Despite Chinese efforts to stop foreign countries from granting him visas, the Dalai Lama has become one of the most recognizable and best loved people on the planet, drawing enormous crowds wherever he goes. By contrast, China's charismatically-challenged leaders attract crowds of protestors waving Tibetan flags and shouting "Free Tibet!" whenever they visit foreign countries. By now most Westerners probably think they understand the political situation in Tibet. But, John Powers argues, most Western scholars of Tibet evince a bias in favor of one side or the other in this continuing struggle. Some of the most emotionally charged rhetoric, says Powers, is found in studies of Tibetan history. narratives.
Dr. John Powers [B.A. (HolyCross); M.A. (McMaster); Ph.D. (Virg.); The Australian National University Faculty with the Centre for Asian Societies and Histories] is a specialist in Asian religions with a specific focus on Buddhism, India and Tibet. His teaching program includes the courses 'Mysticism'; 'Modern Hindu Thought'; 'India: Emerging Giant'; and 'Buddhism'.
His latest publication is History As Propaganda: Tibetan Exiles versus the People's Republic of China. Amongst his publications are An Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism (Snow Lion Publications, 1995); (with J. Hopkins) Tibetan-Sanskrit-English Dictionary (Charlottesville, VA, 1990); The Yogacara School of Buddhism: a Bibliography (Metuchen, NJ, 1991); and, (with J. Fieser) Scriptures of the World's Religions (1997).
He is a member of the American Academy of Religion; the American Philosophical Association; the Association of Asian Studies; the International Association for Ladakh Studies; the International Association of Tibetan Studies; the Asian Studies Association of Australia; and the International Association of Buddhist Studies.
