The first essay is introductory level, and I found the second to be a bit more advanced (but not overly complicated). While His Holiness the Dalai Lama is definitely erudite, it is rare to see this side come out as he usually writes in English in order to introduce others to Buddhism. So I was very happy to have some meatier philosophy to dig into.

HHDL made the subject very clear and really helped me to understand the concept of emptiness better. His profuse use of quotations from many Buddhist classics grounded the discourse in tradition while his explanations elucidated the material well. Highly recommended for those already versed in Buddhist philosophy who want to dig a bit deeper. ( )