Understanding yourself is the key to dealing with-and even enjoying-the inevitable complexity of life.

Irini Rockwell presents us with a powerful system for the kind of self-understanding that leads to just that kind of satisfying relationship with life. It�s a Buddhist model for identifying your unique mix of personality traits that make up your innate intelligence. All five qualities-presence, clarity, richness, passion, and action-are your rich resource. By cultivating them you begin to see how you can use this remarkable system to enhance your relationships, your work, and your creativity. Ultimately, this system introduces us to a larger world: the totality and interconnectedness of everyone and everything.

Natural Brilliance: A Buddhist System for Uncovering Your Strengths and Letting Them Shine, Irini Rockwell, Shambhala Publications, Paperback, 188 pages, $18.95

Irini Rockwell is a senior teacher in the Buddhist lineage of Tibetan meditation master Ch�gyam Trungpa. She holds a master�s in contemplative psychotherapy and is the director of the Five Wisdoms Institute, an organization offering training programs to enhance self-awareness, communication, and effectiveness. She is also the author of The Five Wisdom Energies: A Buddhist Way of Understanding Personalities, Emotions, and Relationships.