The autobiography of the Dalai Lama of Tibet, a fascinating insight into the mind of one of the greatest contemporary spiritual leaders
‘An extraordinary story’ Daily Mail
‘Compelling, fascinating, eye-opening’ Washington Post
‘A vital historical witness, not only to inhumanity but to compassion’ Los Angeles Times
‘Forthright… often amusing’ New York Times
In 1938 a two-year-old boy was recognised through a traditional process of discovery as being the reincarnation of all previous Dalai Lamas, the spiritual rulers of Tibet. Taken away from his parents, he was brought up in Lhasa according to a monastic regimen of rigorous austerity and in almost total isolation. Aged seven he was enthroned in the 1000-room Potala palace as the supreme spiritual leader of a nation the size of Western Europe, with population of six million. And at fifteen, he became head of state.
With Tibet under threat from the newly Communist Chinese, there followed a traumatic decade during which he became the confidant of both Chairman Mao and Jawaharal Nehru as he tried to maintain autonomy for his people. Then in 1959, he was finally forced into exile – followed by over 100,000 destitute refugees.
Here, in his own words, he describes what it was like to grow up revered as a deity among his people, reveals his innermost feelings about his role, and discusses the mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism.
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Reviews
Throughout his story, told with great humility, the Dalai Lama reveals his obligation both to address the time-honored spiritual needs of his people and to help them deal with the practical considerations of their disrupted lives. Anyone wanting to understand Tibet today will do well to read this priest-king's tale of coping with the ancient and modern worlds that have shaped him
An earnest, inspiring and wholly captivating classic tale of spiritual adventure. With candor, great charm, and good humor, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize tells his life story
An extraordinary story
A simple and powerful autobiography, The Dalai Lama's story of exile must serve, of course, as a vital historical witness, not only to inhumanity but to compassion as well, not only to betrayal and treachery but to generosity and faithfulness
His autobiography was waited for, and is worth waiting for
A touching book, that arouses great sympathy for its extraordinary author
A wonderfully entertaining and fascinating book... One comes away from this book with tremendous respect and admiration for this compassionate man and spiritual leader
The prose is clear and engaging, full of subtle implication and humor. His observations of Western culture are poignant
Forthright... often amusing... he has retained much of the freshness of the child's view of what was happening to him, and his account is moving
Compelling... fascinating... eye-opening