Synopses & Reviews
The Story of Tibet is a work of monumental importance, a fascinating journey through the land and history of Tibet, with His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama as guide. Over the course of three years, journalist Thomas Laird spent more than sixty hours with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in candid, one-on-one interviews that covered His Holiness’s beliefs on history, science, reincarnation, and his lifelong study of Buddhism. Traveling across great distances to offer vivid descriptions of Tibet’s greatest monasteries, Laird brings his meetings with His Holiness to life in a rich and vibrant historical narrative that outlines the essence of thousands of years of civilization, myth, and spirituality. His Holiness introduces us to Tibet’s greatest yogis and meditation masters, and explains how the institution of the Dalai Lama was founded. Embedded throughout this journey is His Holiness’s lessons on the larger roles religion and spirituality have played in Tibet’s story, reflecting the Dalai Lama’s belief that history should be examined not only conventionally but holistically. The Story of Tibet is His Holiness’s personal look at his country’s past as well as a summation of his life’s work as both spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people.
Synopsis
In a series of candid interviews with the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader speaks out about the land, people, culture, history, traditions, and spirituality of Tibet, discussing the role played by religion and spirituality in the nation's history, the Dalai Lama's flight into exile in 1959, his personal religious beliefs, and his lifelong study of Buddhism. 50,000 first printing.
Synopsis
The Story of Tibet is a work of monumental importance, a fascinating journey through the land and history of Tibet, with His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama as guide. Over the course of three years, journalist Thomas Laird spent more than sixty hours with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in candid, one-on-one interviews that covered His Holinesss beliefs on history, science, reincarnation, and his lifelong study of Buddhism. Traveling across great distances to offer vivid descriptions of Tibets greatest monasteries, Laird brings his meetings with His Holiness to life in a rich and vibrant historical narrative that outlines the essence of thousands of years of civilization, myth, and spirituality. His Holiness introduces us to Tibets greatest yogis and meditation masters, and explains how the institution of the Dalai Lama was founded. Embedded throughout this journey is His Holinesss lessons on the larger roles religion and spirituality have played in Tibets story, reflecting the Dalai Lamas belief that history should be examined not only conventionally but holistically. The Story of Tibet is His Holinesss personal look at his countrys past as well as a summation of his lifes work as both spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people.
Synopsis
The Story of Tibet is a work of monumental importance and a crucial addition to our understanding of a country with one of the world's richest backgrounds. Over the course of three years, journalist Thomas Laird spent more than sixty hours with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in candid, one-on-one interviews addressing His Holiness's beliefs on history, science, reincarnation, and his lifelong study of Buddhism. Laird brings his meetings with His Holiness to life in a rich, historical narrative that outlines the essence of thousands of years of civilization, myth, and spirituality. Traveling across great distances to offer vivid descriptions of Tibet's monasteries, Laird explores with His Holiness Tibet's relations with the Mongols, the Golden Age under the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, Tibet's years under Manchu overlords, the four decades of modern independence in the first half of the twentieth century, and the Dalai Lama's personal meetings with Mao Tse-Tung just before His Holiness fled into exile in 1959.
With so much of Tibetan identity based on oral history, The Story of Tibet is His Holiness's personal look at his country's past, and also a summation of a life's work as the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people.