Teachings in this book were given by the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa in Dublin and Brussels during his visit to Europe in 1981.

Maybe for the reason of cultural barriers, Kenting Tai Situpa explained only a rough concept of samsara in these teachings. In Chinese edition which was translated and published by Nectar Magazine in Taiwan, the editor appended an article written by the Master Rhe-Hei to explain The Tibetan wheel of Life in details to enhance readers understanding about samsara.

Tilopa was one of the most significant of all Buddhist teachers. He mastered and distilled the teachings of all the Mahasiddhas of 11th century India, achieving enlightenment near the Ganges delta. These moments of his life and teachings, selected by the XII Kenting Tai Situpa from the various traditional hagiographies, have been chosen for their inspirational and teaching content.
As one of the four present Patriarchs of the Kagyu tradition, which stems from Tilopa, the Kenting Tai Situpa is able to convey great insight into the vivid biographical fragments that have been carefully handed down through time and geographical space.

One of the greatest contributors to Buddhism was Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, who in the time of the 9th Situpa, Pema Nyinje Wangpo, at Palpung Monastery in Kham Tibet, along with Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo and Chokgyur Dechen Lingpa, were the heart of a Buddhist renaissance that revived the dying lineages of Buddhism. Jamgon Kongtrul gathered together all these lineage transmissions and teachings into what is known as The Five Treasures of Jamgon Kongtrul:

1. The Treasury of Hidden Treasure Teachings (Rinchen Terzod), a collection of all the termas;
2. The Treasury of Kagyu Mantra Teachings (Kagyu Ngakzod), a collection of all the tantras, practices and empowerments of the Kagyu lineage;
3. The Treasury of Spiritual Instructions (Dam Ngakzod), a collection of all the essential teachings, practices, tantras and sacred instructions of the eight lineages of Vajrayana Buddhism;
4. The Treasury of Vast Teachings (Gyachen Kardzo), the collected writings of Jamgon Kongtrul;
5. The Treasury of All-Encompassing Knowledge (Sheja Kunkhyap Dzo), a collection of his writings on the ten traditional fields of knowledge.

Teachings in this book were given by the twelfth Kenting Tai Situpa in Kagyu Benchen Ling, Germany, in 1994.

The Mahamudra prayer by the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, is a short yet thorough and profound text which presents all the essential points of Mahamudra teaching in terms of view, practice and fruition. It is a classic that, especially in the tradition of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, has been and is widely used whenever a disciple is given a first introduction into Mahamudra.The Third Karmapa shows how to recognize our ultimate potential as a buddha. The short root texts is further explained by Kenting Tai Situpa, Pema Donyo Nyingje Wangpo, the twelfth incarnation of the Kenting Tai Situpa lineage, which is one of the most important lineages of the Kagyu tradition. His deep understanding of Western culture, especially of the Western psychological perspective, allows him to expound the Dharma with a clarity and directness that is truly inspiring.

The main part of teachings in this book were given by the twelfth Kenting Tai Situpa in Delhi, India, in the end 2003 to the beginning of 2004.

An extraordinary teaching in which Kenting Tai Situpa covers the foundation of dharma, how to understand the dharma, its history, how it was brought to Tibet, the main philosophical schools (including Rangtong and Shentong), logic, precepts, Chenrezig practice, Lojong, Shamatha and Vipashyana Meditation and Mahamudra.

The Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje wrote a concise spiritual song summarizing the path of Mahamudra which he called an Aspirational Prayer of Mahamudra. This text is probably the most often quoted text summarizing Mahamudra. Included in the book is a translation of the this prayer and a commentary on the meaning of these verses by the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa.

"The essence and pith of the Lord Buddha's teachings is Mahamudra, which is the jewel of contemplative practice and the profound instruction of the Kagyupa lineage. The Third Karmapa's influence and benefit to the Kagyu lineage is incalculable and one of the many profound texts he composed is the Aspiration Prayer of Mahamudra, which arose from his own realization. The prayer contains the entire path and view of Mahamudra, and its depth and beauty is unveiled in this line by line commentary by the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa ".
from the foreword by Ven. Lama Shedrup.

In October 2000, to celebrate the 300th birth anniversary of the Mahapandita Chokyi Jungne, (the 8th Kenting Tai Situpa), the 12th Kenting Tai Situpa gave a public teaching over two days on mahamudra, during which he taught in both and English and Tibetan.

In the first half he explains the meaning and source of mahamudra, and mahamudra in terms of ground, path and fruition. In the second half he explains mahamudra from the perspective of practice and the path, covering the four contemplations, ngondro, shamatha, vipashyana and mahamudra meditation. His commentary is based on Mahamudra, Ocean of Certainty by the 9th Gyalwa Karmapa.

Reviews of Awakening the Sleeping Buddha
"This book is an attempt by a renowned Tibetan teacher, the Abbot of Sherab Ling Monastery in northern India, to define systematically and efficiently the most important concepts of Buddhism. In simple prose, the Twelfth Tai Situpa explains and clarifies foundational concepts, from Buddha nature, karma and enlightenment to tantra, emptiness and reincarnation."—Publishers Weekly

Description of Awakening the Sleeping Buddha
The most basic, clear principles of Tibetan Buddhism are here lucidly presented by a renowned modern teacher and monk. Tai Situpa illuminates Buddhist teachings in commonsense terms, using down-to-earth examples—making this a perfect handbook for beginners as well as an excellent companion for long-time students.

The wisdom of Mahayana Buddhism reveals ways to experience and utilize the powers of the universe. The Buddha taught about ten aspects of knowledge - normal worldly activities through which the ordinary person could achieve understanding and realization. In Relative World, Ultimate Mind, the Kenting Tai Situpa describes these activities, which encompass medicine, psychology, astrology and the creative arts, and explains how they can become an essential part of anyone's spiritual path. Using examples from Buddhist teachings as well as everyday life, the author shows how the first nine aspects of knowledge cover all avenues of 'right livelihood', leading to the tenth and most advanced aspect of knowledge, inner truth.

Teachings in this book were given by 12th Kenting Tai Situpa during his first visit to Taiwan in 1989 at the request of Taiwan Kagyu Association.

The contents of this book are very similar to the contents of Awakening the Sleeping Buddha.
The editor appended a teaching of Practice of Meditation which was given by Kenting Tai Situpa in Hong Kong, and an article of a disciple which descript what he had learned from the teachings in Taiwan.