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Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet, and the World by [Robert Thurman]

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Robert A. F. Thurman

Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet, and the World Kindle Edition

by Robert Thurman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an extraordinary example of a life dedicated to peace, communication, and unity. What he represents, and what he has accomplished, heals and transcends the current tensions between Tibet and China. Why the Dalai Lama Matters explores just why he has earned the world's love and respect, and how restoring Tibet's autonomy within China is not only possible, but highly reasonable, and absolutely necessary for all of us together to have a peaceful future as a global community.

In the few decades since the illegal Chinese invasion of Tibet, Tibetans have seen their ecosystem destroyed, their religion, language, and culture repressed, and systematic oppression and violence against anyone who dares acknowledge Tibetan sovereignty. Yet, above it all, the Dalai Lama has been a consistent voice for peace, sharing a "Middle-Way" approach that has gathered accolades from the Nobel Peace Prize to the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal.

Modeling this peaceful resistance shows the world that nobody is free unless everybody is free -- and that a solution exists that can benefi t all parties, not just one. And more than just his nation have taken notice. His inter-religious dialogues, honest, humble demeanor, and sense of compassionate justice sets him apart in a world at war with itself. When China changes policy and lets Tibetans be who they are, Tibet can, in turn, join with China in peaceful coexistence.

Why the Dalai Lama Matters is not merely a book about Tibet or the Dalai Lama. It is a revealing, provocative solution for a world in confl ict, dealing with the very fundamentals of human rights and freedoms. By showing the work that the Dalai Lama has done on behalf of his people, Thurman illuminates a worldwide call to action, showing that power gained by might means nothing in the face of a determined act of truth.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Atria Books/Beyond Words
Publication date

3 June 2008
File size

4630 KB
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"Dr. Thurman clearly describes how the 14th Dalai Lama can forge a path to a far better world in our time. As Albert Einstein urged, we must engage a different level of thinking to help solve the signifi cant problems we face, problems often caused by our ordinary assumptions. The Dalai Lama is a unique exemplar of a different, vital, inclusive, and powerfully effective way of thinking. This wonderfully written, compelling book invites us to freedom."
―Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness

"No one has worked harder to bring Tibet, Tibetan Buddhism, and the special power of the Dalai Lama to American audiences than Robert Thurman. Long may he write and, as in this latest work, bring learning and spirit, great vigor, and close knowledge together."
―Pico Iyer, author of The Open Road and Sun After Dark

"I could not put this book down. I found it powerfully inspiriting to imagine a positive alternative to the sixty-yearlong tragedy wrought by China in Tibet. As Robert Thurman shows us, by reversing its colonialist cultural genocide in Tibet (and so inspiring a reversal of the murderous policies of the regimes in Myanmar and Sudan), China could truly emerge as a responsible world power and take its place within the moral community of nations."
―Mia Farrow, actor, activist, and humanitarian

"This book kindles hope for Tibet, for China, and for peace. It listens deeply to the Dalai Lama, making clear what he offers and can accomplish. It vividly envisions the freedom the Tibetan people urgently need and the respect China desires from the entire world."
―Uma Karuna Thurman, actor, and activist --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Robert Thurman is the author of the critically acclaimed, popular original books Inner Revolution and Infinite Life and a translator of sacred Tibetan texts, including The Essence of True Eloquence and The Tibetan Book of the Dead. He teaches at Columbia University and holds the first endowed chair in Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in America. Cofounder of Tibet House US and Menla Mountain Retreat Center, he lives in New York City and Woodstock, New York. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0018QSNW2
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books/Beyond Words; Reprint edition (3 June 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 4630 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 256 pages

Best Sellers Rank: 1,069,313 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 177 in History of Tibet
- 328 in Dalai Lama
- 372 in International Diplomacy (Kindle Store)

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D.V.

Wonderful read

Reviewed in the United States on 14 May 2017

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Amazing book! A must read for anyone interested in the Dalai Lama, the politic of China and Tibet, and how we are going to possibly lose the greatest source of kindness.

2 people found this helpful

Art Vandelay

Unequivocally The Worst Book about Tibet I've come across in 10 years of research.

Reviewed in the United States on 21 February 2016

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This book is only valuable insofar as it provides a counterweight to much of the absurd 'literature' produced by the CCP that makes outrageous and blatantly untrue claims about the status of "China's Tibet." This book is a disingenuous attempt to dupe those unwilling to do any historical digging of their own into believing that Thurman is both an unproblematic interlocutor for the Dalai Lama and that he is someone who has worthwhile suggestions for the Premiers of China. I do not know how anyone could take him or this book remotely seriously.

Not only are there numerous blatant errors easily fact checked (e.g. He gets the Tibetan Prefectures of Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan wrong, and repeatedly refers to Honk Kong as an "autonomous region" rather than its proper title, an "administrative region"), he glosses of Tibetan history as so insanely superficial and apologetic that any reader is hindered in actually descrying the horrendously destructive and unjust history that actually took place here and in a number of other places. But it goes beyond basic facts and history: Thurman attempts downright deception through bait-and-switch and a number of other methods. For example, he first uses the term genocide. Then later qualifies it as 'cultural genocide.' Then cultural genocide through population transfer. And on. No one here is saying that everything is A-OK, but clearly there is a meaning that belongs to genocides like the Holocaust of European Jews that is different than a genocide through population transfer. Many other lines of reason in the book are equally as suspect.

An example might show how dense and arrogant he must truly be: the beginning of the book is, as mentioned, littered with uses of the term "genocide" - and repeatedly claims that Tibet was always internationally recognized as independent and unified (both highly doubted claims). But he then goes on to outline a plan of action for the (former) Chinese Premier, Hu Jintao. How could anyone with a working brain think that a CCP member, never mind the premier, could take Thurman seriously after the highly polemical history laid out in the beginning of the book? Jeese, I am about a big a fan of Tibet as there is and EVEN I can't take him seriously. Never mind someone actually approaching it from the CCP side. What a joke.

Here's a final example of just how deceptive Thurman is throughout the book: on the COVER OF THE BOOK is a Tibetan independence flag. And throughout the book he voices his support of the Dalai Lama. Yet, since 1988, the Dalai Lama hasn't even argued for independence? So why is this flag on the cover? Because he's simply trying to sell books and not judiciously inform his readers. That dalailamamatters.com is a DOT COM and not a DOT ORG also speaks volumes.

There is no doubt that Thurman was once a top-notch scholar of Tibetan Buddhism. The guy's language and philosophical abilities in this respect are nearly unmatched. But he uses his renown in that field to deceptively posture credibility as a historian and/or social scientist. But this book is at best pop-culture reading and, more likely, fantasy. It's not by an academic press and, as I mentioned, it's not even generally accurate in many respects. He has done much for Tibetology in the US over the last 4 decades but, clearly it's a looooong way down from the top.

One person found this helpful

Mind

Important Book

Reviewed in the United States on 6 June 2008

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Although the Dalai Lama is almost a household name in the United States, few people have a clear picture of who he is. Robert Thurman has championed the potential of this simple monk to teach the planet how to survive in peace. The ways of war are no longer practical (if they ever were...), and our creative ability to evolve will require a peaceful world. China would be well served to open a dialoge with the Dalai Lama before he dies, if for no other reason than to show it truly is a Great China, not just another despotic communist state.
This book should be read widely, especially by the Chinese audience in the United States. Although this book is sometimes critical of China, it is often hopeful that China will soon open its arms in friendship. "No matter what part of the world we come from, we are all basically the same human beings. We all seek happiness and try to avoid suffering. We have the same basic needs and concerns. All human beings want freedom and the right to determine our own destiny as individuals and peoples. That is human nature." from the Dalai Lama's Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, December 10, 1989.

18 people found this helpful

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on 11 January 2015

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This book is a valuable one!

Virginia Lohner

Why the Dalai Lama Matters to Everyone

Reviewed in the United States on 20 January 2016

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Well argued. Wonder if the Chinese have even looked at it?

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