

Next, in the fifth facet, we see how transformation can be elective rather than imposed. "Cutting Free" begins with the story of Machig Labdron, her struggle to free herself from social constraints so that she could pursue a life in dharma. There is a short guru yoga practice and her Cho practice, The Dakinis' Laughter. Finally in facet six, "Just This" is The Cuckoo Cry, the foundational text of the dzogchen mind series. In just three couplets it sets out the view, meditation and activity which are the inseparability of primordial purity and instant presence.
This is It: Revealing the Great Completion, James Low, Simply Being, Hardcover, 362 pp, $45.00

James Low is a disciple of the late Chimed Rigdzin Lama and he teaches in the Byangter and Khordong lineages according to the instructions of his Guru. He began studying and practising Tibetan Buddhism in India in the 1970's and received teachings from Kalu Rinpoche, Chatral Rinpoche, Kanjur Rinpoche and Dudjom Rinpoche. Having met his root teacher, he lived in his home in West Bengal, India for many years, serving him as required and being taught many aspects of the tradition. On his return to Europe he also had teachings and guidance from Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. James translated many tantric texts and sadhanas with C. R. Lama who wanted texts from his Byangter and Khordong lineages to be available in English so that they can be used as practice texts. James trained in various models of psychotherapy. He has retired from his London work as a Consultant Psychotherapist in the National Health Service. He has taught on many psychotherapy trainings in Britain. He has a website www.simplybeing.co.uk where his teachings can be accessed in various media.