Matteo Pistono

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 

Self-immolations and Buddhists’ struggles in Tibet test a key tenet of the faith
Washington Post May 9, 2012
by Losang Tendrol

Last month, the prominent Thai social activist Sulak Sivaraksa spoke with Matteo Pistono and Lodi Gyari at the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) about engaged Buddhism in the 21st century. His talk came just a few days after American University's 10 Days for Tibet action week ended. The AU campus hosted a variety of guest speakers who discussed topics ranging from development on the Tibetan plateau, life under Chinese rule, and Tibetan self-immolations.

Also last month, AU, the Capital Area Tibetan Association, Partners for Tibetan Education and the Guhyasamaja Center organized a prayer service hosted by ICT. Geshe Dorji Wangchuk and monks  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 

A deep bow and thanks to Professor Predrag Cicovacki, and Evan and Susan Piercy for hosting me at Holy Cross College. We had a full house in the beautiful Rehm Library and the students in the philosophy department and the Peace and Reconciliation Program asked exceptional questions.

I was also honored to receive a signed copy of Professor Cicovacki's "Albert Schweitzer's Ethical Vision A Sourcebook" and to discuss deeply about Schweitzer's life and philosophy, which were indeed one in the same. Prof. Cicovacki writes "Schweitzer argues that the material aspect of our civilization has become far more important than its spiritual counterpart. Even organized religion has put itself in the service of politics and economy, thereby losing its vitality and moral authority."  Read More 

Click on the photo to watch the video of the conversation with Sulak Sivaraksa and Matteo Pistono on "Engaged Buddhism in the 21st Century" that took place at the International Campaign for Tibet on April 13, 2012.

Buddhist Economics in the Age of Globalization
a lecture by Sulak Sivaraksa April 12, 2012 5:00 PM
Healy Hall Riggs Library

»rsvp required (click on the photo to the left to rsvp)

Buddhism is one of the world’s oldest religions, and an important belief system guiding the worldviews of approximately 350 million adherents. Within Buddhism, the Engaged Buddhist Movement applies insights and lessons from Buddhist thought to address social, political, and environmental injustices and challenges. Sulak Sivaraksa (recipient of the 2011 Niwano Peace Prize) is perhaps the most well known and globally recognized Engaged Buddhist leader, both in his native Thailand and abroad. Sivaraksa will deliver a public lecture at Georgetown, reflecting upon his more than half a century of work, and his call for an “economics of happiness” as an alternative to existing models of development.

This event is co-sponsored by the Theology Department; the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs; and the International Network of Engaged Buddhists.
Featuring


Sulak Sivaraksa is a Buddhist spiritual leader and humanitarian best known  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 

It was a privilege to present “In the Shadow of the Buddha” at the 2012 Tucson Festival of Books. More than 100,000 people attended the Festival to hear and speak with the 450 authors. What an weekend!

Dinner with Tucson mayor, Jonathan Rothschild and Rodney Glassman was a great start for me at The Author’s Table dinner on the night before the Festival. And it was a treat to be on the ‘Eden Seekers’ panel on Saturday with Brook Wilensky-Lanford, author of "Paradise Lust: Searching for the Garden of Eden," and Carolyn O'Bagy Davis, author of "The Fourth Wife: Polygamy, Love & Revolution”. Both Brook and Carolyn spoke eloquently about their writing and journeys. On Sunday morning, Sy Montgomery, a naturalist and author of 17 books including The Good Good Pig, and I had a great time sharing our experiences of travel and adventure around the globe. I highly recommend the books by Brook, Carolyn, and Sy! And thanks to everyone who came out to our panels!

Speaking with and attending sessions by Diana Henriques and Luis Urrea  Read More 

FPMT Mandala Magazine Book Review
Editor’s Choice April-June 2012

Author Matteo Pistono skillfully tells the interweaving stories of his spiritual quest, political work and travels to remote areas of Tibet in his book In the Shadow of the Buddha, recently released in paperback. The author’s high-stakes adventures, which take place over the course of a decade, are by themselves riveting. But add to the mix a fascinating profile of an historic Tibetan master and a frank account of human rights abuses and you get a page-turner that has real substance.

In his twenties, Pistono launches into a pilgrimage in Tibet to trace the steps of Terton Sögyal (1856-1926), a highly regarded Buddhist spiritual master who also advised and taught the 13th Dalai Lama. Terton Sögyal’s ability to combine high-level Dharma practice with politics attracts Pistono,  Read More 

Matteo Pistono will participate in the upcoming 2012 Tucson Festival of Books March 9-11th.

On March 9th, Matteo is one of the authors featured at the Festival of Books annual Author’s Table Dinner. Tickets for the event are sold out.

Then, on March 10 and 11, Matteo will take part on two panels:

Saturday, March 10, 2012 4-5:30 pm.
University of Arizona campus, Integrated Learning Center, 150
'Eden Seekers' panel discussion:
Matteo Pistono will join Brook Wilensky-Lanford, author of "Paradise Lust: Searching for the Garden of Eden," and Carolyn O'Bagy Davis, author of "The Fourth Wife: Polygamy, Love & Revolution” for a discussion entitled 'Eden Seekers'. The moderator of the hour-long panel is Rabbi Samuel Cohon of Temple Emanu-El, the oldest congregation in Arizona.

Sunday March 11, 2012 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Traveling Wild — Exploration Adventures;Panel
University of Arizona campus, Chemistry - Room 111:
Matteo Pistono will join Sy Montgomery, a naturalist, author, documentary scriptwriter and radio commentator for a discussion moderated by Laura Penny.

The Tucson Festival of Books brings together authors, publishers  Read More