Fearless in Tibet: The Life of the Mystic Terton Sogyal

by Matteo Pistono, Sogyal Rinpoche (Foreword)

Nineteenth-century Tibetan mystic Tertön Sogyal was a visionary, whose mastery of meditation led him to be a revered teacher to the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. Known for his deep spiritual insights and service to the nation of Tibet, Tertön Sogyal's ability to harness the power of the mind was born of both his profound understanding of the Buddha's teachings and his unique experiences, all the while striving for peace against tremendous odds. His life is an example of courage and diligence appreciated by spiritual practitioners of all traditions; and his practical instructions on meditation and opening one's heart--amid conflict, uncertainty, and change--are as relevant today as they were during his lifetime.
 
Fearless in Tibet, the first comprehensive work in English on Tertön Sogyal, captures the essence of his teachings and his inner world of visions and spiritual realizations. It also brings to life the challenges he faced during his early yogic training and his efforts to promote harmony between Tibet and China.
 
Combining riveting storytelling and Tertön Sogyal's profound instructions, Matteo Pistono takes you on a journey through the mystical past that reveals practical inner guidance for today's challenges. You will see the power of transforming negativity into opportunity, letting go of attachments, becoming present, and embracing impermanence. This intricate tapestry of intrigue and spirituality will infuse your path with timeless wisdom and inspiration.

Genres: Buddhism, Biography, Nonfiction, History

351 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 2014

About the author

Matteo Pistono is a writer and meditation teacher. His books include Breathe How You Want to Feel: Your Breathing Tool Kit for Better Health, Restorative Sleep, and Deeper Connection, Meditation: Coming To Know Your Mind (Hay House, 2017), Fearless in Tibet: The Life of the Mystic Tertön Sogyal (Hay House 2014), and In The Shadow of the Buddha: One Man’s Journey of Discovery in Tibet (Dutton Penguin 2011).

Matteo began studying Buddhism and yoga in Nepal in the early 1990s, and later lived and worked in Tibet for a decade. Pistono's writings about meditation, Buddhism, yoga, Himalayan and Southeast Asian cultural, political, and spiritual landscapes have appeared in The Washington Post, BBC, Buddhadharma, Tricycle, Men's Journal, Kyoto Journal, and HIMAL South Asia. Matteo earned a Masters in Indian Philosophy from the University of London. He has engaged regularly in extensive meditation retreats over the last twenty-five years, and he maintains a daily yoga asana, pranayama, and meditation practice.

Pistono was born and raised in Wyoming, completed his undergraduate degree in Anthropology from the University of Wyoming, and in 1997 he obtained his Masters of Arts degree in Indian Philosophy from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. After working with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. on Tibetan cultural programs, Pistono lived and traveled throughout the Himalayas for a decade, bringing to the West graphic accounts and photos of China’s human rights abuses in Tibet, which he wrote about in In the Shadow of the Buddha. He sits on the Executive Council of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists. Matteo and his wife Monica reside in Southern California.

Reviews

[Jaidee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 "intricate, profound and enlightening" stars !!!

2016 Honorable Mention

This book fell into my lap. Not a book I planned on reading or even heard of. It appeared randomly and I chose to read it.

I am fiercely theistic. My experiences of the mystical, supernatural and spiritual began in childhood and continue to this day. Interestingly, I am surrounded by loved ones who are mostly atheistic and a few agnostic and so this remains mostly a private matter between myself, God and the world of spirit. I attend both Buddhist and Christian (and in the past Hindu and Pagan) retreats from time to time to speak to others who are devout in spirit but not necessarily religious or dogmatic. I commune and then come back to my life where the world of spirit is mostly compartmentalized, misunderstood but lovingly tolerated. My shrine at home is an amalgamation of many faiths and spiritual practices and I put there what resonates with my soul.

I am, however, very attached to western comforts of the arts, home, travel, cuisine and relationships with self and others. I battle with this from time to time and realize that despite my faith I am mostly weak in this incarnation. I do good in a limited way and try my best to decrease suffering in my fellow sentient beings.

This book was about the life of Terton Sogyal in the late 19th and early 20th century. He was a treasure revealer, mystic and the most revered teacher to the 13th Dalai Lama. It is in hagiographical format with his life story interspersed with miracles, teachings, magic, the supernatural, multiple deities, demons, politics, travels, royal intrigue and warfare. Fascinating and heady stuff. Beautifully written and laid out for the reader who has some rudimentary knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism.

In the West, Buddhism has become highly secularized and even medicalized but in fact is full of magic, ritual, spells, tantric meditations, miracles and is complex polytheistically with both gods and demons, prophets, dakinis and enlightened beings. Highly complex and infinitely fascinating.

As I read this, my almost daily practices of both Christian prayer and Buddhist meditation became more colourful, insightful but also at times anxiety provoking and frightening as ideas, messages and imperatives wove their way into my consciousness. Some I have amalgamated but much I have pushed aside in my desire to stay attached to my many comforts and earthly joys.

I will leave you with some wisdom teaching rediscovered by Terton Sogyal

Listen here, Tibetan yogis endowed with the confidence of view and meditation. The real yogi is your unfabricated innate nature.

"Yogi" means to realize the wisdom of pure awareness. That is how you truly obtain the name yogi.

Be free from ambition in the view; do not indulge in partiality.

Be free from reference point in the meditation; do not indulge in fixating your mind.

Be free from accepting and rejecting in the conduct; do not indulge in clinging to a self.

Be free from abandonment and attainment in the fruition; do not indulge in grasping to things as real.

Be free from limitation in keeping samaya; do not indulge in fraud and pretense.

Be free from bias toward the Buddha Dharma; do not indulge in scholastic sectarianism.

Appearances are delusion; do not indulge in ordinariness.

Food is merely to sustain your life-force; do not grovel for food.

Wealth is illusory; do not indulge in craving.

Clothes are to protect your from cold; do not indulge in opulent fashions.

Equality is nondual; do no indulge in intimate companions.

Be free from preference to country; do not indulge in homeland.

Make your dwelling an empty care; do not indulge in monastic life.

Do your practice in solitude; do not indulge in social gatherings.

Be attached and free from clinging; do not indulge in attachment.

Be a self-liberatied yogi; do not indulge in charlatanism.

I, Padmasambhava, am now taking leave. Whether you live in the present or will appear in the future, Tibetan yogis of future generations, keep this in your hearts.

Amen, Nameste

[Rama Rao · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tibetan Buddhism

This book is written mainly for a reader knowledgeable in Tibetan Buddhism that focuses mainly on the life and works of nineteenth-century mystic Terton Sogyal, the teacher of Thirteenth Dalai Lama. Sogyal had incredible power to foresee things which he acquired through deep mediations and clear understanding of the teachings of Buddha.

There is one chapter on creating peace between Tibet and China that partly discuss the political situation at that time. The end of 19th century was a precarious for Tibet because of the threatening behavior of powers like China and Russia. Tibet was under constant threat of Chinese invasion and Dalai Lama sought help and counsel from Terton Sogyal. Sogyal used peaceful methods of Vajrayana and the vast knowledge of Buddhist teachings. He performed rituals to defend Tibet. He discovered terma treasures and received prophecies and gave specific directions. His counsel included building temples and Buddhist stupas that would deter an aggression. He advocated Tendrel Nysel, eliminating flaws in interdependence, a practice created to reduce conflict and establish harmony and peace. His instructions were timely at a delicate and dangerous moment in the history of Tibet.

I recommend this book to someone familiar with Tibetan Buddhism. A casual reader may be bored by the terms and words commonly used in Tibetan Buddhism.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual and challenging book in its expectation that the reader take for granted the miraculous and supernatural powers attributed to the man whose biography this is. Whether one believes in those powers or not, it is an interesting and informative (if not a very deep) insight into Tibetan culture on all societal levels as seen from one of its more famous mystics. Set in the time of the 13th Dalai Lama and straddling the 19th and 20th Centuries, it could be considered required reading for anyone interested in the time and place the book covers, it being the result of interviews by the author by some of the more prominent Tibetan ecclesiastics who are the direct inheritors (and according to the author, someone who is a living reincarnation of the book's topic, Tetron Sogyal). I did enjoy it, supernatural elements in all, but at the same time, the very presence of those supernatural elements gave me some doubt about Tibetan Buddhism as a true and accurate expression of what Siddhartha Gautama taught, stating as he supposedly did, "You know someone is not a follower of mine if they seek to work a miracle." But to say the least, my grasp on Buddhism is, at best incomplete, so maybe my word in that area is not to be taken too seriously.

[Chris Craddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Rare as a White Yak

"People like us have a hard time fathoming the profound minds of realized beings like Terton Sogyal, whose life cannot be framed conceptually," says Tsultrim Zangpo in his Secret Biography of Terton Sogyal.

Fearless in Tibet is also a biography of Tibetan Mystic Terton Sogyal (1856-1926). Matteo Pistono, author of the book, researched the life of Terton Sogyal for 15 years, and is also the author of In the Shadow of the Buddha: One Man's Journey of Discovery in Tibet, about his pilgrimage to sites relevant to Buddhism and Terton Sogyal. Fearless in Tibet tells the story of Terton Sogyal, as well as various incarnations of his, past and future. A lot of Terton Sogyal's exploits are unbelievable, but Matteo Pistono states them as matters of fact. The author doesn't seem too concerned with whether or not you believe his story, or even if you understand some of the deeper spiritual lessons to be learned. There are plenty of interesting stories, and once you have heard about this remarkable life you will no doubt want to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism.

Terton Sogyal's birth name was Sonam Gyalpo, which translates as "King of Merit." Sogyal is a contraction of his birth name, while Terton is a name that is applied to terma treasure revealers. Terma are treasures such as sacred scrolls, stones, statues, or liturgies left by Padmasambhava, the 8th century founder of Tibetan Buddhism, and others. A Terton is not an ordained monk, or a lama, but besides revealing treasures he can also act as a teacher and advisor, as Terton Sogyal was to the 13th Dalai Lama. The current Dalai Lama is the 14th.

You might think that a tantric master would lead a pretty boring life of mostly just sitting on a wolf pelt and chanting or meditating, but this book reads more like an action thriller, with super natural phenomena. As advisor to the Dalai Lama, who is not only the head of the church, but also ruler of Tibet, he has to help guard his country against the encroaching armies of Tibet's neighbors. He battles with demons and witches, performs public treasure revealings that are "rare as a white yak," and thwarts assassination attempts on the Dalai Lama from renegade Buddhists who have gone over to the dark side. He practices the phurba dagger and the lion-faced dakini (I don't know what this means, however the phurba dagger is a ceremonial knife that is carved from a meteor. At one point they cause it to dance on its point).

In another anecdote there are thousands of dakinis in the sky, and they merge into sixteen dakinis. He recognizes two of the dakinis from twenty years ago, because they persuaded him to dance against his will. Dakinis are female spirits, but some flesh and blood women are also described as dakinis.

Another story has a host of dakinis surround Guru Padmasambhava, and one said for Guru Padmasambhava: "Within the expanse of rigpa's self-manifesting clarity the darkness of grasping ignorantly at duality is completely abolished. The means for accomplishing this is both the Peaceful Guru and the one known as the Wildly Wrathful Guru with nine heads and eighteen arms."

I cannot pretend to comprehend the deep spiritual concepts revealed in this book, and I'm not even sure whether some of the things described actually happened, or if they are meant as metaphors, but something is obviously going on. It is a fascinating book and I was inspired by the life of Terton Sogyal.

Practice repeatedly the yoga of blazing and dripping.

[robin friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many people have come to know something about Tibetan Buddhism through their admiration of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama or through reading some of his many books. Much of Tibetan Buddhism and of the history of Tibet remains little known to most Americans. Matteo Pistono's new book, "Fearless in Tibet: the Life of the Mystic Terton Sogyal" (2014) brings to life an individual who will be unfamiliar even to many knowledgeable individuals. The book offers insights into Tibet's past and, more importantly, illuminates Buddhism and its teachings. The Wyoming-born Matteo Pistono is a writer, photographer, practicing Tibetan Buddhist, and author of an acclaimed earlier book, "In the Shadow of the Buddha" (2011) about the contemporary history of Tibet under Chinese occupation.

Understanding Terton Sogyal (1856 -- 1926) requires some background in Tibetan Buddhism which Pistono weaves into his study. Sogyal was a terton -- defined in the useful glossary to the book as a "treasure revealer" who reveals spiritual treasures (termas) hidden throughout Tibet during the 8th century by Padmasambhava, an Indian master of tantra (teaching techniquest of purifying the mind) who established Buddhism in Tibet. According to the teachings, the termas are to be discovered at a time when their teachings are needed. Sogyal was not a monk and neither trained in nor lived in a monastery. He was a layman who married and had a son. He spent much of his life wandering through the wild regions of eastern Tibet.

These few aspects of Sogyal's life are sufficient to show that a biography in the Western sense will be difficult. This is shown particularly in the source material on which Pistono relies. He uses in large part a lengthy unpublished manuscript by Sogyal's long-time student and disciple, a monk named Tsultrim Zangpo (1884 -- 1957) or Tsullo. In the mid 1940's Tsullo wrote a lengthy biography of Sogyal on woodblock called "The Marvellous Garland of White Lotuses". It has never been published, but Pistono had access to it and uses it extensively. Tsullo's work is highly mystical and it recounts astonishing feats of magic and visions performed by Sogyal that will meet a proper and inevitable degree of skepticism in Western readers. Pistono recounts the stories uncritically at face value. I took this as a fault at first, but I came to agree with his manner of presentation as I continued to read. Pistono also relies on interviews and on various more conventional histories of Tibet.

Sogyal is best known as the confidante and meditation teacher of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama (1876 -- 1933) Between 1884 and 1904, Sogyal visited and consulted with the Dalai Lama on five occasions. He taught meditation but equally important served as a political advisor to the then young Dalai Lama. Tibetan Buddhism was internally divided among various quarrelling schools. Sogyal, distrusted by many of the insider monks because of his lack of a monastic background and because he was perceived as a wonder-worker, sought to end sectarianism. Sogyal worked towards a spiritual renewal of Tibetan Buddhism to meet the dangers from within and without -- in threats from Britain, Russia, and China. When the Dalai Lama's regency ended in the early 20th Century, Sogyal helped foil an assassination plot by the family of the former regent. Sogyal saw the Dalai Lama for the last time in 1904. A planned trip late in Sogyal's life to bring teachings and treasures to the Dalai Lama failed to materialize.

Sogyal was born to a poor family in rural eastern Tibet. His spiritual potential was recognized early but his father tried to discourage a religious vocation. Sogyal briefly spent time with a group of outlaws before finding his religious path, studying with many of the leading teachers of his day. The early chapters of Pistono's book offers an eloquent account of Sogyal's young life and of many of his teachers.

Between 1904 and his death, Sogyal wandered through eastern Tibet and China. Pistono places the story of his spiritual life and teachings in the context of the war between China and Tibet, in which Tibet was spared only by the Chinese Revolution of 1911, and of the threats to Tibet by Britain and Russia. Pistono tells this history well and places Sogyal's activities in their context. He describes the mystical, introspective life of Sogyal, in his findings of various treasures, and his voluminous written teachings which include texts such as "The Razor of the Innermost Essence" and "Eliminating Flaws in Interdependence" which have been used and taught by the current Dalai Lama.

The book is a combination of biography, history, magic and spirituality. Although I have background in Buddhism and in Tibetan Buddhism, it took some reading to become engaged with the book's style and manner. Pistono writes clearly and well and with conviction. This book offers a portrayal of Tibetan Buddhism with its magic, miracles, superstitions, and profound spiritual insights rolled together. The portrayal goes well beyond what the reader will find in simplistic accounts. With the history on the one hand and the magic on the other hand, the portrait in this book that emerges is of a true spiritual teacher who was concerned with the regeneration of the Tibetan people and of people everywhere. He taught ways of clarifying and purifying the mind, overcoming hate and negativity, and eliminating obstacles to spiritual life. The book includes many quotations from Sogyal's teachings and much of spiritual wisdom amid the magic. Getting to know Sogyal and Tibet in Pistono's account proved an inspiring journey.

In the substantial literature on Tibetan Buddhism now available in the United States, Pistono's book is unusual and worthwhile. Readers with an interest in Tibetan Buddhism and in spirituality will benefit from getting to know Terton Sogyal.

Robin Friedman

[Art Von · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book amazes with: adventure, mind-bending mysticism, black magicians, international intrigue, lessons on meditation, and a realized yogi who's austerity and dedication to the Truth reveal the depths of compassion and our very own potential behind the illusion of the ego. It reads like a page turning thriller, as it takes you farther and farther away from our sterile modern world based on pure empiricism back to a much richer time when people would allow life to show us her beautiful mysteries within mysteries.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too esoteric for the common reader

Engineers can read and understand books on engineering as they use the correct vocabulary and references to an already built base of knowledge. The same thing holds for any discipline (some broad; others quite narrow in scope.)

This book is a great extension for someone already well-versed in Nineteenth-century Tibetan mystic Buddhism as a field of knowledge. It is not a beginner's book. On the positive side, there are a great many notes and references as you need them.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads like a science fiction, full of unreal and fantastic events that ordinary person will never experience or understand. The depth of research taken to complete this phantasmagorical tale is amazing. it was not an easy read, but the feeling of something fundamental being destroyed by the modern history is difficult to digest. There are things beyond our understanding, this book gives a lay person a glimpse of something unique and important with the hope that this spiritual path will continue.

[Elizabeth Zima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pay attention to your reality

Reassuring book about Tibetan masters who have realize the power of concentration and live in a nonlinear world. Very reassuring for beginning meditators who find themselves outside consensus reality. This is also a great adventure story for those who want to know more about Guru Rinpoche.

[Chené Tuck · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the beginning of this book to be overwhelming - it was overloaded with names I could barely pronounce, but were nonetheless beautiful. I have never heard of Terton Sogyal before.

I was expecting an inspiring story, but in fact it turned out to be completely different! The story line is fascinating, but you need to keep focus as it jumps between incarnations and people, which can be confusing.

There is so much information and, again, it gets very confusing - it can seem like an information dump to the uninformed. A lot of it probably went right over my head.

This book is well researched, but I found it to be a bit of a long and heavy read. Although it is really interesting, it just didn't grab me like I wanted it to. I thought it would be a bit more of an enlightening spiritual read. What I did learn from it was that you need to be strong and stand your ground even when it seems like the world is against you and that challenges will come your way and you just need to stay strong and have faith that you are doing what you are meant to do and it will make a difference. It was probably my lack of knowledge and understanding of Buddhism that worked against me.

Finally Thoughts: Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me right now.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book – a wonderfully told tale of spiritual accomplishment and historical/socio-political intrigue. I loved the tone that Pistono set - respectful, profound and yet also, being steeped in the fantastical hagiographic style of Tibet, imaginatively entertaining and captivating. One of the real jewels of the experience was seeing (with great expectancy of course) the photo of “The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Guru Statue That Liberates Upon Seeing” which Terton Sogyal discovered, and realizing it bears an uncanny resemblance to Peter Sellers (especially in his role as Inspector Jacques Clouseau in The Pink Panther series)! Somehow that seemed perfect. It’s always reassuring to be reminded that among his many other marvelous qualities, Guru Rinpoche also has a sense of humor.

[Ariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a spiritual biography that was a bit repetitive at times, but considering the subject of the biography, this was rather to be expected. It was fascinating to read this on the heels of Alexandra David-Neel's book recounting her secret journey to Lhasa in the early 1900s.

Mr. Pistono's passion for Tibet and Tibetan culture and Buddhism was evident in the skilled and respectful manner in which he handled the subject. It was particularly interesting to see how he wrote about the Chinese incursion into Tibet at the time and how it has devolved into the current geopolitical situation.

An interesting and insightful read.

[Pam Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a lovely memoir of a journey discovering Buddhism seen through the eyes of a great master of Dharma. How he embraces dimensions and facets, spiritual progress of humanity, sense of yearning amid devotions. It is a beautiful inspiring book providing in-depth spiritual embodiment of the man whose story needs to be told

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

i suddenly just can't get into all this magical thinking.

[Louis Dallara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing Read!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and moving!

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

well writen story of Tibetan Rinpoche (died about 100 years ago). a story of courage and endurance. I am not a Tibetan Buddhist but this book enhanced my apprecaiation for spiritual journeys. well documented, tall tales, and history of Tibetan nation. Terton Sogyal is a wonderful character, and through his story you get a great sense of the struggles of that country. well written- with a profound message, without being in any way doctrinaire or inaccesible.