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Tibetan Portrait: The Power of Compassion
This is a book about a deeply spiritual culture's struggle to survive and maintain compassion in the face of tremendous aggression. The invasion by the Chinese Communists in 1949 led to massive destruction and repression, and to the occupation of Tibet, which continues to this day.
Throughout 1994, photographer Phil Borges traveled to Tibet, as well as parts of Nepal and northern India where thousands of Tibetan refugees now reside, photographing Tibetans in an effort to understand what had happened to them, to their country and their culture. In doing so, he became fascinated by Buddhist philosophy and the Tibetan commitment to nonviolence.
Tibetan Buddhists believe that there is no greater vehicle than compassion and forgiveness to counteract the suffering in the world. Their unique Buddhist practices and beliefs provide a framework for the attainment of mental peace and enlightenment, a goal they are encouraged to pursue from an early age. They are taught to value contentment, fulfillment, and mental peace above all else, since one's state of mind is believed to be the only possession that survives from one lifetime to the next.
As the Tibetans work to save their unique culture and to regain their country, their internal struggle as human beings is to try to reconcile their nonviolent principles with the rage that can arise when harmed. It is an extreme test of their commitment to compassion, to their religion, and to their culture.
Throughout 1994, photographer Phil Borges traveled to Tibet, as well as parts of Nepal and northern India where thousands of Tibetan refugees now reside, photographing Tibetans in an effort to understand what had happened to them, to their country and their culture. In doing so, he became fascinated by Buddhist philosophy and the Tibetan commitment to nonviolence.
Tibetan Buddhists believe that there is no greater vehicle than compassion and forgiveness to counteract the suffering in the world. Their unique Buddhist practices and beliefs provide a framework for the attainment of mental peace and enlightenment, a goal they are encouraged to pursue from an early age. They are taught to value contentment, fulfillment, and mental peace above all else, since one's state of mind is believed to be the only possession that survives from one lifetime to the next.
As the Tibetans work to save their unique culture and to regain their country, their internal struggle as human beings is to try to reconcile their nonviolent principles with the rage that can arise when harmed. It is an extreme test of their commitment to compassion, to their religion, and to their culture.
- GenresPhotographyNonfiction
96 pages, Hardcover
First published April 15, 1996
45 people want to read
About the author
Phil Borges
12 books4 followersOver the years as a Creative Director in advertising, SongLi (as he is known in Mandarin) has worked for major agencies in America, Japan, and China. From this experience he decided to follow his own passion for photography, driven by an active imagination. His unique visual focus is noted for its emphasis on the power and emotion of details even in the most simple subjects."
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December 23, 2012
Lovely, beautiful. Delighted to have found this book and recommend highly.
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