This book is dedicated to my master,
Most Venerable Thich Ke Chau,
who died in Vietnam,
To my parents,
and to the observance of
human rights for my Vietnamese countrymen
and all people throughout the world 

Acknowledgments

During the preparation of this book, my many friends, students and sangha members from different Buddhist traditions have helped with their encouragement, patience and contributions of technical materials and ideas. Among those people, I wish to thank Jean Paone and Don Farber of the “Thubten Dhargye Ling” Tibetan Buddhist community for their support and work with the U.C.L.A academic committee in creating the course, “Buddhism in the Modern World”, and for inviting me to present my lectures; to Professor of Philosophy Pham Cong Thien for his diligent work in providing the Pali text and references; to Dr. Ananda Guruge for his many hours of scholarly guidance in improving the quality of the final document; to Ven. Panditha Ahangama Dhammarama for his moral support; to Ven. Pandit Paravahera Pannananda for his suggestion for me to start on this path; and, to my editor and sangha brother, Ven. Dr. Thich An Hue for his sound interest in the subject, untiring research and preparation of the manuscript – and for writing an introduction to the book which gives the reader some suggested depth and methods for applying the Four Sublime States – in ways to help alleviate human suffering.