The Tale of Tibet

“Many people who have some understanding of the situation in Tibet may not be aware of the country’s history. This book makes a useful contribution to filling that gap. The author tells the tale of Tibet, recounting first the myths of the origin of the land and its people and then what historical documents record. She explains how Tibet was once a major military power in Central Asia, exerting its influence throughout Central Asia and beyond into neighboring territories…

“On the one hand, Buddhism, with its peaceful outlook and emphasis on non-violence, diminished Tibetan military inclination, but on the other it became the source of a completely different kind of influence-an influence based on knowledge. For more than a thousand years Tibetans have been custodians of the full range of the Buddha’s teachings…

“Readers can find out here not only how Tibet was shaped by Buddhist traditions, but also how those traditions came about and originally flourished in India itself. Here is evidence of the indisputably strong ties that have long existed between Tibetans and Indian, and which I pray will continue to thrive long into the future.

Anita Kainthla is a post-graduate in English Literature and a qualified freelance Journalist and creative writer. In addition to freelancing for various national and international magazines she has a keen interest in poetry. Writer’s Workshop published a collection of her poems Moksha and Other Poems in 2002. She won the third prize in the Indo-Asian Literature Poetry contest and a short story of hers was nominated for the Pushchart Prize. She is the author of Baba Amte, also published by Viva Books.

Today, at a time when the Tibetan people are facing many difficulties, many people who have some understanding of the situation in Tibet may not be aware of the country’s history. This book makes a useful contribution to filling that gap. The author tells the tale of Tibet, recounting first the myths of the origin of the land and its people and then what historical documents record. She explains how Tibet was once a major military power in Central Asia, exerting its influence throughout Central Asia and beyond into neighboring territories. Because King Songtsen Gampo was powerful, his neighbors China and Nepal sought to creat friendly relations with him through marriage. The two princesses who were sent to be his wives brought with them status of the Buddha which were housed in what became the first temples in Tibet. So began Tibet’s interest in Buddhism.

On the one hand, Buddhism, with its peaceful outlook and emphasis on non-violence, diminished Tibetan military inclinations, but on the other it became the source of a completely different kind of influence-an influence based on knowledge. For more than a thousand years Tibetans have been custodians of the full range of the Buddha’s teachings. These have been analyzed refined and most important of all put into practice, becoming the mainstay of Tibetan culture. Living experience of Buddhist meditation has given practitioners a profound knowledge of the working and nature of the mind, an inner science to complement the perhaps better known science of the outer world.

Readers can find out here not only how Tibet was shaped by Buddhist traditions, but also how those traditions came about and originally flourished in India itself. Here is evidence of the indisputably strong ties that have long existed between Tibetans and Indian, and which I pray will continue to thrive long into the future.