Karmapa: The Politics of Reincarnation [Paperback]

Lea Terhune (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2004

While only a young man, Orgyen Trinley Dorje's life has been marked indelibly by devotion, intrigue, and transformation. Karmapa: The Politics of Reincarnation is his amazing story. In January 2000, fourteen-year-old Orgyen Trinley Dorje was thrust upon the world stage. Recognized as the Seventeenth Karmapa — arguably the second most powerful figure in the Tibetan Buddhist religious hierarchy — he made a dramatic escape from his Chinese Communist overseers to the land of the Buddha's birth, India, so that he could study with the masters of his religious lineage, follow his conscience, and be a leader to his people. Through wide-ranging research and interviews with key figures, including the Karmapa himself, award-winning journalist Lea Terhune unlocks the riveting tale of the Karmapa's disputed incarnation, and traces the roots of the Kagyu tradition and the history of the previous Karmapas in order to illuminate the tale of the young man born to play a key role in the future of Tibet.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0861711807
• ISBN-13: 978-0861711802
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #281,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > History > Asia > Tibet

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Polotics and religion don't mix, September 15, 2005

By 

Frank Kilmer (Santa Fe) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Karmapa: The Politics of Reincarnation (Paperback)

If you are a person who believes that Buddhists, particularly high lamas, are above politics, this book will disillusion you right away. Unless you watch the world scene very closely, you probably are not aware of the saga of the Karmapa, the young reincarnation of one of Tibetan Buddhism's most revered and beloved teachers. Unfortunately, the current version, # 17, has been a pawn in an international power play between the Tibetans, Chinese, Indians, and factions of his own lineage, since he was recognized as a child. It is a fascinating story.
In this book, Ms. Terhune gives you most of the unsavory political details and a few of the inspiring points as well. However, as she is closely associated with one of the senior lamas engaged in the political drama, her impartiality is questionable.
While I did enjoy this book, I suggest balancing it with "The Dance of 17 Lives," by Mick Brown. It covers much of the same material and has a flavor that seems to me less biased.

13 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended, July 21, 2004

By 

G. Bender (SF, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Karmapa: The Politics of Reincarnation (Paperback)

Lea Terhune writes a captivating investigation into the events surrounding, Urgyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th Karmapa's life, escape from Tibet and the political intrigue that surrounds his recognition as the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage. Ms. Terhune obviously researched and interviewed highly credible and well placed sources for this book. This story has drama and intrigue, antagonists and protagonists. Once I started reading, I could hardly put this book down.

This book opened my eyes to the extent which unscrupulous spiritual leaders will go in order to sieze ill gotten power and gains. I highly recommend this book to Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Read but Biased, July 14, 2009

By 

Tommie R. Scheible (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Karmapa: The Politics of Reincarnation (Paperback)

I enjoyed reading this book although it is not a biography at all. The book is well written but perhaps from a very partial viewpoint. I would have liked a little more investigative type journalism.