The book’s material is divided into three parts according to the structure of classical Buddhist texts. In the first part, the reader examines our fundamental, or root, state: the nature and causes of various forms of dissatisfaction that determine our lives, and the potential built into it that directs us toward a deep awareness of our own nature. The second part offers a step-by-step guide to the three main meditation practices aimed at calming the mind, opening the heart, and developing wisdom. The third part is devoted to the practical application of the understanding gained in the first part, and the methods described in the second part, to resolve such widespread emotional, physical, and personal problems.