that dwell in all the earth;
Peace be multiplied unto you.
-Daniel 4:1
Many thanks to the editors and contributors at nonduality.com for all
the inspiring issues.
Here's a small item from me in the form of a book review, and
excerpt. While awaiting the arrival of some used books, I noticed a
title in my wife's collection. (I rarely look there, as she reads
mostly fiction, and I, nonfiction.) But she had a pearl of a travel
book I'd never heard of.
SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET
by Henrich Harrer
Tarcher/Perigree Books [Putnam] NYC, 1982 Amazon.com link: http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Years-Tibet-Heinrich-Harrer/dp/0874778883/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197635899&sr=1-2
This book is a gripping account of escape from p.o.w. camp in India
early in WW2 by several men from the axis side. The author is an
Austrian national who was a mountain climber. Their goal was to
escape through Tibet to Japan. They spent 21 months trekking across
Himalayan passes. The first half of the book is a very well-told
report of struggle and survival.
The second half brings two of them to the forbidden city of Lhasa.
While they weren't supposed to be allowed even to visit, they were
graciously welcomed. The author becomes a mentor to the young Dalai
Lama for about five years. (And the book includes two letters this
famous spiritual leader, attesting to the author's contributions to
his efforts on behalf of Tibetan people everywhere.)
I can't recommend this book enough. For its pure adventure, I put it
up there with Kon-Tiki, making it a formative book for young adults
with adequate reading skills. But there is a spiritual dimension to
the book, although subtle. And there is also a precious historical
dimension of a kingdom which has changed beyond recognition, mixing
poignancy in with the reading enjoyment.
Here is an excerpt fitting for the holiday season. [words in
brackets are mine; I've elaborated the text slightly to provide
context, so as to keep the excerpt short.] As a Christian myself,
I've chosen this except in gratitude to my Buddhist friends and
neighbors, who have contributed a breath of peace to our world. The
report describes the central event of the Tibetan new year's
celebration in that era (mid 1940's?). But in a way, at least for me,
it hints at the longed-for arrival of Christ. What is shared is pure
pageantry; but what is sought is common to us all. Here goes: [pp.
166-68]
Night fell swiftly, but soon the scene was brightly illuminated with
a swarm of lights. There were thousands of flickering butter lamps
and among them a few petroleum pressure lamps with their fearful
glaring light. The moon came up over the roofs to throw more light on
the proceedings. The months are lunar in Tibet so it was full moon on
the fifteenth. Everything was ready: the stage was set and the great
festival could now being. The noises of the crowd were hushed in
anticipation. The great moment had come.
The cathedral doors opened and the young God-King [age 14] stepped
slowly out, supported to right and left by two abbots. The people
bowed in awe. According to strict ceremonial they should prostrate
themselves but today there was no room. As he approached they bowed,
as a field of corn bends before the wind. No one dared to look up.
With measured steps the Dalai Lama began his solemn circuit of the
Parkhor [a circular avenue]. From time to time he stopped before the
[carved] figures of butter [sculptures, some as high as thirty feet
tall], and gazed at them. He was followed by a brilliant retinue of
all the high dignitaries and nobles. After them followed the
officials in order of precedence. In the procession we recognized our
friend Tsarong, who followed close behind the Dalai Lama. Like all
the nobles, he carried in his hand a smoldering stick of incense.
The awed crowd kept silent. Only the music of the monks could be
heard -- the oboes, tubas, kettledrums, and chinels. It was like a
vision of another world, a strangely unreal happening. In the yellow
light of the flickering lamps the great figures of molded butter
seemed to come to life. We fancied we saw strange flowers tossing
their heads in the breeze and heard the rustling of the robes of
gods. The faces of these portentous figures were distorted in a
demonic grimace. Then the God raised his hand in blessing.
Now the Living Buddha was approaching. He passed quite close to our
window. The women stiffened in a deep obeisance and hardly dared to
breathe. The crowd was frozen. Deeply moved, we hid ourselves behind
the women as if to protect ourselves from being drawn into the magic
circle of the Power.
We kept saying to ourselves, "it is only a child." A child, indeed,
but the heart of the concentrated faith of thousands, the essence of
their prayers, longings, hopes. Whether it is Lhasa or Rome [or
Jerusalem! or within me!] -- all are united by one wish: to find God
and to serve Him. I closed my eyes and hearkened to the murmured
prayers and the solemn music and sweet incense rising to the evening
sky.
Soon the Dalai Lama had completed his tour around the Parkhor and
vanished into the Tsug Lag Khang [palace]. The soldiers marched away
to the music of their bands.
As if awakened from a hypnotic sleep, the tens of thousands of
spectators passed from order into chaos. The transition was
overwhelmingly sudden. The crowds broke into shouts and wild
gesticulation. A moment ago they were weeping and praying or sunk in
ecstatic meditation, and now they are a throng of madmen. [. . .]
Next morning the streets were empty. The butter figures had been
carried away and no trace remained of the reverence or the ecstasy of
the night before. Market stalls had taken the place of the stands
which had carried the statues. The brightly colored figures of the
saints [in butter] had melted and would be used as fuel for lamps --
or would be made up into magic medicines.
SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET
by Henrich Harrer
Tarcher/Perigree Books [Putnam] NYC, 1982 Amazon.com link: http://www.amazon.com/Seven-Years-Tibet-Heinrich-Harrer/dp/0874778883/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197635899&sr=1-2