Volume 3 of this central work of Mahayana Buddhism by Tibetan Master Tsong-kha-pa covers, in great detail, the topics of meditative serenity and insight into the nature of reality. It is appearing in translation before Volume 2 because the translation committee believed that currently there is a strong interest in these topics. The release of Volume 2 next fall will conclude the translation (Volume 1 was reviewed in LJ 10/15/00) and mark the first complete appearance in English of this important text. The appearance of Volume 3 is indeed timely, but only the most serious students of Buddhism will have the patience for its complexities. Still, the style of logical argument will be familiar to readers of Western philosophy, and readers with some experience of meditation will welcome the great attention given to the explication of pitfalls, nuance, and misunderstanding that attend serious Buddhist practice. Ultimately, this is a classic of religious thought and is essential for libraries with a demonstrated interest in Buddhism or comparative religion. It should also be considered for all larger research collections and public libraries.
