Translating into English such a text as The Six Brothers is a task not to be undertaken lightly. It is with some trepidation that we present this English translation. As this book represents the first attempt to render The Six Brothers into English, we anticipate that different opinions will arise as to the lexical choices we made and our overall approach. Translation is not a perfect science and often requires one to have a 'feel' for the author's originally intended meaning as well as knowledge of both the linguistic structures employed and the historical and religious context in which a text has been written.Indeed, there is debate amongst Tibetan scholars as to the precise meaning of certain passages of The Six Brothers, so some ambiguities have required delicate treatment on our part.