Author: Sandy Johnson
Publisher: Riverhead Books (Hardcover)
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 312
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Book Description
"A historically isolated people, the Tibetans have now indeed come to the land of the red man, and nearly every other country on earth. When the Chinese invaded the country in 1959 and proceeded to destroy the ancient-wisdom culture as well as nearly a sixth of the population, hundreds of thousands of Tibetans fled to India and parts west. In the 1980s, the prophecy was fulfilled, and the Dalai Lama, exiled leader of Tibet, met with Hopi and other American Indian elders in an effort to reunite the brothers." "Tibet's spiritual elders are dying off, and it is with them that so many of the secrets of survival lie. They are the ones who can find by touching someone's wrist what our medicine cannot detect; they saw the empty spaces of the atom before science considered the concept of subatomic particles; they know how to realign even severe emotional imbalances without drugs or therapy; they know what plants heal us (they have catalogued more than two thousand) and how to save them from destruction; they predicted the demise of their own country at the hands of the Chinese; they saw the coming of AIDS almost ten centuries ago. These people are dying off, and with them, the wisdom we need to make it through the next century and beyond." "After the Chinese occupation of their country, many Tibetan elders were killed in reeducation camps. Many survived, however, to escape what has now become a brutally oppressive environment. Sandy Johnson traveled around the world gathering the life stories and teachings of Tibetan doctors, the state oracle, the previous Dalai Lama's tailor, the great women masters - the entire range of the culture. An astrologer offers to produce Sandy's chart, including the date of her death; a stone carver shows her the rocks with prayers painted on them that he places in the river at the end of every day so that the water may carry blessings to everything it touches; Johnson meets a woman of indeterminate age who lives her life in a cave praying that people might be less distracted by material things and learn to care for each other again. At the same time, Johnson herself is on a spiritual quest, and interwoven with the stories of the elders comes her own physical healing as well as a long-awaited reconciliation with her family. The book is filled with predictions made by the Tibetan elders about the course of Johnson's life - most of which have already come true."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Author:
Publisher: Pomegranate
ISBN: 0764900048
Category : Buddhism
Languages : en
Pages : 162
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Book Description
Combines color photos of Himalayan Buddhist culture in regions of Tibet, Ladakh, Lahual, Sikkim, and Tibetan refugee settlements in India with memoir-style accounts of Tibetan elders living in India, Canada, and the US, recounting events of daily life in monasteries, villages, and palaces, and adven
Author: Sandy Johnson
Publisher: Harper San Francisco
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 260
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Book Description
In this exquisite collection of life stories paired with striking photos, 30 American Indian men and women--medicine men, spiritual leaders, and others--discuss their lives, their history, and their struggle to preserve tradition. Each chapter contains an elder's narrative, a biographical profile, and full-page photos.
Author: Asanga Tilakaratne
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
ISBN: 0824837290
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 218
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Book Description
This book brings to life the age-old religious tradition of Theravada (literally, “view of the elders”) Buddhism as it is found in ancient texts and understood and practiced today in South and Southeast Asia. Following a brief introduction to the life of the historical Buddha and the beginning of his mission, the book examines the Triple Gem (the Buddha, his teachings, and the community of monastic followers) and the basic teachings of the Buddha in the earliest available Pali sources. Basic Buddhist concepts such as dependent co-origination, the four noble truths, the three trainings, and karma and its result are discussed in non-technical language, along with the Buddha’s message on social wellbeing. The author goes on to chronicle his own involvement as an observer-participant in “the Theravada world,” where he was born and raised. His is a rare first-hand account of living Theravada Buddhism not only in its traditional habitats, but also in the world at large at the dawn of the twenty-first century. He concludes with a discussion on what is happening to Theravada today across the globe, covering issues such as diaspora Buddhism, women’s Buddhism, and engaged Buddhism. The book’s accessible language and clear explication of Theravada doctrine and texts make this an ideal introduction for the student and general reader.
Author: Tenzin Geyche Tethong
Publisher: Interlink Books
ISBN: 9781623718770
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 352
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Book Description
This biography of the Dalai Lama--blessed by His Holiness himself--is the most authentic and intimate profile of the world's greatest living spiritual figure. Tenzin Geyche Tethong, a close aide of His Holiness for forty years who became family, offers readers unprecedented access to the Dalai Lama in this beautifully illustrated book. The Dalai Lama's youngest brother, Ngari Rinpoche Tenzin Choegyal, who was only 12 years old when he accompanied His Holiness on his dangerous 1959 escape to India, is a personal friend of Tethong and the mentor for this book project. As "elders" to the Tibetan community in exile, these men have come together to tell the true story of His Holiness--their brother, friend, and leader. Featuring previously unpublished photographs, as well as interviews and memories of those closest to him, this book renders unparalleled insights into the Dalai Lama's experiences as the preeminent leader of Tibet, and the wealth of his compassion and gentle humor in the face of the ongoing conflict. This is in no small part due to Tethong and Ngari Rinpoche's unique perspectives on many sensitive issues. Richly compelling, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illustrated Biography is a stunning visual celebration of the Dalai Lama, sketching a memorable portrait of an icon and a cause that have won the attention and hearts of billions across the world. * As his long-time personal secretary, Tethong was privy to the Dalai Lama's difficult relationship with India during his exile, with many challenges arising from his host country's ambivalence to Tibet. Tethong candidly discusses India's lackluster attempts at uplifting his people--denying them official documentation, restricting employment, and crowding refugees in the remote location of Dharmsala--citing its fear of angering China as the reason behind its ambivalence towards Tibet. * Ngari Rinpoche revisits his own profound memory of their exile: his time in the Special Frontier Force, or the "22" of the Indian Army, a period of his life for which there had previously been little recorded information. Ngari Rinpoche and his wife, Rinchen Khando, were one of the many Tibetans who joined this covert force with the intent of fighting the Chinese, under the guidance of intelligence agencies such as India's RAW and the American CIA. For the very first time, they discuss their American colleagues, the disappointments they faced as part of the "22," and the experiences that led to Ngari Rinpoche's depressive episode. * Tethong also sheds much-needed light on the Dalai Lama's Nobel Prize-winning campaign for the spiritual and political liberation of his people. He adopts a nuanced approach towards the Dalai Lama's non-violent struggle for Tibetan autonomy, writing frankly about their attempts to mediate the political differences between younger Tibetans in Dharmsala and the Tibetan administration. He also explores the numerous political difficulties faced by the Dalai Lama's cause in the years before its worldwide recognition.
Author: Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0241988969
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 214
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Book Description
'Brilliant and riveting. This book shows us that freedom is a choice we can all make' Gelong Thubten, author of A Monk's Guide to Happiness 'A fascinating story of an incredible life, told with unflinching honesty' Dr John Sellars author of Lessons in Stoicism ___________________________________________________________________________________ Lama Yeshe didn't see a car until he was fifteen years old. In his quiet village, he and other children ran through fields with yaks and mastiffs. The rhythm of life was anchored by the pastoral cycles. The arrival of Chinese army cars in 1959 changed everything. In the wake of the deadly Tibetan Uprising, he escaped to India through the Himalayas as a refugee. One of only 13 survivors out of 300 travellers, he spent the next few years in America, experiencing the excesses of the Woodstock generation before reforming in Europe. Now in his seventies and a leading monk at the Samye Ling monastery in Scotland - the first Buddhist centre in the West - Lama Yeshe casts a hopeful look back at his momentous life. From his learnings on self-compassion and discipline to his trials and tribulations with loss and failure, his poignant story mirrors our own struggles. Written with erudition and humour, From a Mountain in Tibet shines a light on how the most desperate of situations can help us to uncover vital life lessons and attain lasting peace and contentment.
Author: Canyon Sam
Publisher: University of Washington Press
ISBN: 0295800062
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 287
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Book Description
Through a lyrical narrative of her journey to Tibet in 2007, activist Canyon Sam contemplates modern history from the perspective of Tibetan women. Traveling on China's new "Sky Train," she celebrates Tibetan New Year with the Lhasa family whom she'd befriended decades earlier and concludes an oral-history project with women elders. As she uncovers stories of Tibetan women's courage, resourcefulness, and spiritual strength in the face of loss and hardship since the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950, and observes the changes wrought by the controversial new rail line in the futuristic "new Lhasa," Sam comes to embrace her own capacity for letting go, for faith, and for acceptance. Her glimpse of Tibet's past through the lens of the women - a visionary educator, a freedom fighter, a gulag survivor, and a child bride - affords her a unique perspective on the state of Tibetan culture today - in Tibet, in exile, and in the widening Tibetan diaspora. Gracefully connecting the women's poignant histories to larger cultural, political, and spiritual themes, the author comes full circle, finding wisdom and wholeness even as she acknowledges Tibet's irreversible changes.
Author: Anna Alomes
Publisher: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives
ISBN: 9390752906
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 236
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Book Description
An insightful account of how the democratically elected parliamentary system is built with the Tibetan elders who accompanied His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama into exile, this book is a fruitful result of several years of hard work and research. The interviews of the elders vividly depict the struggles and challenges it took to become today’s Democratic Tibetan government. Sparking the feeling of duty towards a nation, there cannot be a better driver of encouragement than the messages left by these elders who are the building blocks of the Tibetan democracy for the future leaders of Tibet. ‘The Tibetan Journey to Democracy’ is a marvelous portrayal of the journey of Tibetan democracy right from its inception till date and holds the power to inspire thousands of Tibetans towards shaping the future of political history of Tibet. Tenzin Wangmo
Author: Harry Bone
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
ISBN: 146693798X
Category : Indians of North America
Languages : en
Pages : 51
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Book Description
We, the Elders, have done our best to represent our Red Nation as Ojibway, Cree, and Dakota. We present this story knowing it is an attempt to capture the richness and beauty of the Red Nation a people of the heart and the land. We are an oral people. We cannot transfer our way of life through written words alone. Sacred law must be spoken and heard. Our way of life is meant to be lived and experienced. Our words are meant to inspire and guide our fellow human beings to follow the path of the heart. We believe that there is one Creator for all, that there is one Mother Earth that sustains all of us. We do not own the Earth. How can anyone own their mother? We owe our existence to Mother Earth. We believe that the spirit of the original Red Man was lowered to Mother Earth and our spirit chose to be born on Turtle Island. This story tells of our human life and journey until our return back to the spirit world. We believe the Creator has always been within our reach and that we have to return to the Earth to be guided to our true purpose.
Author: Pema Tsewang
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1614290342
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 176
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Book Description
The Yeti, or Dremo in Tibetan, is a dim-witted mythical beast said to feed only on marmots. It sees a marmot, grabs the hapless creature, and then sits on it - saving the delicious morsel for later. And then the Yeti sees another marmot and leaps up to snatch it while the first marmot makes a quick break for freedom. An image of bumbling, foolish effort. This enchanting little book contains 108 traditional Tibetan proverbs - conveying the wit and wisdom of one of the world's most unique cultures. The proverbs appear in English and Tibetan script, along with a brief explanation of how and when to use each saying. Often funny and wise, these proverbs always remind us of our experiences in a natural and meaningful way.
