Matteo Pistono

Today is the publication date for 'Fearless in Tibet: The Life of the Mystic Tertön Sogyal' and I bow in gratitude to the many masters who have blessed the project, and especially Sogyal Rinpoche and Khenpo Jikme Phuntsok. May the aspirations of the masters be spontaneously fulfilled!

I'll be speaking at Tibet House in New York tomorrow, May 28th at 7 pm, and then in Washington DC at the International Campaign for Tibet on May 29th at 6:30 pm. Then I take the book to the West Coast. Full dates are above; click on EVENTS.  Read More 

I am looking forward to going out on the road with Fearless in Tibet: The Life of the Mystic Tertön Sogyal which will take me to both coasts the first week. More dates will be announced but here is how it is lining up.

May 28, 7 pm Tibet House, New York City
May 29, 6 pm International Campaign for Tibet, Washington DC
June 2 Santa Barbara, Chaucer’s Bookstore, evening event
June 3 University of California, Graduate Seminar, Santa Barbara
June 5 San Diego, evening event, TBA
June 7 San Franciso, Orgyen Dorje Den, 6 pm
July 19 Washington DC, Politics & Prose, 1 pm

(more dates are being scheduled so check back or  Read More 

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 7-9 pm New York, Tibet House, 22 West 15th Street, New York, NY 10011

Thursday, May 29, 2014 evening, Washington DC, International Campaign for Tibet,
1825 Jefferson Place NW, Washington, DC, 20036

Join author Matteo Pistono for a discussion and photo presentation of "Fearless in Tibet: The Life of the Mystic Tertön Sogyal" (Hay House 2014). Pistono will take you on a visual pilgrimage into the heart of Tibet, featuring stories and photographs from a decade of travels to sacred sites associated with the life of Tertön Sogyal. You will experience what devout pilgrims endure on their arduous outer journey to remote caves, holy mountains, ancient hermitages and Himalayan power places. Pistono will illuminate how the pilgrims’ inner journey creates a shift in their perception of the terrain as wilderness to conceiving of it as a sacred topography in which the mountains and rivers, streams and glaciers, the very pebbles upon which their boots fall, are woven into a blessed landscape.

About the book:
Nineteenth-century Tibetan mystic Tertön Sogyal was a visionary, whose mastery  Read More 

I am so pleased to have a small part of this photographic exhibit! I'm happy some of the photos have found a home! mp

Witte de With is excited to unfurl her 2013 program with Tulkus 1880 to 2018, a mastodontic artwork and work in progress by Paola Pivi, based on an extensive international research.

Aimed at creating a complete collection of portraits and basic information on all the tulkus of the world – who in Tibetan Buddhism are the recognized reincarnations of previous Buddhist masters* – from the beginning of photography until today, from all the schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon, and from all the areas of the world where this religion is practiced, this growing survey has until now collected over 1100 photographic portraits.

Manifesting in a stunning array of forms, from high production color prints to  Read More 

I'm happy to be taking part in an exciting new initiative from TableTribes that is bringing together thought leaders, chefs and mixologists in a collaborative series of stylish picnics. Every Sunday evening from June 24 through August 26, representatives on the forefront of their fields will share their unique insights to a different topic about the collective human experience. I've been asked to lead the discussion on 'Personal Space' on Sunday, August 5th. Check out www.tabletribes.com for more information.

Hosan Lee, Founder and CEO of TableTribes, wanted to build on the ideas of food and community she was exploring through her highly publicized  Read More 

Last month, Radio West's host Bill Allred traveled through the Himalayas. He was profoundly affected by the peace-loving people he encountered there and by their stories of the destruction of the Buddhist way of life by the Chinese occupation of Tibet. He wondered: how is it possible for pacifists to stop the assimilation of  Read More 

It was a great honor to address the 2012 graduating class of Casper College last Friday. It was especially gratifying to see some of my own professors in the faculty sections as I gave the address. I will paste my commencement speech below and when the college uploads the video, I'll post it here as well.

This year's graduates, who include 16 international students, come from 21 states and 10 foreign countries, with all 23 Wyoming counties represented. A total of 679 students graduated during the 2011-2012 academic year.


Casper College Commencement Speech by Matteo Pistono
May 11, 2012

Thank you very much, President Nolte, for that generous introduction.

Distinguished guests, parents, former professors of mine, friends and fellow Wyomingites, and most of all graduates, I am honored to be with you tonight to give the commencement speech for the graduating class of 2012.

Let me begin by recognizing  Read More 

I was honored last month when President Walter Nolte asked me to give the address for this year's commencement ceremony at Casper College. It will be wonderful to return to Wyoming for the celebration.

Here is today's story in the Casper news:

Casper College Graduation May 11th
by Brian Scott - K2 News
April 26, 2012

The 66th Annual Casper College Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 11 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Casper Events Center.

Commencement speaker will be Matteo Pistono a writer, photographer, social justice campaigner, and author of “In the Shadow of the Buddha: Secret Journeys, Sacred Histories, and Spiritual Discovery in Tibet.”

Born in Cody, Wyo. and raised in Lander, Wyo., Pistono earned an associate degree at Casper College, where he was also inducted into Phi Theta Kappa. He received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology/political science from the University of Wyoming, and in 1997 obtained his master’s degree in Indian philosophy from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. Read More 

International Campaign for Tibet & International Network of Engaged Buddhists

presents:
Engaged Buddhism in the 21st century
Sulak Sivaraksa in conversation with Matteo Pistono
with introduction by Mr. Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

5:30PM, Friday, April 13, 2012
Doors open at 5:00, lecture begins at 5:30pm
Please RSVP to rsvp@savetibet.org or 202-785-8591

Sulak Sivaraksa is a remarkable and multifaceted Thai intellectual, social critic, and Buddhist leader whose work for peace is exemplified by courage, determination, imagination, and the constant inspiration of the core principles of his Buddhist faith. Sulak has helped to change the views of political leaders, scholars, and young people, in Thailand, Asia, and the world, encouraging a new understanding of peace, democracy, and development. He challenges accepted approaches that fail to give priority to poor and politically marginalized citizens. He has, over a lifetime of dedicated  Read More