Matteo Pistono

Tibet is burning
Opinion: What compels a Buddhist nun to burn herself alive?

Global Post by Matteo Pistono November 4, 2011

BIHAR, India — There is only one road to Kirti monastery, and it is rough.

Snow peaks tower to the north and west of the sprawling complex in eastern Tibet. Nomads who visit the chapels to pray let their yaks graze on the grasslands rolling in every direction.

Kirti, located in the region of Ngaba, which the Chinese refer to as Aba, is a spiritual hub and a center for Buddhist scholarship.  Read More 

Pilgrimage in Tibet: In the Shadow of the Buddha
Slideshow and book talk with Matteo Pistono
October 28, 2011 8 pm

Wat Pa (Thai-Bharat Society) Buddhagaya Vanaram Temple
Bodhgaya, INDIA
hosted by the International Network of Engaged Buddhist

Pistono draws on his experiences as a journalist and student of Tibetan Buddhism to explore the intersection between spirituality and politics. In a slideshow talk, Pistono weaves together majestic images from the Himalayas, stories of his decade-long pilgrimage in Tibet, and his role in smuggling out evidence of the Chinese government's human rights abuses to the West.  Read More 

There is a great collection of papers on Engaged Buddhism addressing the Future of Buddhism and social action. This collection is being published on the occasion of the bi-annual conference of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) that is happening in Bodhgaya, India from Oct 26-29th. Click on the INEB link to the left to find the conference papers.

Matteo Pistono sits on the Executive Council of INEB and contributed the following to the collection.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PILGRIMAGE
By Matteo Pistono

When I first journeyed to Tibet in the late 1990s, I was on a pilgrimage in the foot­steps of a nineteenth-century Tibetan mystic named Tertön Sogyal. A horse-riding bandit turned meditation master,  Read More 

The final event for the UK launch of "In the Shadow of the Buddha" took place at the 17th century St James's Church at Piccadilly. Speaking and showing slides to the hundred person strong crowd was a great way to conclude my week in London. Thanks to the family at Alternatives, St James's Church  Read More 

Tibet Society hosted a talk and book launch by author and undercover reporter Matteo Pistono at the Free Word Centre in London on September 9, 2011. Tibet Society wrote about the event, "The audience were treated to a riveting talk with insights into Matteo's journey across Tibet, including in-depth descriptions of traditional life on the plateau,  Read More 

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 

Hay House is giving away mounted hand drawn maps of Tibet, and gift cards of pilgrimage sites in Tibet. These are the images that are featured inside the book "In the Shadow of the Buddha"

Click on the map to take you to Hay House to enter the free competition. 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 

Recalling the Meditation Master, Akhyuk Rinpoche
By Matteo Pistono

The most renowned meditation master in Tibet, Akhyuk Rinpoche (Tib. མཁན་པོ་ཨ་ཁྱུག), Jamyang Lungtok Gyaltsen (aka Drubwang Lungtok Gyatso) passed away Saturday at as his remote encampment in the highlands of Eastern Tibet. Together with the late Khenpo Jikmé Phuntsok (1933-2004) of Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, Akhyuk Rinpoche revitalized the study and practice of Buddhism in Eastern Tibet beginning in the 1980s, eventually drawing tens of thousands of students from across Tibet and China to his Buddhist encampment of Yachen Gar.

I first met Akhyuk Rinpoche (pronounced Acho) nearly fifteen years ago, and continued to visit him whenever I returned to Eastern Tibet. Read More