Wisdom is the direct experience of the true nature of mind. Compassion, which flows directly from that experience, is the desire that all beings be free from suffering. The union of these two is enlightenment. In these four remarkable talks, The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche defines and delineates both wisdom and compassion from the perspectives of first the hinayana, then mahayana and finally vajrayana paths of Tibetan Buddhism. With candor and humor, Rinpoche describes our hang-ups and how meditation practice and maintaining altruistic motivation can take us beyond our self-clinging at each stage. Rinpoche's responses in the lively Q&A sessions enrich the teachings with answers to real-world situations and problems faced by ordinary people everyday. A sense of delight and humor permeate these teachings from beginning to end.

Union of Wisdom And Compassion, Ponlop Rinpoche, Vajra Echoes, 2 DVDs, 7.25 hrs., $48.00

The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche is acknowledged as one of the foremost scholars of his generation in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Fluent in English and well-versed in Western culture, Rinpooche has worked to develop and adapt traditional Tibetan education curriculums for Western audiences. Nitartha Institute (www.nitharthainstitute.org), where Rinpoche is the main teacher, provides a focused Buddhist studies program. Rinpoche is a visiting professor of buddhist philosopy at Naropa University, Boulder, Colorado. In 1997, Rinpoche founded Nalanabodhi to preserve the genuine lineage of the Nyingma and Kagyu Schools of Tibetan Buddhism. There are Nalandabodhi centers in North America and Europe, and curriculum materials are available to people worldwide.