Ani Panchen, the only daughter of a Tibetan Cheiftan was looking forward to a life of contemplation after narrowly escaping an arranged marriage. However, after the invasion of Chinese Communist forces & the death of her father, Ani is compelled to carry on the wishes of her father & help lead rebel Tibetans defending their homeland.

For her involvement in the resistance, Ani spends the next 21 years of her life in prison. Living from day to day with the hope that in time she will meet with his Holiness the Dalai Lama. Her courage & spirit to fight & survive are astounding. This is her testimony for all the thousands of political prisoners still being held in Chinese prisons for 'crimes' such as 'waving a Tibetan flag' or shouting for independence.

This book is another blot on China's human rights record. For similar reading try 'Fire under the Snow' by Palden Gyatso.

Sorrow Mountain is both a novel and a woman's life story. As Adelaide Donnelley explains in an afterword, "It is as much narrative as strict biography." Stories of the "life" of Ani Pachen, including her spiritual power to transcend torture and twenty-one years of imprisonment, and to transform destruction into hope, were the BASIS for this remarkable book. Ani Pachen wanted to be a nun, living peacefully and not killing (many Tibetan people have a religious calling); the circumstances of her birth forced her to become a warrior against the Chinese (again, this echoes the history of those of her generation). Captured, imprisoned, and tortured, she preserved her spiritual beliefs and her integrity (again, read the story of many her generation; the difference is that so many did not survive). Ani Pachen survived, made it to Dharamsala, and finally lives a life of meditation and spiritual focus. Thousands of Tibetans have escaped; many of those now live in northern India with His Holiness. The spiritual example they set: certainty of impermanence, compassion, forgiveness, and detachment--works for everyone on the planet. All of this matters.

But there is something more which matters. This book, like the story of its subject, transcends and crosses boundaries: in form, in approach. It is a novel, a spiritual guidebook, a history of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. The tone is mythic: "My country was once at the roof of the world, a place where the great spirits lived." The tone is cinematic: "In a darkened corner of my mind, a small patch of green appears. I watch it grow brighter, larger, until a vast green meadow stretches out at my feet. The meadow is dotted with clusters of flowers and is treeless, except for a willow or two." The tone is intensely personal, acutely descriptive: in prison, "The lice were so bad that I could see them crawling all over the heads in front of me. So thick I could sweep them off with my hand and not make a difference in their numbers."

The story is woven of dreams, memories, Buddhist teachings, horrors re-lived or imagined, and above all details that give it taste, sound, texture, and breath. As a work of art, it breaks all prior boundaries and should be studied by all writers who ever consider telling life stories--their own or anyone else's. If there is any drawback to the book, it is only that we cannot know what is Ani Pachen's voice and what is Adelaide Donnelley's. A Buddhist would assure us that the illusion of separation is unimportant, temporary, superficial. A Buddhist would tell us that Ani Pachen's story, and Adelaide Donnelley's storytelling genius, have become one voice for all of us. As the editor of another woman's life story, I come to this book to learn. I look back at my work and see how much trouble I took to leave Mpho Nthunya's voice exactly as it was, to be merely a secretary, taking dictation from her. I tried to keep my white privilege and sensibility out of the way of her African experience and her African ways of seeing. I think that was a good thing to do. But I deeply admire the merging of voices in the Pachen/Donnelley collaboration. It is a miracle to read, to study, to learn from. I am deeply grateful for it.

This story is appealing on many levels, not the least of which is its thoughtful, powerful, flowing prose. The writers bring us the dramatic history and culture of the expansive country of Tibet through the personal oddyssey of the amazing Ani Pachen. An early surprise is learning about the day-to-day life of a Tibetan town and its culture prior to the Chinese invasion. Quite poignant is the Tibetan perspective of the Chinese Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution. Far from being merely a catalogue of the long string of horrific abuses on the part of her captors, Donnelley sensitively narrates the details of Ani Pachen's 21-year imprisonment and torture by weaving the narrative with the gems of Ani's faith. While it is emotionally-draining, the reader is provided opportunities to regain strength. You cannot avoid being deeply moved by the power of this woman and her fellow Tibetans -- and moved to help save her culture. Read this book!

Richard has access to places most people do not. Take, for example, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness is not accessable to you and I on the level that Richard has. Richard shares private photos, such as plate 63 where His Holiness is in meditation. The photo alone portrays a depth of intensity that the experience offers. Richard also has a true sense of the tragedy of the Tibetan people and can deliver that in a light that few people can ever grasp, even after several trips to the region. Richard is the Pilgrim and we are fortunate to be able to see things in a way he does. Very few photographers can say that of their work. Perhaps it is due to his experience in film, perhaps as a result of his practice as a buddhist, maybe just because the openness of his sharing is felt in his work, regardless of the medium. Thank you my friend for sharing your life with us and a wonderful book.

This is a fantastic book! The photographs stir a number of emotions in you. Only a true artist like Mr. Gere could convey these feelings and capture them in his shutter. The book also features excellent text and was a very nice present. I think everyone should peek at this book. A great book for religious souls and open minds.

This book was exactly what I expected from such a sensitive and intelligent man. Thank you, Mr. Gere. We need our hearts broken now and then.

This is an expensive, coffee table book of Tibetan Art but it is well worth it. The color photos are numerous and large. The text is well documented and very readable without being too dry and academic. Highly reccomended.

I found this book to be very enlightening and thoroughly inspirational. It's contents, simple thoughts on peace, compassion, and love provide a basis through which daily meditation and and self thought can occur. It's messages of peace to all mankind are an invaluable source of stability in otherwise unstable times. It's messages if taken properly will bring peace out from within to be spread worldwide.

The Way Ahead is a magnificent collection of writings which will give you many hours for rich contemplation. I thoroughly enjoyed it. How rare it is to find musicians like Kitaro and Olatunji sharing their thoughts in the same circle as the HH the Daila Lama and HRH Prince Philip. The clarity of ex-Beatle Paul McCartney and wife, Linda was refreshing. I was very pleased to see the work of African American Zen Master and author Vernon Kitabu Turner, the author of Soul Sword and the Secret of Freedom, included with that of the Asian Zen master and author, Thich Nhat Hahn and the poet, Allen Ginsberg. Kitabu's Turner/Roshi's vision of the role of Black people in the salvation of the world was beautiful, compassion and hopeful. I highly recommend that you buy this book and also Soul Sword and The Secret of Freedom by Vernon Kitabu Turner. There has been a missing element in the psycho-spiritual dialogue of our time. The Way Ahead has addressed that problem by pulling together a true cross-sections of minds which represent the peoples of the earth. You will find that Kitabu Turner strikes a universal chord, loud and clear, with no apologies sought or given for being black. His literary voice, showcased in this anthology, vibrates deep into the psyche. The entire book was uplifting. Eddie and Debbie Shapiro did their job well.

This book is an all-time classic and deserves more than five stars!

The story of The Little Prince can be read at many different levels of meaning. In fact, the wider your mind and heart, the more you will appreciate the story. But the narrower your mind and heart, the more you need this story.

On the surface, it is a bizarre tale of an aviator stuck in the middle of the Sahara who encounters a small blond boy who tells him far-fetched stories about travel among the planets. At this level, you need to suspend disbelief and simply go with the story to consider the ways that becoming more child-like are valuable to the aviator. It makes him more understanding and open. He has wanted to maintain connection with his child-based self, and does so. It does not matter if you want to believe that the child actually travels amongst the planets or not.

You can also read the aviator as having been affected by the heat and dehydration, so that he is imagining the Little Prince in his delirium. From that perspective, we are dealing with an internal dialogue of the aviator in evaluating what is most important to him in life, as he considers the possibility of losing his.

At a different level, you can see the Little Prince's travels to other planets as an allegory for all of life. What are we seeking for? How do you know when we have found it? How can we lose what is important? The examples of self-absorbed adults, beginning with the aviator, provide many cautionary tales.

Beyond that, you can read this as science fiction. How would an alien see humans? How would an alien react to humans? Would an alien want to stay or go home?

A religious person can see an allegory to the life of the spirit. Christians will see a Christ-like figure in the Little Prince. People of other religious beliefs will see instead God in each person.

Someone with a profoundly humane perspective will see the story as being about orienting ourselves towards caring for and loving each other and nature.

An existentialist will see this as a tale of the futility of much of what we do, much like The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus.

I could add many more interpretations, but do not want to burden you. These illustrations are here to simply help open you to the idea of reading (or rereading) the story. Most people read this when they are too young to capture its broader meanings, and it is one of those books that changes as you age. As a child, you identify with the Little Prince. As an adult, the aviator becomes more important. At some points in your life, you may identify even more with the people on the tiny planets described here. So this is also like holding up a mirror to yourself to see how you have changed. That is also a very valuable thing to do.

Many will argue that the fox's lesson is the core of the book. While I agree that that is one logical reading, I think that how one draws a sheep that will live a long time and not eat a flower is the core lesson here. That part of the story comes near the beginning. Be sure to pay attention to it and think about it as you go forward. I will say no more here about it.

After you have finished reading and thinking through this wonderful fable, I suggest that you determine if those you love have read it lately. If they have not, this would be a good time to get them a new copy and encourage them to begin or renew their acquaintance with Saint-Exupery.

During the process of reading the story again, I happened to also find an abridged audio tape by Louis Jourdan at the library that I highly recommend. Your understanding of the book will be greatly enhanced by this great, magical reading. It is one of the best audio readings I have heard. If you can listen to the tape and reread the story, that is the best combination.

Keep drawing from your mind!

I, having loved The Little Prince for several years now, will not attempt to put into words how I feel about this book nor the amazing respect I have towards its creator. Anyone who loves The Little Prince as I do will understand my silence. I do however have some things to say about the translation of Mr. Richard Howard.

Having read The Little Prince in its original French version I was astounded by the inconsistencies of the previous standard English translation by Ms Katherine Woods. She reconstructed many sentences and used the words "child" and "little man" interchangeably and the error that angered me most: Ms Woods completely eliminated the sentence [...] from the description of the repeated landscape.

As readers of the English language we all can agree that "Time soothes all sorrows" hits harder than "Everyone eventually is consoled." But no one can deny that the later is a more precise translation [....] One may find Ms Woods' version more poetic, but it lacks the authenticity of Mr. Howard's.

I encourage all readers of Ms. Woods' translation to pick up a copy of Mr. Howard's. It will anger you, I guarantee it. The words that comforted you for years, the lines that seemed to change your life, no longer exist in this novel. But if we truly want to love The Little Prince in the way Antoine de Saint-Exupéry envisioned him (without taking the time to learn the French language) we must open ourselves up to this, in my opinion, much better translation.

A pilot who finds himself stranded in a desert with a broken airplane meets an extraordinary little person. The Little Prince who is visiting Earth, just one planet in a long succession of planets already visited, tells the pilot of his journey.

Earth seems just as strange and alien as the other places he has visited. Places inhabited by archetypal manifestations of adulthood. The absurdities of which are crystal clear when seen through the eyes of a child.

The Little Prince's journey through the cosmos - brings us face to face with "things of consequence" - allowing us to see, maybe for the first time, what we really lose in growing old and rigid, instead of growing up.

This book is written at a 9-12 year level - but its depths speak to adults as well. A charming story in itself, can be read, and reread, its layers unfold, revealing deeper and deeper insight.

The artwork in the book is done by the author, too.

The goal of An Open Heart is to give the reader a basic understanding of Buddhism and to show how Buddhist practice can lead to a more compassionate and wise life. Many of the problems encountered in life are self-created. This leads to endless cycles of suffering, misery, and disappointment. The first step towards liberation from this painful cyucle is to commit and devote self to the practice of compassion in a very deliberate and systematic way.

There's a really good reason why books by the Dalai Lama are so popular. He presents himself as an equal., He conducts himself as a servant of humanity. And his explanation of Buddhist concepts is logical, intelligent, and persuasive. However, the Dalai Lama's most alluring quality is his personal willingness to "walk the talk." This book is a demonstration of his deeply personal commitment to lessening the suffering of the world.

This book received a score of 8.250 on a scale of 1(low) to 10 (high) from the spiritual reviewer. A score of 8 or higher designates the book as "a classic."

The topics of these writings, gathered from numerous lectures the Dalai Lama has delivered, range from the Need to Practice the Dharma, Compassion and Cultivating the Compassion Within, Altruism: Cherishing Others, Impermanence and Death, Recognizing the Enemy Within, Dealing with Anger and Hatred, and Universal Resonsibility. They will resonate with individuals drawn to the Buddhist conceptions of human life, and will surely provide reflections that may enlighten the daily confrontations that are the stresses and constraints of modern life.

Despite the Buddhist overtones, the practices and wisdom written in this book is universal. It tells us the way to live a fuller life and gives meaning to everyday actions. The Dalai Lama is a powerful communicator who has an intricate world view. I agree on his analysis of the problems that we face and his solutions. He claims that he is just as anyone of us without anything special of miraculous but his words are the rare words of a man who knows much more about life than most people. I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to recover inner peace through the Buddhist way, though not necessarily through Buddhism.

Before reading this book, I didn't know much about Buddhism, and reading it made me realize just how little I really knew. It gave me a good perspective on Buddhist practice and especially the difference between Zen Buddhism (what I knew a little about) and the rest of the Buddhist world.

While focusing mainly on the Gelug tradition, HH the Dalai Lama also explains a little about the Sakya and Nyingma traditions. He begins by discussing the First, Second, and Third turning of the dharma wheel, and then discusses compassion and actually gets fairly in depth into the goal and practice of Vajrayana. This is a translation of a talk that he gave so he didn't just sit down and write this book, but it is still worth buying

This book is just what the title implies, an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. As I read through the pages of this book, what transpired was an overwhelming sense of spiritual peace and tranquility. In today's "crazy world," so many people are looking for peace of mind and "a haven from the storm" that will sustain them through the everyday trials and tribulations of life. If you are not familiar with Buddhism and are still searching for that "safe haven," I think you will, indeed, find this book on the philosophies of Tibetan Buddhism both enlightening and enjoyable.

This was my first exposure to the Tibetan book of the Dead. Basically this book is an instuctional guide for traveling thru the Bardo; the period or place in which we find ourselves after death, and before incarnating into our next life or form. The book gives a very detailed description of the deities and phenomena one can expect to encounter in the Bardo, and the actions one must take to facilitate an optimal incarnation. It also instructs on the practices that we should engage in while living, to prepare for the Bardo, and therefor have the best out come of that experience. In addition, this is a guide for facilitating and guiding another person thru death and the Bardo. This is a straight forward reading of the book by Gere, it is clear and easy to understand. He is easy to listen to. The descriptions of the various dieties get a bit long winded as he decribes at least a hundred of them. Some of it is gruesome and down right scarey sounding. But the basic thing to remember is, that it is all emenating from our own mind, and not to be overcome by fear. Exposure to this information, practice and meditation on these deities can help prepare us for this experience. Apparently, if we take the correct actions (or non actions) in the bardo, we may not have to continue in samsara but can go directly to the Buddha state, or at least an incarnation in one of the more pleasant realms. I am fairly new to Tibetan Buddhism, so my interpretations of what I heard may not be a perfect reflection of the actual teachings. But that is how I heard it.

Sadly, even amongst some practitioners of other sects and traditions of Buddhism not much is known about the mythology and philosophy of many of the sects and lineages of Tibetan Buddhism. The Venerable Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche released many of the teachings of the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions of Buddhism (into which he had been trained and initiated) to the general public and as a result provided a wonderful source of information to the student, practitioner, and teacher of Buddhism.

This latest book by the Dalai Lama is a compilation of speeches he gave in NYC in the past. It lists the main traits one should practice to fulfill a healthy lifestyle: compassion, empathy, wisdom, and so on. If you have already read 'Ethics For The New Millenium' or 'The Art of Happiness' you will find that this book repeats much of the material in those books. The main difference I see in this edition is that some basic meditation techniques are covered. Overall, it is a book that reminds us of the most important qualities one should practice to create a centered life. I also recommend "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Little Book of Eastern Wisdom" by Taro Gold which is filled with hundreds of thought-provoking and inspirational quotations.

Timeless wisdom but hard to implement....Combine this with Confucius and Marcus Aurelius, and you have a pretty good philosophy to live by.

Freedom of religion, as practiced in the United States of America, is an awful and illogical liberty. In our quest to be inoffensive, we act as if multiple, mutually exclusive, truth claims can all be valid at the same time, and religious preference is merely a matter of personal taste. As a consequence of our corporate irresponsibility, many are left free to follow lies and the path to eternal corruption.

I am a conservative Christian, who believes that the only path to truth lies through God's grace as presented to us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, whom Christians confess to be the Messiah. I, personally, believe that Buddhists and followers of non-Christian religions are wrong.

BUT... My personal faith claims do not undermine the wisdom of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama's teachings on meditation and compassion. In his little book, the Dalai Lama lays out for us a path to a more inhabitable planet. Demonstrating that he fully comprehends the flawed, sinful nature of all people, His Holiness goes on to show us how all creatures can live together in a more peaceful world. He gives us a practical method by which to change ourselves for the good of all.

AND... He even warmed this grumpy, old Lutheran's heart.

Read the book.