Jack Kornfield, who spent much time traveling and studying in the monasteries of Burma, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, offers us in his book a compilation of the philosophy and practical methods of Theravada Buddhism; it contains insightful narratives and interviews drawn from situations in which he himself received his training. In his work he conveys the deep simplicity and relentless effort that surrounds Theravada practice in the realm of Buddhist meditation. With the help of his stories, he indicates how the practice is associated with a certain line. Conversations with ascetic monks, bhikkus, convey a sense of “intense serenity” and confidence that permeates these vessels of teaching of the ancient tradition. Each teacher emphasizes some specific aspect of the Buddha's transmission, but at the same time each teacher remains a representative of the very essence of the lineage. The book is an attempt to make modern Theravada teachings accessible to understanding Western readers. In the past, much of the doctrine of Buddhism was represented by formal translations of ancient texts. And the teachings presented in this book are still alive; and they appear here in the verbal expressions of some of the most important masters of the tradition. The author hopes that this collection of texts will help readers come to their own inner dharma.