"Tibet – the word calls up images of high Himalayas and red-robed monks meditating and chanting in ancient temples. Unfortunately, China is destroying that Tibet. Much of what remains of traditional Tibetan Buddhism is centered in India, where the Fourteenth Dalai Lama lives in exile. Yet pockets of traditional Buddhism exist in Tibet, like delicate flowers easily crushed. In his memoir, In the Shadow of the Buddha: Secret Journeys, Sacred Histories, and Spiritual Discovery in Tibet, Matteo Pistono describes his journeys to deepen his Buddhist practice in Tibet and his quest to integrate political action with spirituality.Pistono weaves into the narrative of his own quest the story of Terton Sogyal, a late nineteenth and early twentieth century mystic, teacher, and political confidant of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. One of the author’s most influential teachers was a reincarnation of Terton Sogyal, Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok, whom the Chinese allowed for a time to live and practice in a remote encampment. Pistono sought to master phurba, a “sublime practice of liberating anger upon arising,” meant to vanquish the ego, source of greed and anger. Since Terton Sogyal had been a phurba master, Khenpo advised Pistono to visit four sites where he would find what he needed to know about the terton, and how to wield the phurba for his own and others’ benefit. Through the years it took to visit these sites, Pistono also received and smuggled out evidence of Chinese brutality, imprisonment, and torture of Tibetan monks, nuns, and citizens who expressed devotion to the Dalai Lama.
At first I found the book’s sections interesting but fractured, with many cuts between times and places, but before long the interwoven narratives of Terton Sogyal’s life and work and Pistono’s journeys flowed smoothly. Those unfamiliar with more than a few facts about Tibetan spirituality and the great lamas may find this hard going. The author serves up the complicated parts in bite-sized pieces, and the glossary and dramatis personae help.
Pistono navigated the political dangers of Chinese Tibet to follow the terton’s footsteps, meditate, and learn the phurba. The journey led to frustration with governments that do little to enforce humane treatment in Tibet. Offending China is bad for world trade, so few are willing to take effective action while Tibetans are brutalized and ancient, sacred places are torn down, replaced with cement structures.
At the heart of the book lies the conviction that the way to peace and justice is through spirituality that puts others’ welfare first. As long as one being remains unenlightened and victimized, no enlightened soul will enter Nirvana, including the Buddha. Simply put, that’s why he continues to reincarnate. In a world where individuals, governments, and nations put their own interests first and turn their backs on the helpless because of political and economic agendas, the message is timely.
In the Shadow of the Buddha is an always interesting and sometimes challenging memoir, historical nonfiction, and adventure story. Agreeing with Buddhist faith and practice is not a prerequisite for responding to the intensity of Pistono’s quest for personal and universal harmony and peace. His call is simple – do what’s right. He acknowledges, as we all must, that doing what’s right isn’t easy, just necessary."