mikeldunham

Announcing the long-awaited autobiography of Arjia Rinpoche: “Surviving the Dragon”

 February 19, 2010

 

 

Surviving the Dragon is much more than an autobiography. It is a fascinating history, told by an insider, of China's occupation, domination, and destruction of Tibetan culture. For anyone interested in the story behind the inner workings of China-controlled Tibet, this is a must-read told by a deeply religious leader.

 

Arjia Rinpoche was born in 1950, the same year Mao Zedong’s People’s Liberation Army invaded Tibet. His early ears were ones of geographical and political isolation. His nomadic family herded their yaks across the high plains of the Tibetan-Mongolian border, there camp never far from the vast blue waters of lake Kokonor. At the age of two, he was recognized by the Tenth Panchen Lama (the second-ranking figure in Tibet after the Dalai Lama) as the reincarnation of the father of Tsongkhapa (the founder of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism).

At the age of seven, he was sent to live in Kumbum Monastery, one of Tibet’s six great monastic universities.

In the following years, the Arjia Rinpoche’s life became a series of extreme swings of fortune: first as a carefree child, then as a protected and revered incarnate lama, then as a youth singled out and ridiculed by the communists, then as a forced laborer in a Chinese camp, then as a “rehabilitated counterinsurgent” released from hard labor at the age of thirty, and, finally, as a favorite of the Beijing hierarchy. He was named head abbot of Kumbum Monastery, a position that proved to be more political than religious; it paved the way for even higher positions, including vice-president of the Chinese Youth Association, vice president of the Central Government’s Buddhist Association, and member of Beijing’s Central Government.

 

 

Aria Rinpoche also remained closely aligned with the Tenth Panchen Lama throughout this time. He acted as his assistant for many years and was with him the day before he died in 1989 – an event still shrouded in rumors of foul play. After the Panchen Lama’s passing, Arjia was named a member of the communists’ nominating committee, created to select a new Panchen Lama, a task traditionally left to the standing Dalai Lama. He witnessed firsthand as the communists choreographed the “lottery” for the Eleventh Panchen Lama. (The Chinese apprehended the little boy who had been the Dalai Lama’s choice; tragically, the boy’s whereabouts are still unknown.) 

 

 

After the rigged selection, Arjia Rinpoche was named tutor of the new Panchen Lama. Demoralized and realizing that he could no longer support the grim charade of a false Panchen Lama, Arjia Rinpoche fled China. Against tremendous odds he successfully eluded the Chinese and in 1998 reached American soil, where the United States Government granted him political asylum. His escape remains a major source of embarrassment for China’s Central Government.

In 2005, the Dalai Lama appointed Arjia Rinpoche the director of the Tibetan Cultural Center (TCC), in Bloomington, Indiana. His Holiness’s eldest brother, Professor Thubten Jigme Norbu, established the strictly nonpolitical, nonprofit TCC in 1979 to support Tibetans both in Tibet and in exile and to preserve Tibetan (and Mongolian) Buddhist culture.

In March 2007, I interviewed Arjia Rinpoche for Tricycle Magazine. At that time, he was working hard to complete his autobiography. The book, Surviving the Dragon: A Tibetan Lama’s Account of 40 Years under Chinese Rule is now completed and has just been published by Rodale, Inc. (New York).

 

To purchase Surviving the Dragon LINK HERE:

SURVIVING THE DRAGON

 

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Introducing Don Farber's brilliant photography book on the Dalai Lama

October 4, 2009

click on images to enlarge

About a week ago, I ran into a friend by the name of Don Farber. He’s a world-class photographer and he had just published his newest photography book, which he happened to have with him. The book blew me away. Don has been following and photographing His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the last 30 years and his newest book is the result of that huge body of work. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, published by teNeues Publishers (Germany), is nothing short of a visual biography of perhaps the world’s most famous spiritual leader. The book is very large in dimensions, the images are sumptuous in their simplicity, and the content is historically invaluable. 

 

A few days later, I had the chance to talk to Farber again, only this time I inquired about the “back story” of many of the photographs. He gave me permission to publish some of the photographs, along with his memories of the moment when he snapped the shots.

 

 

In 1989, His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a ten-day teaching on the Kalachakra in Santa Monica, California. Farber took this shot the day before the teaching in the city’s Civic Auditorium. The Dalai Lama was nearly alone in the auditorium, (just a few attending monks), making preparations for the public initiation the following day.

 

 

1989, Santa Monica: During the 10-day teaching, monks from Namgyal Monastery created a Kalachakra sand mandala. At the end of the teaching, His Holiness physically dismantled the mandala – a practice in impermanence. Farber told me, “The monk behind His Holiness was either holding back the folds of his robe, so that they wouldn’t touch the mandala, or perhaps he was just holding the Dalai Lama to help keep his balance. Once the Dalai Lama had completed his part, monks came around with little brooms to gather the colored sand. The sand was then secured in a container. Then they all rushed out and into cars waiting outside and drove to Marina Del Ray, south of Santa Monica, where there is a dock jutting out into the Pacific Ocean. The Dalai Lama poured the sand into the Pacific – a gesture and blessing to benefit the nagas in the sea.”

 

1997, Dharamsala, India, home of Tibet’s Government-in-Exile. Farber remembers: “It was the morning of the first day of Losar [Tibet’s New Year celebration]. It is a tradition for His Holiness to acknowledge the crowd who converges to join in the New Year festivities.”


In 1997, Don Farber received a Fulbright Scholarship to document the “religious life of Tibetan refugees” in India. The Dalai Lama assured Farber that, sometime during the summer, while he was in Dharamsala, he would arrange for the photographer to photograph him in various activities. “I was invited to the ‘Palace’, which isn’t really a palace, but it’s what they call the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala. I was asked to arrive very early in the morning before sunrise. These two photographs were taken in his private quarters. He allowed me to observe and capture his early morning practice.”

 

 

1997, Siliguri, India. “Siliguri is in northern India, just below Darjeeling. His Holiness was giving the Kalachakra initiation and it drew an enormous crowd. I was told 250,000 people attended. Tibetans from Tibet came. Bhutanese came. The local hill tribe people came. And of course many people from all over India and Nepal attended as well. The shot we are looking at was of monks while they were receiving the initiation. You see that some of the monks have the headbands covering their eyes. It is symbolic of their vow to keep the secrets of the Kalachakra to themselves.”

 

 

 
2007, Washington D.C. “This photograph of His Holiness on the steps of the Capital Building was taken on October 17, 2007, immediately after the Dalai Lama had received the Congressional Gold Medal. It was a thrilling day of course. The President of the United States, and all the dignitaries were on hand for the presentation. Afterward, His Holiness went outside to give his address. And I took this shot.”

 

 

2009, New York City. “Tibet House of New York hosted this event in the New Beacon Theater. The date was May 4. His Holiness’ teaching was on the Quintessence of Compassion."

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, October 11, 2009, at 2pm, Don Farber will give a live presentation about his new work at the Pacifica Asia Museum, located in Pasadena, California. For reservations and full details click here: Pacifica Asia Museum

 

To see more of Don Farber's work, go to his website: www.buddhistphotos.com

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Mikel Dunham's book review of "Kathmandu Valley Style"

November 17, 2008





































Kathmandu Valley Style is a sumptuous photography book just released by Serindia Publications (Chicago). It celebrates the unique architectural movements, artistic styles and artisan virtuosity that have made Kathmandu one of Asia’s most intoxicating cities. Nepal’s capitol is a kaleidoscope of influences brought on by a succession of monarchal dynasties, scores of ethnic groups, and an overlapping Hindu-Buddhist-shamanistic spiritualism. Ancient palaces and temples still rule the skyline. The virtuosity of the valley’s Newari wood and metal craftsmen, (second to none and still in high demand), transforms pink brick walls into vibrant backdrops for dark intricate doorways, roof struts and window casings of phantasmagoric delicacy drunk on their own convolutions. Down every narrow street edificial wizardry is on display – an indentation here, a vermilion-smudge there – that keep the viewer riveted to Kathmandu’s native exuberance.





























There are numerous photography books that have focused on the historical visual delights of Kathmandu. But Kathmandu Valley Style has managed to bring a new perspective by documenting what is happening with the city’s architectural standard bearers today, by photographing recent restoration projects and, perhaps most important, by evoking a narrative of what may lay ahead for the capital’s aesthetic stamp.

The book zooms into interiors and private residences where the public, up until now, have been denied access – an entrée made all the richer by insights provided by eminent Western architects who have fallen in love with the Kathmandu Valley and brought their talents to bear on the city’s preservation.




Thus we have first-time-ever glimpses of rarified interiors: the private quarters of Kuthu Math, a structure originally built in 1748 to house Hindu holy men; the residence of South Korea’s ambassador, a new but magnificent tribute to traditional Nepali culture and style; writer/explorer Ian Baker’s eclectic and tantric abode tucked away in Naxal; restaurateur Kunal Lamas perfectly preserved house hiding in the midst of touristy Thamel; the grand prayer room of Tshering Tashi’s house on the edge of Gokarna Forest; politician Pashupati SJB Rana’s magnificent residence reflecting the Rana style of cobalt Venetian chandeliers and princely portraits; writer (and former consort of Prince Basundra) Barbara Adam’s century-old Thapa house laden with Bhutanese textiles and Tibetan carpets, to name but a few.

Like the look of Kathmandu itself, Kathmandu Valley Style is a collaborative effort.

Lisa Choegyal, author of several books, including Offerings from Nepal, and a leading expert in pro-poor sustainable tourism throughout Asia, has made Nepal her home since the 1970’s. She is a board member of the Nepal Heritage Society and a founding director the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust. 

Gautam SJB Rana, co-author of The Ranas of Nepal, masterminded the highly acclaimed Babar Mahal. Together, Choegyal and Rana used their extensive networks to gain access to previously unpublished private residences and historic buildings. Their commentaries on the photographs are eagle-eyed and prophetic in terms of how 21st century Nepal can modernize without forsaking the country’s invaluable heritage.

Craig Potton, one of New Zealand’s leading photographers and conservationists transcends the typical Architectural Digest-type coverage. He is as accomplished with exterior photography as he is with tight interior shots. And his eye for meaningful detail is crisp and superbly illuminated.

Kathmandu Valley Style is an important addition to Nepali identity—the text and photographs acknowledge the past while addressing what is possible in the present and in the future as well. Highly recommended.


















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WHO OWNS TIBET? Mikel Dunham article in new issue of Tricycle Magazine

August 11, 2008







Warren W. Smith Jr. has more than twenty-five years of experience in Tibetan studies. From 1970 to 1981 he was a resident of Nepal. In 1982 he was one of the first Westerners allowed in Tibet. In 1994 he received a Ph.D. in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, with a dissertation on Tibetan nationalism. He is the coauthor, with Manabajra Bajracharya, of Mythological History of Nepal Valley from Svayambhu Purana ( 1977) and the author of Tibetan Nation: A History of Tibetan Nationalism and Sino-Tibetan Relations (1996) and numerous articles on Tibetan politics. Since 1997 he has been a researcher and wrtier with The Tibetan Service of Radio Free Asia, where he has written more than seven hundred short programs on all aspects of Tibetan history and politics, Sino-Tibetan relations, Chinese politics and Sino-U.S.relations.

The new Fall Issue of Tricycle Magazine features my analysis of Smith's new book, China's Tibet, which I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in understanding the dynamics between Mainland China and Tibet.




CHINA’S TIBET:
AUTONOMY OR ASSIMILATION?
Warren W. Smith, Jr.
Lanham, MD: Roman & Littlefield, 2008
400 pp.; $49.95 cloth

Here is an excerpt from my article in Tricycle Magazine:

This year, Tibetan riots became a lightning rod for Chinese nationalism, as seen on TV news programs broadcast from many Chinese cities. Even Chinese students in the United States, normally regarded as models of preoccupied scholasticism, hit the streets fuming in protest against the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Diaspora’s call for autonomy and cultural—if not national—identity. 

Why are ordinary Chinese citizens so adamant, yet so sensitive? Why are they suspicious of international intentions? Why do they tend to assume that foreign concern for Tibet is, in fact, hostile—fabricated in order to denigrate, humiliate and even split China? Where did their viewpoint come from? Are there two separate universes at work here?

Warren W. Smith, Jr.’s China’s Tibet: Autonomy or Assimilation, a groundbreaking study in disconnect, goes a long way in explaining why China’s bitter reaction to any and all criticism about Tibet, including religious and human rights issues, may be an abyss too vast to be spanned by traditional reason or negotiation.

To read the complete article, link to Tricycle Magazine , or pick up a copy of the magazine at your local bookstore or newsstand.

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Ruminations on Robert Thurman’s new book “Why the Dalai Lama Matters”

June 5, 2008

Why the Dalai Lama Matters: His Act of Truth as the Solution for China, Tibet, and the World

Robert Thurman is Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, Co-Founder of Tibet House US, and author of over a dozen books, including several key translations and analyses of Tibetan literature. Thurman is one of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama’s oldest Western friends. They first met in Sarnath, India, in 1964, five years after His Holiness fled the communist Chinese takeover of Tibet. In 1979, Thurman was responsible for securing the Dalai Lama’s first visa to the United States – just one of his many efforts over the years to assist the Tibetan Diaspora. It’s fair to say that he has spent most of his life dedicated to preserving and restoring Tibet's unique cultural and spiritual heritage, often without deserved recognition.