Freedom in Exile. Autobiography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet

Cover Type: Softcover
Book Condition: Fine
Jacket Condition: None Issued
Publisher: Abacus
Publisher Place: London
Publisher Year: 1999
Edition: Reprint

Description: 324 pages. Book appears to have hardly been read and is in Fine condition throughout.

Publishers Description: 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. He tells of secret deals struck with the CIA as Tibet continued to struggle for independence, talks freely of the many world leaders he has known, and talks of the Wests malaise from his standpoint as a spirtual and temporal figure of world reknown. Industry Reviews A touching book, that arouses great sympathy for its extraordiary author SPECTATORFrom the supernatural marvels of Shangri-La to the life-and-death manoeverings of Realpolitik: an earnest, inspiring, and wholly captivating tale of spiritual adventure KIRKUS REVIEWS

ISBN: 9780349111117