I endeavored to tell two stories in “In the Shadow of the Buddha.” The first story is the mystical life of Tertön Sogyal, a tantric practioner from the 19th century who was called to assist the XIII Dalai Lama and the Tibetan nation in a time of great need. The second story was that of my own travels in the mystic's footsteps, as well as to shed light on the repressive circumstances that Tibetans find themselves living today under the Chinese government.
As I was finishing the writing of “In the Shadow of the Buddha” I respectfully requested His Holiness the Dalai Lama (the XIV) to write a word or two about the book. I sent the manuscript to Dharamsala. Some time later, I was honored and blessed to have His Holiness write the following:
“This story of Matteo Pistono’s quest to visit places in Tibet associated with Tertön Sogyal, the adept who was a companion of the thirteenth Dalai Lama, is revealing not only of the Tertön’s life but also of circumstances in contemporary Tibet. –The Dalai Lama”
I wrote extensively in “In the Shadow of the Buddha” about both the current XIV Dalai Lama and his predecessor. Below, I describe one situation with His Holiness when I met him in India and at a time when I was hesitant about continuing my human rights work inside Tibet.
“Over the years I was often asked by my colleagues at the International Campaign for Tibet to brief U.S. officials on the situation in Tibet. Typically this involved sharing photos I had taken and passing along personal testimony from Tibetans. I was described as the guy with “boots on the ground” who could deliver firsthand credible reporting. In late 2004, I was asked to join an ICT-sponsored delegation of congressional staff to Tibetan refugee communities in India and Nepal. Their schedule in Dharamsala included an audience with the Dalai Lama. As the delegation was taking leave from their meeting with the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyari motioned me to come for a private conversation with the Dalai Lama. Though I had met the spiritual leader on other religious occasions, I was never introduced to the Dalai Lama in my role as a human rights monitor in his country. The half-dozen previous times at Buddhist teachings when I met the Dalai Lama, I found that questions in my mind seemed to dissolve into the spacious expanse that you can see in his eyes. This time, however, it was different—questions remained. Was I going to endanger anyone by returning to Tibet? Had my time for such social action run its course? Would it be better if I were in solitary meditation retreat?
Lodi Gyari told the Dalai Lama the kinds of secret documents and photographs I had taken out over the previous four years, highlighting the Larung Buddhist Encampment, and my devotion to Khenpo, Sogyal Rinpoche, and Tertön Sogyal. Lodi Gyari did not, however, pose any of my questions to the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama’s lower lip rose in a few moments of silent thought.
“Stay the course. Follow Khenpo Jikmé Phuntsok’s advice. And tell the world what is happening inside Tibet.”
The Dalai Lama’s words merged in my mind with Wangchen’s voice, "There is no Vajrakilaya, no Buddha, no Tertön Sogyal, if there are no suffering beings to be helped."
I asked the Dalai Lama to bless the amulet box that I always carried with me as protection throughout Tibet. A photograph of Tertön Sogyal is placed in its small window opening, and I told the Dalai Lama of the amulet’s contents, including the phurba that Khenpo had given me, and the hair and other sacred relics of Tertön Sogyal.
After gazing intensely at the image of Tertön Sogyal, the Dalai Lama closed his eyes in prayer and then placed the amulet on the crown of his own head in an act of benediction. Behind the charisma and iconic smile of this holy monk lay a masterful vajrayana practitioner, who is himself an adept of the Vajrakilaya practice revealed by Tertön Sogyal.
I bowed at the waist. He placed both his hands softly on my head and said a brief prayer. I looked up into the Dalai Lama’s eyes. I did not want to leave his gaze, this place of safety and truth. Just as I became aware that I was staring at the Dalai Lama, a broad smile spread across his face as he reached forward and tugged on my goatee beard.”
As I was finishing the writing of “In the Shadow of the Buddha” I respectfully requested His Holiness the Dalai Lama (the XIV) to write a word or two about the book. I sent the manuscript to Dharamsala. Some time later, I was honored and blessed to have His Holiness write the following:
“This story of Matteo Pistono’s quest to visit places in Tibet associated with Tertön Sogyal, the adept who was a companion of the thirteenth Dalai Lama, is revealing not only of the Tertön’s life but also of circumstances in contemporary Tibet. –The Dalai Lama”
I wrote extensively in “In the Shadow of the Buddha” about both the current XIV Dalai Lama and his predecessor. Below, I describe one situation with His Holiness when I met him in India and at a time when I was hesitant about continuing my human rights work inside Tibet.
“Over the years I was often asked by my colleagues at the International Campaign for Tibet to brief U.S. officials on the situation in Tibet. Typically this involved sharing photos I had taken and passing along personal testimony from Tibetans. I was described as the guy with “boots on the ground” who could deliver firsthand credible reporting. In late 2004, I was asked to join an ICT-sponsored delegation of congressional staff to Tibetan refugee communities in India and Nepal. Their schedule in Dharamsala included an audience with the Dalai Lama. As the delegation was taking leave from their meeting with the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyari motioned me to come for a private conversation with the Dalai Lama. Though I had met the spiritual leader on other religious occasions, I was never introduced to the Dalai Lama in my role as a human rights monitor in his country. The half-dozen previous times at Buddhist teachings when I met the Dalai Lama, I found that questions in my mind seemed to dissolve into the spacious expanse that you can see in his eyes. This time, however, it was different—questions remained. Was I going to endanger anyone by returning to Tibet? Had my time for such social action run its course? Would it be better if I were in solitary meditation retreat?
Lodi Gyari told the Dalai Lama the kinds of secret documents and photographs I had taken out over the previous four years, highlighting the Larung Buddhist Encampment, and my devotion to Khenpo, Sogyal Rinpoche, and Tertön Sogyal. Lodi Gyari did not, however, pose any of my questions to the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama’s lower lip rose in a few moments of silent thought.
“Stay the course. Follow Khenpo Jikmé Phuntsok’s advice. And tell the world what is happening inside Tibet.”
The Dalai Lama’s words merged in my mind with Wangchen’s voice, "There is no Vajrakilaya, no Buddha, no Tertön Sogyal, if there are no suffering beings to be helped."
I asked the Dalai Lama to bless the amulet box that I always carried with me as protection throughout Tibet. A photograph of Tertön Sogyal is placed in its small window opening, and I told the Dalai Lama of the amulet’s contents, including the phurba that Khenpo had given me, and the hair and other sacred relics of Tertön Sogyal.
After gazing intensely at the image of Tertön Sogyal, the Dalai Lama closed his eyes in prayer and then placed the amulet on the crown of his own head in an act of benediction. Behind the charisma and iconic smile of this holy monk lay a masterful vajrayana practitioner, who is himself an adept of the Vajrakilaya practice revealed by Tertön Sogyal.
I bowed at the waist. He placed both his hands softly on my head and said a brief prayer. I looked up into the Dalai Lama’s eyes. I did not want to leave his gaze, this place of safety and truth. Just as I became aware that I was staring at the Dalai Lama, a broad smile spread across his face as he reached forward and tugged on my goatee beard.”