Many Buddhist masters believe the present era of worldwide upheaval — from 9/11 and the Iraq War to the tsunami disaster and global warming — is a new Dark Age that requires powerful strategies for coping. This book offers hope by bringing together Tibetan Buddhist teachings and contemporary politics. Presenting traditional Buddhist philosophy in a practical, accessible way, the book helps readers cultivate the inner resources necessary to meet challenge and conflict — both in themselves and in the world. Author Robert Sachs lays out a series of steps necessary to achieve this, including taking personal responsibility for the future, understanding that there is no need to despair, and becoming "conscious, engaged activists" with a firm spiritual foundation to inform political actions. Sachs's book is a galvanizing reminder, providing a strikingly Buddhist argument that actions can count, both to foster personal change and improve the world.