great overview of one branch of lamaism, deep research. it is useful to understand bases of mental practices. It is a must reading for seekers

Essentially a companion to Hopkins's earlier work "Deity Yoga" (originally published as "The Yoga of Tibet") it describes the generation stage process of visualization and identification with a deity.

An important part of the book is the detailed Avalokiteshvara sadhana, pieced together from Tsongkhapa's work. It's a shame that the reader has to refer to the photographs of the seals (mudras) in "Deity Yoga" when they probably should have been included here.

I can recommended this book, but not as an introduction or stand-alone beginner's guide to the subject. The main problem is Hopkins's ponderous writing style, present in all his books that I have read. Often he appears deliberately obscure, perhaps a scholarly affectation. Writers such as Glenn Mullin and Alexander Berzin are much more adept at explaining these subjects. "Tantric Techniques" also includes a lot of needless repetition.