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My Spiritual Journey
The world knows the public face of the fourteenth Dalai Lama.
We have read about his near escape from Tibet after the Chinese invasion, his Nobel Peace Prize, and his friendships with world leaders, Hollywood actors, and scientists around the world. But what are his inner, personal thoughts on his own spiritual life? For the first time and in his own words, the Dalai Lama charts his spiritual journey from his boyhood days in rural Tibet to his years as a monk in the capital city of Dharamsala, to his life in exile as a world leader and symbol of peace.
My Spiritual Journey provides a vivid and moving portrait of the Dalai Lama’s life journey that is personal in tone but universal in scope. He explores three phases or commitments of his spiritual life — as a human being, as a Buddhist monk, and as the Dalai Lama — each of which has made him more dedicated to exploring and teaching human values and inner happiness, promoting harmony among all religions, and advocating for the civil rights and well-being of the Tibetan people.
At the age of two, little Tenzin Gyatso was identified as the fourteenth incarnation of the first Dalai Lama. From then on, his life has been a trajectory few can imagine. Some see him as a living Buddha and moral authority, others identify him as a “god-king,” which still others see him in political terms as either a hero or a counterrevolutionary. In My Spiritual Journey, we see the personal struggles, the courage, the laughter, and the compassion that have defined the remarkable life of one of our world’s greatest living legends.
We have read about his near escape from Tibet after the Chinese invasion, his Nobel Peace Prize, and his friendships with world leaders, Hollywood actors, and scientists around the world. But what are his inner, personal thoughts on his own spiritual life? For the first time and in his own words, the Dalai Lama charts his spiritual journey from his boyhood days in rural Tibet to his years as a monk in the capital city of Dharamsala, to his life in exile as a world leader and symbol of peace.
My Spiritual Journey provides a vivid and moving portrait of the Dalai Lama’s life journey that is personal in tone but universal in scope. He explores three phases or commitments of his spiritual life — as a human being, as a Buddhist monk, and as the Dalai Lama — each of which has made him more dedicated to exploring and teaching human values and inner happiness, promoting harmony among all religions, and advocating for the civil rights and well-being of the Tibetan people.
At the age of two, little Tenzin Gyatso was identified as the fourteenth incarnation of the first Dalai Lama. From then on, his life has been a trajectory few can imagine. Some see him as a living Buddha and moral authority, others identify him as a “god-king,” which still others see him in political terms as either a hero or a counterrevolutionary. In My Spiritual Journey, we see the personal struggles, the courage, the laughter, and the compassion that have defined the remarkable life of one of our world’s greatest living legends.
284 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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About the author
Dalai Lama XIV
1,553 books6,195 followersJetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndrub), the 14th Dalai Lama, is a practicing member of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism and is influential as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the world's most famous Buddhist monk, and the leader of the exiled Tibetan government in India.
Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming family. He was proclaimed the tulku (an Enlightened lama who has consciously decided to take rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two.
On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's ruler. Thus he became Tibet's most important political ruler just one month after the People's Republic of China's invasion of Tibet on 7 October 1950. In 1954, he went to Beijing to attempt peace talks with Mao Zedong and other leaders of the PRC. These talks ultimately failed.
After a failed uprising and the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, the Dalai Lama left for India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.
Tenzin Gyatso is a charismatic figure and noted public speaker. This Dalai Lama is the first to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.
Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming family. He was proclaimed the tulku (an Enlightened lama who has consciously decided to take rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two.
On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's ruler. Thus he became Tibet's most important political ruler just one month after the People's Republic of China's invasion of Tibet on 7 October 1950. In 1954, he went to Beijing to attempt peace talks with Mao Zedong and other leaders of the PRC. These talks ultimately failed.
After a failed uprising and the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, the Dalai Lama left for India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.
Tenzin Gyatso is a charismatic figure and noted public speaker. This Dalai Lama is the first to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.
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January 17, 2012
He’s just this guy, you know?
My Spiritual Journey is a collection of the Dalai Lama’s writings, speeches, and thoughts as they pertain to his life as a human being, as a Buddhist monk, and as the Dalai Lama. This is not a traditional autobiography or memoir. Instead, some of the chapters (passages? sections?) are quite short—even less than a page—but no less meaningful or inspiring. Rather than looking for some kind of chronological theme, it helps to view this book in those three stages outlined above (and emphasized in this book by the Dalai Lama himself). I read each passage in quick succession over the course of about three days, but this could easily work as the sort of book that you read over the course of weeks or even a month or two. Many reviewers have mentioned that this book is repetitive in sections—and I agree. But it’s repetitive for a reason: as the Dalai Lama mentions, everything is interdependent and connected; the passages in this book are no exception. Each one alone is a small snippet of wisdom, but together they form a more cohesive window into the philosophy that drives one of the most illustrious and interesting people alive today.
When I was born in 1989, the Dalai Lama was already thirty years into his exile. The Berlin Wall came down two months afterward. The Rwandan genocide happened when I was too young to follow what was going on, if the media had bothered to give it the coverage it truly deserved. I think the first big military action of which I was really aware, in a political sense, was the invasion of Iraq in 2003. I remember listening to the radio at night as I was trying to fall asleep and hearing the hourly CBC news report discussing the bombing of Baghdad. As someone who has been lucky enough to grow up in a country and a socioecomic situation where I don’t have to worry about war, poverty, or oppression, it’s difficult for me to put myself in the place of the people of Iraq, of Rwanda, of Tibet. I’m aware, intellectually, that genocides and invasions and games of the worst sort of politics are happening … but that is a far cry from understanding the plight of these people who are, after all, human beings just like me.
My Spiritual Journey is valuable because of its juxtaposition of the atrocities in Tibet with the Dalai Lama’s own pacifist beliefs. It is amazing listening to him speak with such empathy and compassion toward everyone—not just his own people, but toward his Chinese brothers and sisters. He is very careful not to generalize, to distinguish between the Chinese people and their government. Even with the government of the so-called “People’s Republic” of China, the Dalai Lama stresses that he is always open to communication, to discussion, to reconciliation. From all of his writings, whether he’s talking about his childhood in Tibet or his attempts to bring the Tibetan plight front-and-centre on the world stage, one gets this incredible sense of resoluteness from the Dalai Lama. He exudes a steadfast confidence in this idea that we, humans, can have a positive influence on the universe and that, through compassion, we can help prevent suffering. Having just finished Robopocalypse, in which an AI decides to destroy humanity in order to preserve life on Earth, this optimism is incredibly reassuring and comforting.
What’s not comforting, of course, is his story of the struggle of Tibet. I must confess I find it difficult to keep track of all those oppressive regimes around the world. It seems like no matter where one turns, bam, there’s a government oppressing its people. (And I know that we could have a nice little debate about what the American, Canadian, British governments are trying to pull these days—even if we are generous and give them a free pass, democracy is a fragile creature in this world.) Hence, while apathy is a real and present danger in today’s society, it is also important to acknowledge that we cannot all be aware of everything that’s happening. So I welcomed this chance to become more familiar with the history of Tibet; with its history with China, India, and Britain; with its struggle for independence or autonomy. This book is informative and eye-opening, making me wonder if we are so used to the situation in Tibet that, as a global society, we have largely become apathetic—because if not, then why aren’t we doing anything about this?
The Dalai Lama may have a penchant for peace and compassion, but he is no pushover: that resoluteness is like a core of steel. In his calls for negotiation, for independence, and for autonomy, he displays the mind of a statesman and a philosopher. Politicians would learn a lot from observing how the Dalai Lama comports himself and operates—it’s a little something called dignity. He has it. Most politicians, sadly, seem to have sacrificed this attribute in favour of a more flashy style of showmanship. The Dalai Lama is candid about how, in the past, he was innocent or somewhat naïve in his expectations. Even as his age has brought more experience and more wisdom, however, he does not allow hope and optimism to atrophy.
My Spiritual Journey is inspiring and insightful. It informed about all these subjects with which I have only a cursory familiarity: Tibet, Buddhism, the office of the Dalai Lama. Better yet, I got to learn about these through the eyes of the Dalai Lama himself, glimpse the processes that give rise to his thoughts and his feelings. The staccato rhythm created from this collection of his writings and speeches necessarily makes this book different from your typical memoir or autobiography. I’m honestly not sure if that makes it better or worse (you decide!). I’ve decided to give My Spiritual Journey five stars because, to put it simply, I do not think there is anything I would change about it to make it “better”. It is an open, honest, and intensely personal look at a man whose life has been political from the moment he was identified as the fourteenth Dalai Lama. What more could you desire?
Finally, this seems like a good starting place if one wants to read something by the Dalai Lama but isn’t sure where to start. I’m making note of some of his other books I’d like to read now—he has some fascinating thoughts on the convergence of science and spirituality and has written at them at length elsewhere.
My Spiritual Journey is a collection of the Dalai Lama’s writings, speeches, and thoughts as they pertain to his life as a human being, as a Buddhist monk, and as the Dalai Lama. This is not a traditional autobiography or memoir. Instead, some of the chapters (passages? sections?) are quite short—even less than a page—but no less meaningful or inspiring. Rather than looking for some kind of chronological theme, it helps to view this book in those three stages outlined above (and emphasized in this book by the Dalai Lama himself). I read each passage in quick succession over the course of about three days, but this could easily work as the sort of book that you read over the course of weeks or even a month or two. Many reviewers have mentioned that this book is repetitive in sections—and I agree. But it’s repetitive for a reason: as the Dalai Lama mentions, everything is interdependent and connected; the passages in this book are no exception. Each one alone is a small snippet of wisdom, but together they form a more cohesive window into the philosophy that drives one of the most illustrious and interesting people alive today.
When I was born in 1989, the Dalai Lama was already thirty years into his exile. The Berlin Wall came down two months afterward. The Rwandan genocide happened when I was too young to follow what was going on, if the media had bothered to give it the coverage it truly deserved. I think the first big military action of which I was really aware, in a political sense, was the invasion of Iraq in 2003. I remember listening to the radio at night as I was trying to fall asleep and hearing the hourly CBC news report discussing the bombing of Baghdad. As someone who has been lucky enough to grow up in a country and a socioecomic situation where I don’t have to worry about war, poverty, or oppression, it’s difficult for me to put myself in the place of the people of Iraq, of Rwanda, of Tibet. I’m aware, intellectually, that genocides and invasions and games of the worst sort of politics are happening … but that is a far cry from understanding the plight of these people who are, after all, human beings just like me.
My Spiritual Journey is valuable because of its juxtaposition of the atrocities in Tibet with the Dalai Lama’s own pacifist beliefs. It is amazing listening to him speak with such empathy and compassion toward everyone—not just his own people, but toward his Chinese brothers and sisters. He is very careful not to generalize, to distinguish between the Chinese people and their government. Even with the government of the so-called “People’s Republic” of China, the Dalai Lama stresses that he is always open to communication, to discussion, to reconciliation. From all of his writings, whether he’s talking about his childhood in Tibet or his attempts to bring the Tibetan plight front-and-centre on the world stage, one gets this incredible sense of resoluteness from the Dalai Lama. He exudes a steadfast confidence in this idea that we, humans, can have a positive influence on the universe and that, through compassion, we can help prevent suffering. Having just finished Robopocalypse, in which an AI decides to destroy humanity in order to preserve life on Earth, this optimism is incredibly reassuring and comforting.
What’s not comforting, of course, is his story of the struggle of Tibet. I must confess I find it difficult to keep track of all those oppressive regimes around the world. It seems like no matter where one turns, bam, there’s a government oppressing its people. (And I know that we could have a nice little debate about what the American, Canadian, British governments are trying to pull these days—even if we are generous and give them a free pass, democracy is a fragile creature in this world.) Hence, while apathy is a real and present danger in today’s society, it is also important to acknowledge that we cannot all be aware of everything that’s happening. So I welcomed this chance to become more familiar with the history of Tibet; with its history with China, India, and Britain; with its struggle for independence or autonomy. This book is informative and eye-opening, making me wonder if we are so used to the situation in Tibet that, as a global society, we have largely become apathetic—because if not, then why aren’t we doing anything about this?
The Dalai Lama may have a penchant for peace and compassion, but he is no pushover: that resoluteness is like a core of steel. In his calls for negotiation, for independence, and for autonomy, he displays the mind of a statesman and a philosopher. Politicians would learn a lot from observing how the Dalai Lama comports himself and operates—it’s a little something called dignity. He has it. Most politicians, sadly, seem to have sacrificed this attribute in favour of a more flashy style of showmanship. The Dalai Lama is candid about how, in the past, he was innocent or somewhat naïve in his expectations. Even as his age has brought more experience and more wisdom, however, he does not allow hope and optimism to atrophy.
My Spiritual Journey is inspiring and insightful. It informed about all these subjects with which I have only a cursory familiarity: Tibet, Buddhism, the office of the Dalai Lama. Better yet, I got to learn about these through the eyes of the Dalai Lama himself, glimpse the processes that give rise to his thoughts and his feelings. The staccato rhythm created from this collection of his writings and speeches necessarily makes this book different from your typical memoir or autobiography. I’m honestly not sure if that makes it better or worse (you decide!). I’ve decided to give My Spiritual Journey five stars because, to put it simply, I do not think there is anything I would change about it to make it “better”. It is an open, honest, and intensely personal look at a man whose life has been political from the moment he was identified as the fourteenth Dalai Lama. What more could you desire?
Finally, this seems like a good starting place if one wants to read something by the Dalai Lama but isn’t sure where to start. I’m making note of some of his other books I’d like to read now—he has some fascinating thoughts on the convergence of science and spirituality and has written at them at length elsewhere.
July 19, 2017
I was a bit disappointed in this particular Dalai Lama book because it was repetitive of what I had already read in other books by the Dalai Lama. It was as if Sofia Stril-Rever (responsible for putting this together) took bits and pieces of other books already written and made another book of the same material. The last 35-40% of the book was all the Dalai Lamas speeches about letting Tibet being free again, so it was very repetitive on those chapters as well. I was reading the same sentences over and over again saying the same thing.
I admire the Dalai Lama and his fight to get back Tibet to his people and I hope in the future it happens, but this book wasn't nearly as good as the other ones with his name on it. When I looked at the bibliography at the back of the book, I noticed that many of the speeches came from the same books I already read. So, basically, this is a re-hash.
If you've never read a Dalai Lama book before, maybe you'll appreciate it more than me, but I still feel his other books are better written and put together and not so all over the place. I enjoy his messages of peace and compassion and how to handle situations and people in his message of non violence. I got some of that in this book, but then it quickly switched to his political speeches, so that's why I rated it a 3.
I admire the Dalai Lama and his fight to get back Tibet to his people and I hope in the future it happens, but this book wasn't nearly as good as the other ones with his name on it. When I looked at the bibliography at the back of the book, I noticed that many of the speeches came from the same books I already read. So, basically, this is a re-hash.
If you've never read a Dalai Lama book before, maybe you'll appreciate it more than me, but I still feel his other books are better written and put together and not so all over the place. I enjoy his messages of peace and compassion and how to handle situations and people in his message of non violence. I got some of that in this book, but then it quickly switched to his political speeches, so that's why I rated it a 3.
September 29, 2020
The Dalai Lama's Appeal To The World
So many books by or with the Dalai Lama have been written in English that I was surprised to learn that the Dalai Lama has also published original books in other languages. Thus Dalai Lama's new book, "My Spiritual Journey" (2010) initially appeared in French in 2009. The book consists of excerpts from speeches, interviews, and other books of the Dalai Lama over the years. While the words are the Dalai Lama's, the selections of the texts and the format are by Sofia Stril-Rever, his long-time interpreter and a scholar of Sanskrit and translator. As Stril-Rever relates in her Foreword to the book, her original plan was to prepare a series of the Dalai Lama's important texts that had not already been translated into French. She wanted to use texts that captured the Dalai Lama's approach to spirituality and to humanity.
As Stril-Rever's work progressed, she realized her excerpts had a progression that illustrated the Dalai Lama's life and preoccupations over time. Thus she changed the planned title of her collection, "Appeal to the World" to "My Spiritual Autobiography". Stril-Rever also wrote extensive commentary and transitional material to accompany the texts. The Dalai Lama approved the book and Stril-Rever's approach.
When the book was translated into English by Charlotte Mandell, the American publisher changed the title to "My Spiritual Journey". The book is not an "autobiography" in the strict sense because of its episodic character and because of Stril-Rever's large role in choosing and commenting upon the texts. The book still seems to me broader and more thematically-oriented to be either a personal spiritual journey or an autobiography. Stril-Rever's initial thought which characterized the book as an "Appeal to the World" best summarizes the content.
The book is organized in three broad sections, each of which consider one of what the Dalai Lama describes as his "Three Commitments in Life." The selections are short and pithy with introductory headings and comments by Stril-Rever. At times, the references to the initial sources of the passages could be clearer. The first of the Dalai Lama's commitments in life is as a "human being". This is the pivotal section of the book in which the Dalai Lama speaks of the universal character of the human condition, the need to be loved and to avoid pain, as the basis for a teaching of compassion and altruism. The value that people share by virtue of their humanity is more important that what divides them in terms of nationhood, religion, or race. The selections in this part of the book also describe the Dalai Lama's childhood and the preparations he underwent to fulfill his appointed role as Tibetan Buddhism's spiritual leader.
The second of the Dalai Lama's commitments in life is to his role as a Buddhist monk. In the selections explaining this commitment, the Dalai Lama speaks of the value of religious pluralism. ("Despite their different concepts and philosophies, all the chief religious traditions bring us the same message of love, compassion, tolerance, temperance and self-discipline. They also have in common their potential to help us lead a happier life.") He also discusses in simple terms the difficult Buddhist teachings of impermanence, lack of identity, and dependent origination. The Dalai Lama finds that Buddhism and religion have a transformative character, away from selfishness and the transitory, to inwardness and altruism. The selections in the book under the heading "Transforming our Minds" are particularly worthwhile. The Dalai Lama speaks of the relationship between the life of the religious ascetic and the lives of most people. The following passage (p. 98) addresses both religious pluralism and Buddhist teachings.
"We are not all called to such an accomplishment. [ascetic practices leading to Buddhist realization] It is better, for our daily practice, to stay at home, keeping our professional and family life while still learning to become better from day to day and adhering to a positive mode of life that will contribute to the good of society, according to the principles of the Dharma. We should choose professions in the areas of education, health, or social services. We should avoid renouncing everything for a solitary retreat. The aim is not to devote ourselves solely to spiritual practice, to lead a life lost in the glaciers. We should progress by degrees, steadily, taking care not to have extreme views, in a spirit of steadfastness and perseverance."
The third of the Dalai Lama's commitments in life is to his role as the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama states that "I have a special responsibility to the Tibetan people, for they continue to place their hope and confidence in me during this critical period of our history." The texts in this section discuss the conflict between China and Tibet which resulted in the Dalai Lama's escape to India in 1959 and the establishment of the Tibetan government in exile. Ultimately, the Dalai Lama received worldwide fame and attention for his efforts to resolve the plight of his people, to preserve their religion and culture, and to return to their homeland in a nonviolent way. The issue with Tibet, of course, continues; and the selections in the book offer an overview of the Dalai Lama's role and attitude beginning with the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950 and continuing to the present. Unlike his stated commitments as a person and as a Buddhist monk, the Dalai Lama writes that his commitment in the role for which he became famous is only temporal in character and will end upon a mutually satisfactory resolution of the Tibet-China
situation.
The book has the character of antholology on subjects which the Dalai Lama has written about in more detail elsewhere. I find it useful to read the Dalai Lama's books periodically to revisit and rethink his spiritual teachings. If not a full description of the Dalai Lama's own spiritual journey, this book does describe his commitments and the basis of his teachings. Stril-Rever's accompanying commentary is reverential and also useful. This book may make a good basic introduction for newcomers to the Dalai Lama as well as a good refresher for his admirers.
Robin Friedman
So many books by or with the Dalai Lama have been written in English that I was surprised to learn that the Dalai Lama has also published original books in other languages. Thus Dalai Lama's new book, "My Spiritual Journey" (2010) initially appeared in French in 2009. The book consists of excerpts from speeches, interviews, and other books of the Dalai Lama over the years. While the words are the Dalai Lama's, the selections of the texts and the format are by Sofia Stril-Rever, his long-time interpreter and a scholar of Sanskrit and translator. As Stril-Rever relates in her Foreword to the book, her original plan was to prepare a series of the Dalai Lama's important texts that had not already been translated into French. She wanted to use texts that captured the Dalai Lama's approach to spirituality and to humanity.
As Stril-Rever's work progressed, she realized her excerpts had a progression that illustrated the Dalai Lama's life and preoccupations over time. Thus she changed the planned title of her collection, "Appeal to the World" to "My Spiritual Autobiography". Stril-Rever also wrote extensive commentary and transitional material to accompany the texts. The Dalai Lama approved the book and Stril-Rever's approach.
When the book was translated into English by Charlotte Mandell, the American publisher changed the title to "My Spiritual Journey". The book is not an "autobiography" in the strict sense because of its episodic character and because of Stril-Rever's large role in choosing and commenting upon the texts. The book still seems to me broader and more thematically-oriented to be either a personal spiritual journey or an autobiography. Stril-Rever's initial thought which characterized the book as an "Appeal to the World" best summarizes the content.
The book is organized in three broad sections, each of which consider one of what the Dalai Lama describes as his "Three Commitments in Life." The selections are short and pithy with introductory headings and comments by Stril-Rever. At times, the references to the initial sources of the passages could be clearer. The first of the Dalai Lama's commitments in life is as a "human being". This is the pivotal section of the book in which the Dalai Lama speaks of the universal character of the human condition, the need to be loved and to avoid pain, as the basis for a teaching of compassion and altruism. The value that people share by virtue of their humanity is more important that what divides them in terms of nationhood, religion, or race. The selections in this part of the book also describe the Dalai Lama's childhood and the preparations he underwent to fulfill his appointed role as Tibetan Buddhism's spiritual leader.
The second of the Dalai Lama's commitments in life is to his role as a Buddhist monk. In the selections explaining this commitment, the Dalai Lama speaks of the value of religious pluralism. ("Despite their different concepts and philosophies, all the chief religious traditions bring us the same message of love, compassion, tolerance, temperance and self-discipline. They also have in common their potential to help us lead a happier life.") He also discusses in simple terms the difficult Buddhist teachings of impermanence, lack of identity, and dependent origination. The Dalai Lama finds that Buddhism and religion have a transformative character, away from selfishness and the transitory, to inwardness and altruism. The selections in the book under the heading "Transforming our Minds" are particularly worthwhile. The Dalai Lama speaks of the relationship between the life of the religious ascetic and the lives of most people. The following passage (p. 98) addresses both religious pluralism and Buddhist teachings.
"We are not all called to such an accomplishment. [ascetic practices leading to Buddhist realization] It is better, for our daily practice, to stay at home, keeping our professional and family life while still learning to become better from day to day and adhering to a positive mode of life that will contribute to the good of society, according to the principles of the Dharma. We should choose professions in the areas of education, health, or social services. We should avoid renouncing everything for a solitary retreat. The aim is not to devote ourselves solely to spiritual practice, to lead a life lost in the glaciers. We should progress by degrees, steadily, taking care not to have extreme views, in a spirit of steadfastness and perseverance."
The third of the Dalai Lama's commitments in life is to his role as the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama states that "I have a special responsibility to the Tibetan people, for they continue to place their hope and confidence in me during this critical period of our history." The texts in this section discuss the conflict between China and Tibet which resulted in the Dalai Lama's escape to India in 1959 and the establishment of the Tibetan government in exile. Ultimately, the Dalai Lama received worldwide fame and attention for his efforts to resolve the plight of his people, to preserve their religion and culture, and to return to their homeland in a nonviolent way. The issue with Tibet, of course, continues; and the selections in the book offer an overview of the Dalai Lama's role and attitude beginning with the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950 and continuing to the present. Unlike his stated commitments as a person and as a Buddhist monk, the Dalai Lama writes that his commitment in the role for which he became famous is only temporal in character and will end upon a mutually satisfactory resolution of the Tibet-China
situation.
The book has the character of antholology on subjects which the Dalai Lama has written about in more detail elsewhere. I find it useful to read the Dalai Lama's books periodically to revisit and rethink his spiritual teachings. If not a full description of the Dalai Lama's own spiritual journey, this book does describe his commitments and the basis of his teachings. Stril-Rever's accompanying commentary is reverential and also useful. This book may make a good basic introduction for newcomers to the Dalai Lama as well as a good refresher for his admirers.
Robin Friedman
June 5, 2012
I am trying to be objective in this review, as this book was a disappointment for me, but that is because I've read a whole lot about and by the Dalai Lama, and have studied Buddhism for nearly 20 years. A lot of this is cut from previous letters/speeches/books with some explanations thrown in. Originally translated from French, I did notice some minor content differences. If you haven't read a lot of his works, this would be a great book for you. If you've read a lot of his works, skip it, unless you just want a refresher about the history of Tibet's struggles with China.
June 19, 2020
This is the kind of book my soul craved during this time of change.
February 11, 2015
Yes, I am giving the Dalai Lama two stars. Not that there isn't valuable material here, there always is when it comes to the DL. But to market this as a spiritual autobiography is a bit unfair to the reader. This is primarily a political track emphasizing the Tibetan government in exile's current position in relation to China. As far as spiritual writing goes, there is a fair bit of that as well. But what this book doesn't do enough of is tell the story of the Dalai Lama's early spiritual development. There are snippets of the past, the odd antidote and such, but not enough of what I was expecting.
If your searching for insights into DL's early life, upbringing, or behind the scenes of is formative years then you might be sorely disappointed in this release. There is just enough pragmatic spiritual to pull the reader through, and it certainly is a very quick read - so no harm no foul Mr. Lama.
If your searching for insights into DL's early life, upbringing, or behind the scenes of is formative years then you might be sorely disappointed in this release. There is just enough pragmatic spiritual to pull the reader through, and it certainly is a very quick read - so no harm no foul Mr. Lama.
September 16, 2018
The book depicts well the spiritual, political and social journey of the 14th Dalai Lama and the three causes he carries presently. However, lots of repetition in my opinion of the ideals and values that the Dalai Lama throughout the book. Would have given the book 3 stars if there wasn't that much repetition.
December 18, 2017
This interesting autobiography (plus commentary from the translator) was quite interesting. It told the Dalai Lama's life/views in three different areas-as a human being, as a Buddhist monk, and as the Dalai Lama. There was a great deal about Tibet's struggles with China and his advocacy of non-violence. He's an inspiring person, with a lot of warmth and humor as well as serious principles.
September 8, 2020
My Spiritual Journey is primarily about the Dalai Lama's role as international advocate for preservation of Tibetan culture. I assumed incorrectly that this book would detail his philosophy and experience as a monk.
I much preferred the warm, reflective style of the beginning (autobiography) and regretted how quickly it shifted to a political/historic appeal.
I much preferred the warm, reflective style of the beginning (autobiography) and regretted how quickly it shifted to a political/historic appeal.
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October 31, 2018I would give this book a 5 out of 5. The book really made me think about my life and the people I interact with each and everyday. One of the points that this book spends a large amount of time on is being altruistic a word meaning selflessness. After learning this word and how it can really help in my life and others, I have noticed myself being more selfless to make people more happy which in turn made me a happier person. Other topics that are discussed is compassion and love toward one another, human race as a whole, and many more. After reading each section I truly felt empowered and have tried to integrate it into my everyday life. I personally am not a religious person and it is extremely unusual to read a book like this but, I am super happy that I did. While reading this book I always had a highlighter at hand so, whenever I found something that gave me an emotional response that I wanted to save I would highlight it. I recommend this book for anyone that is having a bad day or even needs to find perspective, as I know this is what it did for me. This is the fabulous book and will probably read it again.
July 20, 2018
The book was written by a third party who interviewed the Dalai Lama. While the intent and spirit of the Dalai Lama was inherent in the book, it read like a pseudo-history of Tibet and a partial biography of the Dalai Lama. The explanatory notes jumped around as well, as a speech from the 1960s was referenced and then explained in the context of the 1990s; the next chapter then is back several decades.
January 11, 2019
What a lovely book. I enjoyed that it included the history of not only the Dalia Lama but also the occupation of Tibet (while I knew this at a very high level this gave me a much better understanding)
A wonderful book to be enjoyed by all!
A wonderful book to be enjoyed by all!
April 4, 2019
Excellent
Brings attention to the suffering and pain brought by the Chinese government in Tibet, without forgetting to remind us the importance of showing compassion to all sentient beings.
Brings attention to the suffering and pain brought by the Chinese government in Tibet, without forgetting to remind us the importance of showing compassion to all sentient beings.
May 4, 2019
Repetitive but heartbreaking
January 21, 2021
Beautiful. This book is full of incredible wisdom and messages that will stay with me forever. <3
February 12, 2021
Free on Amazon Prime reading.
November 27, 2019
War does not end war
This is a sad, hopeful book. I was unaware of the struggles of the Tibetan people. This book outlines several speeches by the Dali Lama and at points brought me to tears. Compassion I believe is one of the greatest human qualities, hope being second. This book brings sadness into hope and shows the need for love to the solution. War does not end war.
This is a sad, hopeful book. I was unaware of the struggles of the Tibetan people. This book outlines several speeches by the Dali Lama and at points brought me to tears. Compassion I believe is one of the greatest human qualities, hope being second. This book brings sadness into hope and shows the need for love to the solution. War does not end war.
October 18, 2018
The heartbreaking truth of a nonviolent nation being repressed and slowly annihilated by The People's Republic of China
After reading the Dalai Lama's account of the atrocities taking place in Tibet and his effort to save his people, with such incredible hope for justice, I feel moved to make a positive difference in the world. No matter how small. The suffering the Tibetan people have, for 50 years, endured and as their leader, the Dalai Lama has to helplessly watch. Yet, he never gives up hope for a peaceful resolution. He is relentless in his journey to return Tibet to the Tibetan people, stop their suffering and preserve their peaceful way of life. This is a very emotional read. I highly recommend this book.
After reading the Dalai Lama's account of the atrocities taking place in Tibet and his effort to save his people, with such incredible hope for justice, I feel moved to make a positive difference in the world. No matter how small. The suffering the Tibetan people have, for 50 years, endured and as their leader, the Dalai Lama has to helplessly watch. Yet, he never gives up hope for a peaceful resolution. He is relentless in his journey to return Tibet to the Tibetan people, stop their suffering and preserve their peaceful way of life. This is a very emotional read. I highly recommend this book.
February 13, 2019
Reading this book give insight into one of the great spiritual thinkers of our time. I was impressed with the humanity that the Dalai Lama exhibits, inspite of the great challenges of the Tibetan people under the treatment of the Chinese. He provides an incredible basis for resilience in action and how to live in the present. This is the basis of true leadership. This book is inspiration how we can all strive to develop our own spirituality and move to improve our community through relieving suffering in our neighbors.
The final portion of the book detailed the annexation of Tibet by China, with its struggles and conflicts. While this is important histiry, the author dwelled too long on this section. Irrespective, it showed how even someone as venerated as the Dalai Lama has incredible struggles to overcome.
The final portion of the book detailed the annexation of Tibet by China, with its struggles and conflicts. While this is important histiry, the author dwelled too long on this section. Irrespective, it showed how even someone as venerated as the Dalai Lama has incredible struggles to overcome.
July 2, 2019
A bit indifferent after reading. Had expectations and all. It’s still a good book though. Reminds me of my Philosphy class. And I enjoyed that class. Even have 4.0.
March 6, 2012
This unique book written by the Dalai Lama himself was a fantastic read. Full of adventure, and hardships that were endured throughout the life of his holiness. the Dalai Lama has written other books, but this one was the first time that he had written about his personal life and all of his experiences from the man who has seen it all. This book does not only contain stories and information about his time as the Dalai Lama, but the training it took to get to where he is and how well established he has become. The most exciting thing is reading about his childhood, because nobody really knew how the life of the Dalai Lama began, now it will never be forgotten.
July 28, 2017
I've never read anything by the current Dalai Lama, and I found this book interesting and informative about his life and the country and people of Tibet. I think I will have a better and more informed attitude about this little country in the Himalayas for having read the book. Some of it is a bit repetitive, but I can understand why, in that the Dalai Lama over a long period of years, and many attempts, kept trying to win independence back for his nation and his people--who had been independent for nearly 2000 years before being overrun by Communist China. I am appreciative of the insights I have gained into the thoughts and feelings of such a special world leader.
November 30, 2010
As always, lot of good thoughts and quotes. The Dalai Lama is always an interesting and inspirational read. I learned a lot about the atrocities in Tibet and I find it hard to believe that so little has been done. I like that the Dalai Lama focuses so much on compassion. It's definitely one of things this world could use tons more of. My biggest gripe with this book was that it seemed kind of repetitive. Like each section was approved individually with out consideration to whether most of the information was already conveyed in another section.
November 14, 2024
LOVING this book - if you are in tune with your own spiritual journey, I think you will love it too. I am fascinated to learn about how the Dalai Lama found out he was the incarnation of the 13th dalai lama and about his childhood. But it's interspersed with anecdotes about current political situations affecting Tibet and essentially, the whole world. China is really something else. . .I will pray for them. I recommend this book for all spiritually minded individuals.
February 12, 2017
I think it is okay kind of book for the beginners who just want to get some basic understanding of Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan political situation . But as an advance reader on the topic it was not an impressive work for me since I picked the book to understand the spiritual aspect of Dalai Lama XIV's life but I felt it was highly political instead of spiritual.
July 6, 2019
Filled with wisdom, history and great sorrow. I am a much better person for reading this book and understanding the plight of the Tibetan people and hope.
January 8, 2021
This is the real story of a being who not only speaks of love and compassion but lives it. Not from the comfort of a sedate lifestyle but amidst a world of authoritarian brutality and suppression. He serves as a symbol of not only non violence but also compassion in the face of madness. The story of Tibet is told here and much much more.
I watch my own reactions in the face of national division and action that makes one "mad" and realize how "mad" refers to a state of mine in which emotions have taken the mind away from rationale control. One who is mad or angry is insane in the moment with emotions that move him/her away from their better selves.
True masters of peace of mind and compassion like Buddha, the Dali Lama, Jesus and others are one that in the face of madness break the cycle and turn it in to something new. Instead of becoming martyrs of madness they become martyrs of love and compassion.
This is truly and art to be mastered and comes through Buddhism and other meditative practices. When one asks "Why was I born into this life" let the answer be that you are to show how you were able to persevere the madness and maintain love- breaking a cycle of a previous generation or incarnation. And look to the very human incarnations of a Dalai Lama and Jesus as examples of those that lived through persecution and maintained compassion.
For those that lose there way in madness for what they deem to be worthy causes - remember that madness can never be overcome by more madness but only through its opposite. This is not to say that it is the easy path- only that it the effective path and the only path for peace of mind in the darkest places.
I say all this a couple of days after the U.S. Capital was raided by anarchists and families, friends, states, and workers are being divided by those who wish to enhance division instead of what unites us. I am no saint that did not lose my mind in madness for a little while after, but I am once again inspired to keep trying to find a middle path of compassion when emotions are high.
Still, todays challenge in my own life is no challenge compared to the atrocities for decades that the Tibetan people and others have felt against Authoritarian rule. What Black Americans and Native Americans have felt in the U.S. being no less atrocious...But if we each where we are at with our own minor challenges can learn to control our own madness, the tide will eventually turn. For if you don't believe it that, what is left to believe in?
I watch my own reactions in the face of national division and action that makes one "mad" and realize how "mad" refers to a state of mine in which emotions have taken the mind away from rationale control. One who is mad or angry is insane in the moment with emotions that move him/her away from their better selves.
True masters of peace of mind and compassion like Buddha, the Dali Lama, Jesus and others are one that in the face of madness break the cycle and turn it in to something new. Instead of becoming martyrs of madness they become martyrs of love and compassion.
This is truly and art to be mastered and comes through Buddhism and other meditative practices. When one asks "Why was I born into this life" let the answer be that you are to show how you were able to persevere the madness and maintain love- breaking a cycle of a previous generation or incarnation. And look to the very human incarnations of a Dalai Lama and Jesus as examples of those that lived through persecution and maintained compassion.
For those that lose there way in madness for what they deem to be worthy causes - remember that madness can never be overcome by more madness but only through its opposite. This is not to say that it is the easy path- only that it the effective path and the only path for peace of mind in the darkest places.
I say all this a couple of days after the U.S. Capital was raided by anarchists and families, friends, states, and workers are being divided by those who wish to enhance division instead of what unites us. I am no saint that did not lose my mind in madness for a little while after, but I am once again inspired to keep trying to find a middle path of compassion when emotions are high.
Still, todays challenge in my own life is no challenge compared to the atrocities for decades that the Tibetan people and others have felt against Authoritarian rule. What Black Americans and Native Americans have felt in the U.S. being no less atrocious...But if we each where we are at with our own minor challenges can learn to control our own madness, the tide will eventually turn. For if you don't believe it that, what is left to believe in?
February 16, 2022
The words of the Dalai Lama are simple, yet full of truth. Everyone can appreciate the principles of humanity that lead to happiness, such as; love, compassion, and kindness. I respect his position on non-violence, karma, interdependence, spirituality, meditation, and the importance of mastering the mind, and conquering ones passions. His innocence and utopian ideal for all sentient beings is admirable.
My dissatisfaction with the book lies with Sofia Stril-Rever, and how she put it together. The title, image, and name on the cover, are misleading. This book was not written by the Dalai Lama and you will not find "his" spiritual journey in it. It is instead excerpts of speech's or statements he gave, primarily from the 1980's and earlier that lack the continuity of a journey. Lastly, the image of him looking straight into the camera implies that this is his book, intimate and personal, but really, it is someone else collecting information from lots of sources and publishing it with her commentary. Furthermore, I disagree with how she organized his writings into the book, and it was rather repetitive.
Bottom line, I think there are better books out there on the Dalai Lama, but you probably won't regret reading this one.
Spoilers Below
I was surprised to learn a few things I didn't know. The Dalai Lama is the leader of Tibetan Buddhists, and not all Buddhists. Also, he doesn't believe there should be one universal religion, because..."one religion simply cannot satisfy the needs of such a variety of people," and instead, thinks..."it is always more satisfying to deepen and preserve the religion of one's ancestors."
Another thing, I didn't realize just HOW MUCH suffering the communist Chinese government have inflicted on thousands and thousands of Tibetan people since they invaded. Wow! The violence, torture, murder, cultural re-education, separating children from their parents, forcing monks and nuns to have sex in public, and the list goes on.
My favorite part of the book, was the section titled: "Taking care of the Earth." I loved that he said, "The earth is not only the common heritage of humanity, but also our ultimate source of life. By overexploiting its resources, we are in the process of undermining the very ground of survival."
I'm not sure how a non-violent approach will turn out in the end for the Tibetan people, but I hope that some future generation of China will have compassion on them, and one day give them the autonomy they so desperately desire in Tibet.
My dissatisfaction with the book lies with Sofia Stril-Rever, and how she put it together. The title, image, and name on the cover, are misleading. This book was not written by the Dalai Lama and you will not find "his" spiritual journey in it. It is instead excerpts of speech's or statements he gave, primarily from the 1980's and earlier that lack the continuity of a journey. Lastly, the image of him looking straight into the camera implies that this is his book, intimate and personal, but really, it is someone else collecting information from lots of sources and publishing it with her commentary. Furthermore, I disagree with how she organized his writings into the book, and it was rather repetitive.
Bottom line, I think there are better books out there on the Dalai Lama, but you probably won't regret reading this one.
Spoilers Below
I was surprised to learn a few things I didn't know. The Dalai Lama is the leader of Tibetan Buddhists, and not all Buddhists. Also, he doesn't believe there should be one universal religion, because..."one religion simply cannot satisfy the needs of such a variety of people," and instead, thinks..."it is always more satisfying to deepen and preserve the religion of one's ancestors."
Another thing, I didn't realize just HOW MUCH suffering the communist Chinese government have inflicted on thousands and thousands of Tibetan people since they invaded. Wow! The violence, torture, murder, cultural re-education, separating children from their parents, forcing monks and nuns to have sex in public, and the list goes on.
My favorite part of the book, was the section titled: "Taking care of the Earth." I loved that he said, "The earth is not only the common heritage of humanity, but also our ultimate source of life. By overexploiting its resources, we are in the process of undermining the very ground of survival."
I'm not sure how a non-violent approach will turn out in the end for the Tibetan people, but I hope that some future generation of China will have compassion on them, and one day give them the autonomy they so desperately desire in Tibet.
October 5, 2019
I really really liked this book, which presents the Dalai Lama’s life and work.
The book starts with his commitment to compassion, real compassion, which I really really enjoyed. Our world really needs a lot more love and less science/economics talk!. It’s opposed to materialism (and materialism could be a cause of mental ilness), as “No material object, no matter how beautiful or precious is is, can gives us the feeling of being loved, because our deeper identity, our true character, is rooted in the subjective nature of the mind”(1.1). Compassion is not simply love, it is a real commitment to the other’s wellbeing, regardless of their (negative) behavior. Anger is thus a sign of weakness, as you’re unstable and uncertain. The key advice here is that if people seem to take advantage of your goodness, “be firm, but with compassion”(1.1). You can even enact steps to make yourself clear, but without negative emotions like resentment. Dealing with enemies practices your tolerance.Harming others is also harming yourself.
The Dalai Lama himself completely embodies compassion, and his personnality seems awesome-he’s super humble, describing his “innocent pranks,” “punctuated by lound bursts of laughter”(1.2). He spends 5(!) hours a day meditating… Conversely,His story of reincarnation and how he was found seems a bit odd, as he finds objects held by his predecessors, along with other such queer examples.
Overall, though buddhism seems like a great religion. Though they’re not fully feministic, they do have a lot of female reincarnations, and he even jokingly mentions that if his successor is a woman, she’ll have to be good-looking to attract people to buddhism. Another aspect is that it believes in continuity (made possible by reincarnation), and in the lack of “inherent reality in phenomena”(2.3)-not sure I completely grasp that, though he mentions how it relates to physics.The only turth is consciousness It goes on to criticize sexual desire, as it’s not intellectual and only provides short relief-great quote to highlight it “When you have an itch, you scratch yourself. But not having an itch at all is better than scratching yourself for a long time”(2.3). He recommends to continue with our existing religion (as they all want “inner transformation of our stream of consciousness”(2.3) and lifestyle, which is very impressive to say by a religion.
The idea, again, is to break away from yourself, negative emotions and egocentric fixation, as studies show that people using the most personal possessive pronous are more prone to cardiac diseases. Everything is connected, nothing is just for yourself, and it is this interdependence which is at the root of the commitment to non-violence.
Religion should thus be political to make these things possible, and he advocates for health, education and social services (kind of marxist…). He goes on to explain that the solution to problems like alcoholism could lie in spirituality, and that materialism could be the culprit in western problems (funny idea that bees don’t need constitutions to cooperate with one another, and “we lack a sense of responsibility toward our fellow humans”(2.4).
The solution to materialism is in happiness which itself bases upon peace of mind made possible by control and knowledge of your consciousness. He goes very strongly against ideologies, paradoxically because one idea pushed by a few undermines personal responsibility. Additionally, I’m very impressed by his next perspective on the need for new ethics to accompany the leaps in modern science, where scientists ask themselves the profound questions which used to be reserved to religion, seeing it as a possibility to marry both. He ends by underlining their commitment to protecting Mother Earth.
His explanation of Tibet’s situation is revolting though hopeless. China took Tibet in 1950, taking advantage of the fact that it was far from civilization to stage a coup, as the few media focuses on the eccentricity of their culture. The reasons for the invasion are simple: geopolitically interesting and containing a lot of ressources (wood, minerals, …)-which they abuse, killing woods dries up rivers, radioactive pollutants in rivers kill people,… He goes on to explain how historically China and Tibet were separate, and that treaties said exactly that, but that China was too powerful to risk annoying it. The facts of the invasion are horrible though, especially after the Dalai Lama leaves Lhasa in 1959 (chinese army puts canons in front of his house to scare protestors away): all(2500) but 70 monsateries are looted, the cultural revolution kills many and takes away even more. He goes to India, which doesn’t attack but does provide for an exiled community to form. What did he do between 1950 and 1959??? China continues to say they want best for Tibet, yet repression exacerbates-nearly a genocide, wanting to kill the culture. In response, the Dalai Lama compromises (nearly nothing lol), asking for mere autonomy but no independence, yet unwilling to give Chinese the right in history. The history goes on, and his commitment to nonviolence is really what stole people’s hearts all over the world. Buddhism itself is growing in China, though I think the situation is impossible for them. One former president of party who expressed himself in favour of Tibet had to go to prison.
The book starts with his commitment to compassion, real compassion, which I really really enjoyed. Our world really needs a lot more love and less science/economics talk!. It’s opposed to materialism (and materialism could be a cause of mental ilness), as “No material object, no matter how beautiful or precious is is, can gives us the feeling of being loved, because our deeper identity, our true character, is rooted in the subjective nature of the mind”(1.1). Compassion is not simply love, it is a real commitment to the other’s wellbeing, regardless of their (negative) behavior. Anger is thus a sign of weakness, as you’re unstable and uncertain. The key advice here is that if people seem to take advantage of your goodness, “be firm, but with compassion”(1.1). You can even enact steps to make yourself clear, but without negative emotions like resentment. Dealing with enemies practices your tolerance.Harming others is also harming yourself.
The Dalai Lama himself completely embodies compassion, and his personnality seems awesome-he’s super humble, describing his “innocent pranks,” “punctuated by lound bursts of laughter”(1.2). He spends 5(!) hours a day meditating… Conversely,His story of reincarnation and how he was found seems a bit odd, as he finds objects held by his predecessors, along with other such queer examples.
Overall, though buddhism seems like a great religion. Though they’re not fully feministic, they do have a lot of female reincarnations, and he even jokingly mentions that if his successor is a woman, she’ll have to be good-looking to attract people to buddhism. Another aspect is that it believes in continuity (made possible by reincarnation), and in the lack of “inherent reality in phenomena”(2.3)-not sure I completely grasp that, though he mentions how it relates to physics.The only turth is consciousness It goes on to criticize sexual desire, as it’s not intellectual and only provides short relief-great quote to highlight it “When you have an itch, you scratch yourself. But not having an itch at all is better than scratching yourself for a long time”(2.3). He recommends to continue with our existing religion (as they all want “inner transformation of our stream of consciousness”(2.3) and lifestyle, which is very impressive to say by a religion.
The idea, again, is to break away from yourself, negative emotions and egocentric fixation, as studies show that people using the most personal possessive pronous are more prone to cardiac diseases. Everything is connected, nothing is just for yourself, and it is this interdependence which is at the root of the commitment to non-violence.
Religion should thus be political to make these things possible, and he advocates for health, education and social services (kind of marxist…). He goes on to explain that the solution to problems like alcoholism could lie in spirituality, and that materialism could be the culprit in western problems (funny idea that bees don’t need constitutions to cooperate with one another, and “we lack a sense of responsibility toward our fellow humans”(2.4).
The solution to materialism is in happiness which itself bases upon peace of mind made possible by control and knowledge of your consciousness. He goes very strongly against ideologies, paradoxically because one idea pushed by a few undermines personal responsibility. Additionally, I’m very impressed by his next perspective on the need for new ethics to accompany the leaps in modern science, where scientists ask themselves the profound questions which used to be reserved to religion, seeing it as a possibility to marry both. He ends by underlining their commitment to protecting Mother Earth.
His explanation of Tibet’s situation is revolting though hopeless. China took Tibet in 1950, taking advantage of the fact that it was far from civilization to stage a coup, as the few media focuses on the eccentricity of their culture. The reasons for the invasion are simple: geopolitically interesting and containing a lot of ressources (wood, minerals, …)-which they abuse, killing woods dries up rivers, radioactive pollutants in rivers kill people,… He goes on to explain how historically China and Tibet were separate, and that treaties said exactly that, but that China was too powerful to risk annoying it. The facts of the invasion are horrible though, especially after the Dalai Lama leaves Lhasa in 1959 (chinese army puts canons in front of his house to scare protestors away): all(2500) but 70 monsateries are looted, the cultural revolution kills many and takes away even more. He goes to India, which doesn’t attack but does provide for an exiled community to form. What did he do between 1950 and 1959??? China continues to say they want best for Tibet, yet repression exacerbates-nearly a genocide, wanting to kill the culture. In response, the Dalai Lama compromises (nearly nothing lol), asking for mere autonomy but no independence, yet unwilling to give Chinese the right in history. The history goes on, and his commitment to nonviolence is really what stole people’s hearts all over the world. Buddhism itself is growing in China, though I think the situation is impossible for them. One former president of party who expressed himself in favour of Tibet had to go to prison.
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