Matteo Pistono

I was honored to spend an hour on BBC 4 Midweek with Libby Purves to discuss "In the Shadow of the Buddha", along with three other fascinating guests in Laura Whitfield, Alastair Hignell, and Nigel Havers.

BBC wrote, "After first going to Tibet to deepen his [Matteo Pistono] meditation skills he was shocked by the  Read More 

Hay House is publishing "In the Shadow of the Buddha" in the UK, India, Australia, South Africa, and elsewhere the second week of September. Hay House has named Matteo Pistono their author of the month coinciding with book launch events in London Sept 6-12th. As part of launch, Hay House is featuring on their website an extract from the book, videos, Matteo's talks and appearances while he is in the UK, and discounts on book, as well as this interview with Matteo:

An interview with Matteo Pistono

If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?

Probably a dog, and I’d be my own dog’s (named ‘Karpo’) best dog-friend.

What is your idea of happiness?

Happiness is an attitude that is open, naked, and fresh. Abiding in the flow of that attitude, no matter the situation — on the meditation cushion or in the halls of political debate, on a mountain top or in the middle of the city — brings great inner strength.

When did you last cry? Read More 

I am excited to announce the London event dates for the launch of 'In the Shadow of the Buddha'. All the links can be found on the 'Book Tour' page (click to the left on the book), but the main two events will be held on Friday, Sept 9th, and Monday, Sept 12th. Here are the details:

Friday 9th September, 6:30pm – 8:30 pm
TIBET SOCIETY TALK AND SLIDESHOW
and Q & A and book signing
Free Word Centre
60 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3GA
Tickets: £5, concessions £3

Monday 12th September, 7:00-8:30 pm
TALK AND SLIDESHOW AT ALTERNATIVES
St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, W1J 9LL
Talk, Q&A and book signing
Tickets: £10, concessions £5

Please let your London friends know and I look forward to seeing you there!!! Read More 

Who Is The Dalai Lama?
The Washington Post July 8, 2011
by Matteo Pistono

There are up to 100,000 people expected to attend events with the Dalai Lama in Washington, D.C., over the next ten days. If you were to ask each of them, “Who is the Dalai Lama?” you will likely receive different response from every individual. Most certainly deep respect and veneration would be expressed. The Dalai Lama describes himself as “a simple Buddhist monk,” while in Beijing, the Chinese government regularly vilifies him as “a wolf in monk’s robes.” The Dalai Lama strikes many different cords.  Read More 

WYOMING (WPR) - Matteo Pistono grew up in Wyoming, in Lander. His family was passionate about politics, and Pistono worked on environmental issues in the state. But in the late 90s, he decided to change course. He went to live in the Himalayas, to study Tibetan Buddhism. Pistono tells that story in his new book, In the Shadow of the Buddha. He tells Molly Messick that the decision to go to Tibet very quickly set him on a different kind of path.
(click on OPEN SPACES to listen)  Read More 

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The Washington Independent Review of BookS
Two Journeys Into the World of Tibet Reviewed by Mindy C. Reiser

Few international issues have drawn such widespread and sustained popular concern as the cause of Tibetan religious and cultural rights. The struggle for Tibetan freedom and self determination, waged now in the face of an increasingly assertive China, has attracted the support of such well known figures as South African Bishop Desmond Tutu, Czech dissident and man of letters Vaclav Havel, and Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel. Richard Gere, Hollywood star and activist, a tireless promoter of Tibetan human rights, serves as chair of the International Campaign for Tibet.  Read More