Customer Reviews

The Autobiography of a Tibetan Monk

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Having been blessed to have read this book and having met Palden-la, I can only say that he has something inside of him that is truly exceptional. He is one of the most compassionate, courageous, forgiving, strong, funny, and seriously dedicated human beings I have ever known. The book is amazing and I read it in one night. The first few chapters are written in a way that carries the reader into pre-invasion Tibet as well as Palden-la's family...it is breathtaking. As his story unfolds, it very clearly shows how ridiculous China's claims are, from their so-called "liberation" of Tibet, to their denials of torture practices, both physical and mental, to their claim that Tibet is part of China. Sadness, nausea, and shock swept through me as I read this book, coupled by a respect and awe for Palden-la's resilience and resistance.The re-education sessions and interrogations are enough to leave one speechless, such is the horror that goes on in Tibet's Chinese prisons--even today. One can see the serious string of grievous errors carried out by the communist regime over time in Tibet--errors which they are terrified of admitting to now and will not risk loss of face at any price. Palden-la's book is A MUST READ FOR ANYONE AND EVERYONE. And, for anyone who is interested in Tibet's Independence Struggle and China's Communist regime, it is essential.

Ven. Palden Gyatso was the longest held prisoner in Chinese camps since the occupation of Tibet. This memoir,told in clean,plain prose{a kudo to the translator]is horrifying in its matter-of-fact detailing of the horrors of Tibetan prisons.The graphic descriptions of the tortures that Ven. Gyataso endured left me queasy,and yet a thread of hope continue throughout the book. From group re-education to starvation to penal camp labor and extreme torture[one of which lest him,unconscious for an indeterminate time,in a pool of blood,urine,feces and 20 of his teeth],Ven. Palden Gyatso somehow emerged from this,then escaped to Dharmasala,India the home of the Dalai lama{the story of his meeting the Dalai lama and the frontpiece poem are lovely].I was left with the feeling of awe, actual awe at this man,and how he emerged WITHOUT BITTERNESS.Astonishing. Read this book.Give it to another.It, like its author, is extraordinary

i couldn't put this book down. palden gyatso's story of human suffering and strength affected me like so few stories have. someday i hope to be in the audience when this courageous men speaks. i feel as if i know him after reading this book. i recently visited a beastie boys site (perhaps a milarepa fund site) and found a statement by palden gyatso there. it gave me great happiness to know that he is educating the public on the plight of the tibetans.also, i recently read in the new york times of the communist movement to enforce the practice of athiesm amongst the tibetan people (a privelage once reserved for the members of the communist party alone) in hopes that the tibetans will completely abandon their beliefs in the "old ways". it is such a relief to know that by telling their stories, people like palden gyatso are fighting to keep the level of awareness of the suffering of the tibetans high and that their people will never forget their "old ways" and will someday enjoy the freedom they once had.

This book is a testimony to the endurance of the human spirit, able to overcome the most nefarious system perhaps the world has ever known. The fact that Palden Gyatso is able to relay his story to you and me is nothing short of a miracle after what he had to endure for years inside China's prison system undergoing "reformation." The stories of torture, starvation and freezing nights will stay with you forever and make you question how strong your own beliefs are and whether you could do what Palden Gyatso did. I do not wish to reveal too much, but will say that calling the story compelling is a vast understatement.

This book is as important now as ever. China has the 2008 Olympic games and yet these brutalities continue to occur. Not to mention the fact that China is now relocating Chinese into the Tibetan region, threatening forever one of the world's great cultures through dilution of the society and culture.

Buy this book and see both the horrors of mankind and also his greatness in what he can overcome. If you like this book, I would also recommend Ama Adhe's book from a woman's perspective in the same system. We often hear the word hero, but rarely is it so appropriate as it is in describing these amazing individuals.

This book literally brought tears to my eyes. What else can be said? I am disgusted that in the name of advancement, a single neighbouring country can wipe out centuries of culture; attempt assimilate an entire country to fit the mold of another. Whats more, it was a country which practiced non violence and compassion, that had a definite cultural and religious indentity, far from in need of reform.

I think books like this should be compulsory reading in schools. To often we dismiss our Western ways as the norm, and come to believe that the rest of the world basks in the same luxuries as we. Who could ever believe that in a modern Western world, which prides itself on it's liberal nature, we can turn our head to our Eastern neighbour, to their plight, to the years of jail so many suffer, for absolutely no reason. This book is not even available in Australia. I laughed at one former viewer's insightful comment, 'the only thing he didn't do well is write it. Compared to Steinbeck.' What an absurd comment. He is a simple Tibetan monk telling the tale of his fight against oppression, not writing a novel for you to marvel over his exceptional literary skills. You obviously missed the point, its shouldn't be how he wrote it, but what he wrote.

Crikey! This is probably one of the most terrifying accounts of a life, that I have ever read. The story of a devout man whose only "crime" was to pursue his religion, something that most of us have the freedom of doing. This poor fellow tells us of his life, in a manner that is very easy to follow, and his eventual escape from those that wuld persecute him. It brings to mind some of the horrors perpetrated by religious types in the Inquisition. It will certainly make most of us realize just how fortunate we are, to live out our lives without fear of religious persecution. Shame on the PRC, the CCP and the "Cultural Revolution"....hopefully that kind of thinking will eventually languish and fade away. Free Tibet today.

I had the honor of meeting Venerable Palden Gyatso after having read his story. The most amazing thing to me about him was his compassion. Given the horrific experience he had in Chinese prisons over 33 years it was amazing to me how warm, honest and loving he is. Even more amazing is that his compassion is not limited to Tibetans, in fact he has no ill will against the Chinese. This book is a story about the triumph of the human spirit. Palden Gyatso's story must be heard.

I recently met Palden Gyatso at a Dalai Lama teaching and bought a copy of his book there, mostly as a way to support him. Though I read all the time I rarely finish a book as I usually lose interest 2/3 of the way through and move on to something else. But this book was an exception - incredibly interesting and inspiring - I finished it very quickly.

I read this book shortly before travelling to Tibet and was profoundly moved by Palden Gyatso's incredible story of suffering and faith. Once in Tibet, I found his story to be of immeasurable help in my understanding of the Tibetans' ongoing struggle to retain their heritage and to not be swallowed up by a cruel and destructive regime.

I gave this book 5 stars because it truly gave the reader the feeling of the time period; he explained all the people and feelings and events with such heart and courage, because how could he even think of bringing himself back to remember the horrible things he experienced? The only thing that he didn't do so well is with his writing/language...it isn't exceptional(but that is compared to the greatest writers, like Steinbeck)...but still EXTREMELY GOOD for a very old man. Overall, i really do recommend this.