Gampopa was the main disciple of Milarepa and one of the founders of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism from which originated the four greater and eight lesser schools. Besides writing the Jewel Ornament of Liberation, Gampopa distilled the Buddhist path into four short lines or dharmas known as the Four Dharmas of Gampopa.

To read spiritual biographies of the Kagyu lineage masters is a great inspiration to enter the path and also provides encouragement and enthusiasm to continue when circumstances become difficult. The first half of this book covers the spiritual biography of Gampopa which is a very good example of avoiding the extremes in practice and of showing how we should correctly practice. The second half of this book presents the Four Dharmas of Gampopa along with a very detailed commentary on each line by Thrangu Rinpoche.

This book of 135 pages was one of the earliest teaching by Thrangu Rinpoche in the west and was taught at Samye Ling in Scotland and translated by Ken and Katia Holmes. It is a joint publication of Zhyisil Chokyi Ghatsal Publications of New Zealand and Namo Buddha Publications. It contains Notes, a Glossary, a Glossary of Tibetan terms, and Index.