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Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama
In this astonishingly frank autobiography, the Dalai Lama reveals the remarkable inner strength that allowed him to master both the mysteries of Tibetan Buddhism and the brutal realities of Chinese Communism.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
About the author
Dalai Lama XIV
1,117 books5,749 followersJetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso (born Lhamo Döndrub), the 14th Dalai Lama, is a practicing member of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism and is influential as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the world's most famous Buddhist monk, and the leader of the exiled Tibetan government in India.
Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming family. He was proclaimed the tulku (an Enlightened lama who has consciously decided to take rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two.
On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's ruler. Thus he became Tibet's most important political ruler just one month after the People's Republic of China's invasion of Tibet on 7 October 1950. In 1954, he went to Beijing to attempt peace talks with Mao Zedong and other leaders of the PRC. These talks ultimately failed.
After a failed uprising and the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, the Dalai Lama left for India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.
Tenzin Gyatso is a charismatic figure and noted public speaker. This Dalai Lama is the first to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.
Tenzin Gyatso was the fifth of sixteen children born to a farming family. He was proclaimed the tulku (an Enlightened lama who has consciously decided to take rebirth) of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two.
On 17 November 1950, at the age of 15, he was enthroned as Tibet's ruler. Thus he became Tibet's most important political ruler just one month after the People's Republic of China's invasion of Tibet on 7 October 1950. In 1954, he went to Beijing to attempt peace talks with Mao Zedong and other leaders of the PRC. These talks ultimately failed.
After a failed uprising and the collapse of the Tibetan resistance movement in 1959, the Dalai Lama left for India, where he was active in establishing the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile) and in seeking to preserve Tibetan culture and education among the thousands of refugees who accompanied him.
Tenzin Gyatso is a charismatic figure and noted public speaker. This Dalai Lama is the first to travel to the West. There, he has helped to spread Buddhism and to promote the concepts of universal responsibility, secular ethics, and religious harmony.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, honorary Canadian citizenship in 2006, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal on 17 October 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
August 18, 2008
The Dalai Lama wrote this in English because he said he wanted to be sure of his intended meaning and not leave anything open to misunderstanding due to translation. Consequently the prose often lacks that fluidity of form which makes for relaxing reading. That is probably a good thing because it forces the reader to "slow down" and absorb each sentence.
He is indeed a remarkable man and his life (as of 1990 when he wrote this) is almost incomprehensible to a Western mind. I found his humility and humor just delightful and will forever carry with me images of him as a "naughty" child tormenting his teachers. I hope he lives long enough to see his beloved Tibet free at last.
He is indeed a remarkable man and his life (as of 1990 when he wrote this) is almost incomprehensible to a Western mind. I found his humility and humor just delightful and will forever carry with me images of him as a "naughty" child tormenting his teachers. I hope he lives long enough to see his beloved Tibet free at last.
December 10, 2019
“When men become desperate, they consult Gods. And when Gods become desperate, they tell lies.”
I shuddered as I read those lines. It was said by one oracle about two others when the Dalai Lama consulted them before he made an important decision.
In Freedom in exile, the Dalai Lama takes us from his rebellious childhood to his studious teens, his accession to the throne, encounters with Chairman Mao, escape to India, his attempts and appeal to free Tibet and his hope to return to free Tibet again. The Chinese began their conquest of Tibet claiming only to uplift their barbarian neighbors and lead them to progress through communism. The Dalai Lama compares Chairman Mao’s words to a rainbow – beautiful but without substance.
He had to sneak out of his palace under the cover of the night and in disguise like a fugitive, leaving his countrymen in a high emotional state to serve a higher purpose. Until he reached India he was protected from Chinese troops by guerrilla warriors and was sheltered by Tibetan monks and laymen. The refugees that followed him to India were well received and although resources were limited, they worked hard and adapted well, often making a mockery of their hardships with laughter.
In the chapter titled ‘Of magic and mystery’, the oracles are described as having volcanic energy levels when dressed in ceremonial robes, headdresses and jewelry weighing over a 100 pounds. And in it they puffed up, reddened, danced, bowed down and thrashed a sword about before giving specific answers to daunting questions. Reincarnation and the possibility of identifying every rebirth is mentioned matter-of-factly in this chapter.
It hurt that His Holiness touched upon the likelihood that he may die before Tibetans gain freedom in which case, they may not need a reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and that he may then be reborn as an insect or an animal of most value to the sentient beings.
I shuddered as I read those lines. It was said by one oracle about two others when the Dalai Lama consulted them before he made an important decision.
In Freedom in exile, the Dalai Lama takes us from his rebellious childhood to his studious teens, his accession to the throne, encounters with Chairman Mao, escape to India, his attempts and appeal to free Tibet and his hope to return to free Tibet again. The Chinese began their conquest of Tibet claiming only to uplift their barbarian neighbors and lead them to progress through communism. The Dalai Lama compares Chairman Mao’s words to a rainbow – beautiful but without substance.
He had to sneak out of his palace under the cover of the night and in disguise like a fugitive, leaving his countrymen in a high emotional state to serve a higher purpose. Until he reached India he was protected from Chinese troops by guerrilla warriors and was sheltered by Tibetan monks and laymen. The refugees that followed him to India were well received and although resources were limited, they worked hard and adapted well, often making a mockery of their hardships with laughter.
In the chapter titled ‘Of magic and mystery’, the oracles are described as having volcanic energy levels when dressed in ceremonial robes, headdresses and jewelry weighing over a 100 pounds. And in it they puffed up, reddened, danced, bowed down and thrashed a sword about before giving specific answers to daunting questions. Reincarnation and the possibility of identifying every rebirth is mentioned matter-of-factly in this chapter.
It hurt that His Holiness touched upon the likelihood that he may die before Tibetans gain freedom in which case, they may not need a reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and that he may then be reborn as an insect or an animal of most value to the sentient beings.
June 29, 2007
i read this book while living in oregon. while there i was working for a tour company that designed trips to india, nepal and tibet. i decided that a tour should be created that followed the steps of the 14th dalai lama's exile and journey out of tibet to india because i was so moved by this story. the story of the tibetan people is sad and inspiring. they have been forcefully removed from their spiritual homeland, a land they are very much connected to. now being slowly colonized by the chinese, they have even instituted their own heir to the tibetan spiritual throne, by naming the 15th dalai lama. ahhhh.. i could go on. but if you want to learn his story and the story of his people, this is the place to start.
September 2, 2009
The Dalai Lama does a wonderful job taking us from his childhood up through his exile and the current (mid 90s) situation that Tibet is in. It is truly remarkable that a man that has seen and had to deal with so many horrific things that the People's Liberation Army did to the Tibetan people can be so loving and forgiving. I really enjoyed reading this book and learning more about the history of the Tibetan people and how Mao's communism, while it seemed like a good idea at the time, ultimately forced the Dalai Lama into exile and his people into a marshall law state for many years. Tibet is still not liberated and it is his hope to see that end before he dies, however he says that if he dies and does not come back reincarnated as another person, he knows that it will be for the betterment of all sentient beings. I also think that the idea of reincarnation is well explained and almost believable according to the stories he tells. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in Tibet, Buddhism, or just wants to gain a little bit of the Dalai Lama's wisdom.
Read
March 11, 2021This is an autobiography of H.H.Dalai Lama.He tells is story right from his birth to the end of the millennium.Generally,people whilst writing their autobiographies,whitewash their image;but this is not a case with this book.His Holiness criticizes some outdated Tibetan customs and even finds faults in himself to the point that he regrets his limited knowledge of the English language.While writing his story,he narrates history of Tibet (whilst justifying the Tibetan independence cause)especially post Second World War in detail and includes few details of his conversations with various world leaders of 1950's,60's and 70's(especially with Pt.Nehru).The book also provides a glimpse of the world during cold war and mentions the importance of religion and compassion in general.
H.H.Dalai Lama is a Nobel laureate and a spiritual leader.He preaches compassion and is the face of Tibetan struggle for autonomy or independence.So,if a book is an autobiography of a person with above credentials,it should be considered at par with 'My experiments with truth' or 'Long walk to freedom'.
These books,in my opinion,cannot be rated as these books tell us about the vision of the leader and give an idea why the world is like we see it today.Its a must read,thats all..
H.H.Dalai Lama is a Nobel laureate and a spiritual leader.He preaches compassion and is the face of Tibetan struggle for autonomy or independence.So,if a book is an autobiography of a person with above credentials,it should be considered at par with 'My experiments with truth' or 'Long walk to freedom'.
These books,in my opinion,cannot be rated as these books tell us about the vision of the leader and give an idea why the world is like we see it today.Its a must read,thats all..
June 29, 2012
This book became my companion during my travels in the Himalayas! What can I say, it was the book that suited the journey.
This book turned out to be nothing like what I expected it to be. The Dalai Lama shows that he is a human but with missions that were thrust on him at quite a young age. It chronicles the mischief, trials, the grandeur and the spirituality that comes along with being chosen as the Dalai Lama.
His Holiness creates a very world that I could relate to and the backdrop of Himalayas gave me the perspective that is needed to understand his life. The friendliness that is talked about is very true in case of the people that I met in these hilly areas. Tibetan Buddhism is very complex unlike what we generally take Buddhism to be and this is what the author tries to tell us. That some things are worth preserving and that everyone deserves to live the way they want to and cultures as old as Tibetan Buddhism and as lovely and peaceful as them need a voice in order to see tomorrow's light. This book is a tale of how Dalai Lama has become that voice.
Would definitely recommend it to people who would like to know more about Tibetan Buddhism.
This book turned out to be nothing like what I expected it to be. The Dalai Lama shows that he is a human but with missions that were thrust on him at quite a young age. It chronicles the mischief, trials, the grandeur and the spirituality that comes along with being chosen as the Dalai Lama.
His Holiness creates a very world that I could relate to and the backdrop of Himalayas gave me the perspective that is needed to understand his life. The friendliness that is talked about is very true in case of the people that I met in these hilly areas. Tibetan Buddhism is very complex unlike what we generally take Buddhism to be and this is what the author tries to tell us. That some things are worth preserving and that everyone deserves to live the way they want to and cultures as old as Tibetan Buddhism and as lovely and peaceful as them need a voice in order to see tomorrow's light. This book is a tale of how Dalai Lama has become that voice.
Would definitely recommend it to people who would like to know more about Tibetan Buddhism.
Read
August 3, 2011The night my father-in-law very suddenly passed away (almost a month ago now), I just couldn't get into the book I had been reading at the time. It just seemed too shallow that night. So I picked this up instead. It wasn't exactly a "comfort" given the sad recent history of the Tibetan people, but it was a heartwarming look into someone who truly wants to end human suffering.
December 19, 2020
“Although I held the view that the US was the champion of freedom, actually very few people had any knowledge of the fate of Tibet. Now, as I have come to know the country better, I have begun to see that, in some ways, the American political system does not live up to its own ideals.”
The autobiography of the Dalai Lama is, as you would expect, a sad story. We learn about his early life and large family, how he was raised, his youthful rebelliousness, the loss of his home and country, and his life in exile. It’s a story about the Dalai Lama, but it’s also the story of an entire country torn to pieces.
Growing up, I always thought of Tibet as some kind of mythical city, tucked way up in the mountains. In reality, Tibet makes up roughly 25% of China’s landmass. This would be like losing 1/3 of the US to Canada.
The Dalai Lama’s autobiography can teach us all about patience and forgiveness around the things we can’t control. It can also teach us about the people who were lost and the culture that struggles to persist following the occupation of Tibet.
This book was published in 1990, a full 30 years ago. I’m sure that the Dalai Lama has learned and reflected on so much more in that time, but it’s hard to believe that we’ve allowed the suffering of so many for so long.
See more of my reviews: Instagram
The autobiography of the Dalai Lama is, as you would expect, a sad story. We learn about his early life and large family, how he was raised, his youthful rebelliousness, the loss of his home and country, and his life in exile. It’s a story about the Dalai Lama, but it’s also the story of an entire country torn to pieces.
Growing up, I always thought of Tibet as some kind of mythical city, tucked way up in the mountains. In reality, Tibet makes up roughly 25% of China’s landmass. This would be like losing 1/3 of the US to Canada.
The Dalai Lama’s autobiography can teach us all about patience and forgiveness around the things we can’t control. It can also teach us about the people who were lost and the culture that struggles to persist following the occupation of Tibet.
This book was published in 1990, a full 30 years ago. I’m sure that the Dalai Lama has learned and reflected on so much more in that time, but it’s hard to believe that we’ve allowed the suffering of so many for so long.
See more of my reviews: Instagram
February 10, 2016
I just finished reading this book. Through the entire story, I was fascinated and astonished to see how forgiving a human could be. This is an honest story of His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet. Every time I think of Tibet, I see the Himalayas, peaceful prayer flags and serene landscapes. While reading the book, I could imagine how China turned this beautiful land into a river of blood. The atrocities suffered by Tibetans made me furious. To leave the motherland and live in exile for more than 6 decades can break a person's courage and determination but it restores my faith on perseverance and determination to fight for justice for decades. I support Tibet's fight for freedom and gives me immense hope to know that the world has great spiritual yet progressive leader like HH The Dalai Lama.
Anyone reading this book, should not treat this as a story and read slowly to understand the teachings of Buddhism, sufferings of Tibetans and above all His Holiness's fight for the cause.
Anyone reading this book, should not treat this as a story and read slowly to understand the teachings of Buddhism, sufferings of Tibetans and above all His Holiness's fight for the cause.
February 22, 2009
A very good read. Provided me the background of the happenings of Tibet, past and present.
Recommend to read to get an idea of what Tibet is like and what's going on.
Dalai Lama is a straight forward writer, with not a lot of details, easy to understand and read. Can fully feel his feelings for Tibet and his people through the way he wrote.
Recommend to read to get an idea of what Tibet is like and what's going on.
Dalai Lama is a straight forward writer, with not a lot of details, easy to understand and read. Can fully feel his feelings for Tibet and his people through the way he wrote.
July 19, 2012
One of the most distressing and heart-rendering books I've ever read. Anybody who ever casually claims to support a free Tibet needs to read this book and anybody who knows nothing about the place should read it too. The Chinese have a lot to answer for.
March 10, 2010
The 14th Dalai Lama is disarmingly down to earth. Raised as a incarnate lama and as a monk since 6 years of age, he has a fresh, almost naive, comportment to dramatic events which have shaped his life. You'd think the Dalai Lama grew up in riches and was pampered. He did have servants, attendants and "sweepers". But he complains of the dark and coldness of the Potala Palace, and tells that mice roaming the floors above would pee on him!
He was impressed by Mao when he spent months in China in the mid-50's. And he considers himself, in the last few pages, "still half a Marxist" and notes common emphases between Buddhist ethics and Marxist humanism. He appreciates the ideals and commitment of the Chinese Communists, but is angered and baffled by their violence and deceit. The telling of the invasion and subsequent oppression of the Tibetans is quite shocking.
I appreciated pages on his daily routine, beginning with 2 hours of prayer and meditation at 4:30am, followed by reading scriptures will eating his breakfast. Also, the Dalai Lama presents himself not as a "realized" or enlightened being, but rather almost as a novice monk, doing his best to learn and be a good Buddhist according to the example of his teachers and predecessors. He is also very candid about Tibetan rituals and revealingly scientific and skeptical of oracles, spirit possession and even reincarnation. He clearly acknowledges though that he does believe in the later, and writes of the procedures search teams use to discover reincarnated lamas. His religious attitude is on the whole almost utilitarian - spiritual life and Tibetan culture is good because it helps humans be more loving and compassionate and fosters peace.
He was impressed by Mao when he spent months in China in the mid-50's. And he considers himself, in the last few pages, "still half a Marxist" and notes common emphases between Buddhist ethics and Marxist humanism. He appreciates the ideals and commitment of the Chinese Communists, but is angered and baffled by their violence and deceit. The telling of the invasion and subsequent oppression of the Tibetans is quite shocking.
I appreciated pages on his daily routine, beginning with 2 hours of prayer and meditation at 4:30am, followed by reading scriptures will eating his breakfast. Also, the Dalai Lama presents himself not as a "realized" or enlightened being, but rather almost as a novice monk, doing his best to learn and be a good Buddhist according to the example of his teachers and predecessors. He is also very candid about Tibetan rituals and revealingly scientific and skeptical of oracles, spirit possession and even reincarnation. He clearly acknowledges though that he does believe in the later, and writes of the procedures search teams use to discover reincarnated lamas. His religious attitude is on the whole almost utilitarian - spiritual life and Tibetan culture is good because it helps humans be more loving and compassionate and fosters peace.
January 24, 2014
The Dalai Lama presents a convincing and earnest narrative of his life and the story of Tibet. He shines through the pages clearly as a compassionate, intelligent person, but above all he comes off as very real. In particular, I found his personal insights into human nature to be unsettling in their honesty, but refreshing. He tries to portray the Chinese in a fair enough way, giving admiration when deserved but never shying away from proclaiming the truth of their failings. This is a task I doubt that I could accomplish myself. How can he talk about his enemies as his friends? It's amazing and very admirable.
I really enjoyed reading about his account of his childhood, from being found in a tiny village to be the rebirth of the 13th Dalai Lama at age two, to growing up and playing army games with his servants in the grand palace of Potala. What a little rascal he could be! For someone who was taken from his family from such a young age and treated as a god-king, he developed into a very loving being, keen to spread love and peace to the whole world.
The agenda of the Dalai Lama for writing his autobiography is transparently obvious, but as I'm inclined to believe him and I support a free Tibet, it didn't upset me. But many of the things he says about China could be taken very offensively. It's probably good to keep in mind that terrible things can be told about almost every nation's history. He is doing whatever he can to cease the suffering of his people, and I respect and support that right.
I really enjoyed reading about his account of his childhood, from being found in a tiny village to be the rebirth of the 13th Dalai Lama at age two, to growing up and playing army games with his servants in the grand palace of Potala. What a little rascal he could be! For someone who was taken from his family from such a young age and treated as a god-king, he developed into a very loving being, keen to spread love and peace to the whole world.
The agenda of the Dalai Lama for writing his autobiography is transparently obvious, but as I'm inclined to believe him and I support a free Tibet, it didn't upset me. But many of the things he says about China could be taken very offensively. It's probably good to keep in mind that terrible things can be told about almost every nation's history. He is doing whatever he can to cease the suffering of his people, and I respect and support that right.
December 29, 2021
I don't believe in must reads.
but this is a must read.
but this is a must read.
July 31, 2020
This is a very entertaining autobiography. There is a lot of time spent on the Chinese taking over Tibet and of Mao. Even through the genocide in his homeland he maintains compassion for everyone. A very remarkable man.
December 13, 2021
So illustrative, informative, thought-provoking, innovative, social relevant, transforming, spellbinding...
October 27, 2023
The story as told by The Dalai Lama about himself and the plight of the Tibetan is repeating again in the 21st Century. In the land called Palestine, grabbed forcefully and drive out from the land, The Palestinian in Gaza and West Bank kept fighting and holding to the land of their birth and death despite bombardment and missiles daily by the inhumane and apartheid regime. Human being never learned and act beyond empathy, misery and suffering of the same humankind.
March 6, 2021
A fascinating autobiography that tells the story not only of the Dalai Lama, but of the Chinese repression of Tibet. All the way from mice urinating on his bed in the Potala Palace, his friendship with Heinrich Harrer, Chinese troops entering Lhasa, his meetings with Mao, to his exile in Dharamsala. He catalogues crucifixion, vivisection, disembowelling, dismemberment, beheading, burning, beating, burying alive, dragging people behind galloping horses, hanging upside down, drowning in icy water and tearing out tongues with meat hooks. And states that Tibet has become a vassal state without religious or cultural freedoms. Just a few of the horrors that China has unleashed upon the Tibetan people.
He also mentions the mass clearing of land and trees, the destruction of the monasteries and the Tibetan language and the stealing of Tibetan treasures. Then there are the gulags, mass troop deployments, Uranium mining and nuclear weaponry. Chairman Mao said that ‘Political power comes from the barrel of a gun’ and this has been the Chinese attitude towards Tibet since invasion. The Peace Plan of 1987 came to nought and any satisfactory outcome has been stalled. Over 1.3 million Tibetans have died in the struggle for their homeland, some by immolation, a terrible way to die.
Sadly I never got to meet the Dalai Lama, either in Inverness, my home town when he was on tour, or in Dharamsala. But I would tell him to give up the meat, it's about the only chink in the armour of this remarkable man. I've written more about him in my book A Scam in the Ashram.
He also mentions the mass clearing of land and trees, the destruction of the monasteries and the Tibetan language and the stealing of Tibetan treasures. Then there are the gulags, mass troop deployments, Uranium mining and nuclear weaponry. Chairman Mao said that ‘Political power comes from the barrel of a gun’ and this has been the Chinese attitude towards Tibet since invasion. The Peace Plan of 1987 came to nought and any satisfactory outcome has been stalled. Over 1.3 million Tibetans have died in the struggle for their homeland, some by immolation, a terrible way to die.
Sadly I never got to meet the Dalai Lama, either in Inverness, my home town when he was on tour, or in Dharamsala. But I would tell him to give up the meat, it's about the only chink in the armour of this remarkable man. I've written more about him in my book A Scam in the Ashram.
November 26, 2009
Seriously a man of many hats! This spiritual and political leader shows himself to have a great writer's eye! The books is a fantastic blend of his own personal history and recollections and the Tibetan history he's lived through. And his philosophy is also introduced in very clear and easy to understand language. It was very informative and also highly entertaining, including anectdotes of meetings with great personalities, Mahatma Ghandi, Vaclav Havel, Nelson Mandela, plus Popes, Presidents, Generals, etc. He doesn't pull any punches in his descriptions of the violence and torture created by the Chinese Government, but always does so in a compassionate context. Amazing stories and anecdotes are blended with mundane observations that show a bit how his mind works.
But, it is the wisdom and balance of the man that shines through most clearly. A coupleof my favorite quotes:
"If materialsm and technology really are the answer to all of humanity's problems, the most advanced industrial societies would now be full of smiling faces. But they are not. Equally, if people were meant only to be concerned with matters of spirituality, we would all be living joyously according to their religious beliefs. But then there would be no progress. Both spiritual and material progress are required. And humanity must not stagnate, for that is a kind of death." (p. 251)
"Only through the development of mutual respect, and in a spirit of truth, can friendship come about." (p. 128)
(on the West) "One thing I have noticed is an inclination for people to think in terms of 'black and white' and 'either, or', which ignores the facts of interdependence and relativity. They have a tendency to lose sight of the grey areas which inevitably exist between two points." (p. 218)
But, it is the wisdom and balance of the man that shines through most clearly. A coupleof my favorite quotes:
"If materialsm and technology really are the answer to all of humanity's problems, the most advanced industrial societies would now be full of smiling faces. But they are not. Equally, if people were meant only to be concerned with matters of spirituality, we would all be living joyously according to their religious beliefs. But then there would be no progress. Both spiritual and material progress are required. And humanity must not stagnate, for that is a kind of death." (p. 251)
"Only through the development of mutual respect, and in a spirit of truth, can friendship come about." (p. 128)
(on the West) "One thing I have noticed is an inclination for people to think in terms of 'black and white' and 'either, or', which ignores the facts of interdependence and relativity. They have a tendency to lose sight of the grey areas which inevitably exist between two points." (p. 218)
February 23, 2014
This is, in a nutshell, a beautiful, honest and extremely sad story of a wonderful man.
Most of us already know the sorry tale of Tibet and the Chinese occupation of it through popular media. The Dalai Lama's life starts in free Tibet and ends as a political exile in India, and in many ways, you know how the story will go.
What was remarkable, however, were two things:
One, the honesty and openness of this man, despite the obvious pain he's been through in his life, is refreshing and consistently evident from the first chapter all the way to the last. To know that someone who's led the life he has can still have room in his heart to be open minded and fair in his relaying of these events is inspiring, to say the least.
Two, there is a magnetism to his personality that comes alive even through the written text, that pulled me in as a reader. I've read many autobiographies, many far more researched, detailed and nuanced than this - and yet, few have engaged me so and pulled me in so much. I found myself feeling the sorrow of his people, inspired by what they have made of themselves, proud of my own country for opening their arms to this community with such warmth - all emotions that one mere story doesn't usually incite.
I'll finish where I started. This is a beautiful and sad tale, told by an extraordinary, wonderful man. We need more souls like him in this world. I would highly recommend reading it, and expanding your view of history, spirituality and humanity along the way.
Most of us already know the sorry tale of Tibet and the Chinese occupation of it through popular media. The Dalai Lama's life starts in free Tibet and ends as a political exile in India, and in many ways, you know how the story will go.
What was remarkable, however, were two things:
One, the honesty and openness of this man, despite the obvious pain he's been through in his life, is refreshing and consistently evident from the first chapter all the way to the last. To know that someone who's led the life he has can still have room in his heart to be open minded and fair in his relaying of these events is inspiring, to say the least.
Two, there is a magnetism to his personality that comes alive even through the written text, that pulled me in as a reader. I've read many autobiographies, many far more researched, detailed and nuanced than this - and yet, few have engaged me so and pulled me in so much. I found myself feeling the sorrow of his people, inspired by what they have made of themselves, proud of my own country for opening their arms to this community with such warmth - all emotions that one mere story doesn't usually incite.
I'll finish where I started. This is a beautiful and sad tale, told by an extraordinary, wonderful man. We need more souls like him in this world. I would highly recommend reading it, and expanding your view of history, spirituality and humanity along the way.
November 8, 2019
While his country was invaded and "stolen" by the Chinese government, he still tells people to put down their weapons and harbors no hatred towards the Chinese Communists. The most touching fact is perhaps a spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism still practices the teachings of his Gurus for 5.5 hours a day -- I doubt many spiritual leader in today's world can do that.
February 29, 2012
Amazing read! I found the life of the Dalai Lama so fascinating and I definitely learned so many things from this autobiography. I never knew the suffering in Tibet was so great and the weight of responsibility he had was incredible, but he pulled through. Inspiring! A must read.
December 11, 2021
Invaluable and detailed account of how China invaded Tibet, which proved to be the start of decades-long oppression (still persisting till this day) – and all of which through the eyes of a man whose compassion knows no boundaries
January 5, 2009
It's a heart-rending book towards the end, but very interesting to read how a teenager ruled Tibet and went on to come one of the greatest peace activists in history.
July 18, 2013
Humbled!
February 8, 2018
Freedom in Exile is a book that I knew I was going to read at some point. I've always had a soft spot for refugees, as I can think of nothing worse than being forced to leave your home, your life, your everything, because of war, ideological clashes, poverty or climate change (or a combination of all the above). I really don't understand the crazy xenophobic views that some people hold towards them - how can you not feel sorry for them and want to help? With this compassion in mind and a growing interest in Buddhism, I welcomed the Dalai Lama's autobiography with open arms.
Freedom in Exile is the story of the current 14th Dalai Lama and chronicles his life from a two-year-old boy to 1990 when this book was first published. It describes how his humble beginnings changed when he was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama at just two years old, and follows his education and upbringing in Lhasa, before becoming Head of State at 15. I found this part of the book quite interesting as it detailed a lot about Buddhist teachings and Tibetan culture. The book then quickly gathers pace when China began its invasion of Tibet and the Dalai Lama was forced to flee and seek refuge in India in 1959.
The chapters about this unjust exile were incredibly moving and sad - it's a story that is all too familiar to anyone who has done any basic research on Tibet, but reading it from the Dalai Lama's eyewitness perspective and hearing about the impact that it had on the Tibetan people as they struggled to adapt and make a new home for their families in India, made it all the more heartbreaking to read. Freedom in Exile ends during the bitter Tibetan independence battles in the late 80s, with the Dalai Lama reflecting on the cruelty of China and hoping that the future will bring a free Tibet and a more peaceful and beautiful world with it.
'Free Tibet' is a slogan that I used to see fairly often in many cities that had a large student population, yet as China's dominance as a global superpower continues to grow, I've been seeing this statement less and less. It's almost as if Tibet has long been forgotten about, or perhaps people now merely accept it as part of China and don't think about it any differently? So if you want to find out more about what happened, Freedom in Exile is a must-read.
Freedom in Exile is the story of the current 14th Dalai Lama and chronicles his life from a two-year-old boy to 1990 when this book was first published. It describes how his humble beginnings changed when he was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama at just two years old, and follows his education and upbringing in Lhasa, before becoming Head of State at 15. I found this part of the book quite interesting as it detailed a lot about Buddhist teachings and Tibetan culture. The book then quickly gathers pace when China began its invasion of Tibet and the Dalai Lama was forced to flee and seek refuge in India in 1959.
The chapters about this unjust exile were incredibly moving and sad - it's a story that is all too familiar to anyone who has done any basic research on Tibet, but reading it from the Dalai Lama's eyewitness perspective and hearing about the impact that it had on the Tibetan people as they struggled to adapt and make a new home for their families in India, made it all the more heartbreaking to read. Freedom in Exile ends during the bitter Tibetan independence battles in the late 80s, with the Dalai Lama reflecting on the cruelty of China and hoping that the future will bring a free Tibet and a more peaceful and beautiful world with it.
'Free Tibet' is a slogan that I used to see fairly often in many cities that had a large student population, yet as China's dominance as a global superpower continues to grow, I've been seeing this statement less and less. It's almost as if Tibet has long been forgotten about, or perhaps people now merely accept it as part of China and don't think about it any differently? So if you want to find out more about what happened, Freedom in Exile is a must-read.
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February 6, 2023A humanistic approach to describing horrible, senseless events that followed China becoming a communist nation, which very much shaped the current Dalai Lama's life and set his mission. It wasn't only Tibet that has suffered from them proselytising ethnicities and even nations into communism, however I am happy that the Dalai Lama has been able to bring a lot of attention to the imperial nature of such behavior of the regime. I admire his approach (M. Gandhi's, I guess, originally) of non-violence. Moreover, HH regards the Chinese as humans too, despite the foolishness and idolatry (concerning faux-communist ideals) of the heads of the government back in the day (maybe to this day, I haven't a clue as to what they are doing nowadays in their country, apart from the continuous genocide of the Uyghurs and the propaganda built around denying that fact).
Despite of the title and position of the Dalai Lama he is someone I can sympathize with as he appears to be close to the common people. It's one of the pinnacles of his guardianship of Buddhist religion and the Tibetan peoples. He seems to be a grounded human being, earnest, honest and deliberate; who isn't someone that thinks spirituality is synonymous to asceticism and avoidance of earthly matters. As a leader, I believe he is a great one and one much needed as an example for how human society should be governed and move forward.
Despite of the title and position of the Dalai Lama he is someone I can sympathize with as he appears to be close to the common people. It's one of the pinnacles of his guardianship of Buddhist religion and the Tibetan peoples. He seems to be a grounded human being, earnest, honest and deliberate; who isn't someone that thinks spirituality is synonymous to asceticism and avoidance of earthly matters. As a leader, I believe he is a great one and one much needed as an example for how human society should be governed and move forward.
March 7, 2018
I have been to Tibet and I had heard the Dalai Lama speak. So when my group chose this book, I was interested. I was surprised at how dense this book is. The Dalai Lama seems to remember everything, even what he ate when he was a small child. The big struggle of the book, it seems to me, is the conflict between his love and respect for all living beings, and his dislike for what the Chinese have done (and perhaps are doing) to the people of Tibet. While condemning the latter, he is still able to have faith that goodness will win in the end. I can find no fault with his message of love and justice.
He thinks women should be equals but seems OK that his mother and sisters have no education. He does promote education in Dharamsala, the main refugee camp in India. And he is interested in science and scientific education for his people.
While I did not get to know any Tibetans while I was there, I did respect their piety and religious devotion. They seem to be gentle people. I never acquired a taste for yak butter tea, however.
He thinks women should be equals but seems OK that his mother and sisters have no education. He does promote education in Dharamsala, the main refugee camp in India. And he is interested in science and scientific education for his people.
While I did not get to know any Tibetans while I was there, I did respect their piety and religious devotion. They seem to be gentle people. I never acquired a taste for yak butter tea, however.
December 24, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up.
It took me a while to read this for three reasons. Firstly, I was already familiar with a lot of it, having been told the story of the Dalai Lama's escape when I visited Tibet. Secondly, it is very much 'tell', which in some ways is a good thing, because reading a direct account of the atrocities suffered by the Tibetan people would be horrifying. Which leads up to the third reason, that it is just a tragic story. And a travesty that China's occupation of Tibet is still ongoing. And though they might have dialed back the murder and torture a little, they are still committing cultural genocide in a country with as rich and long a history as their own. Children are taught in Mandarin only, Tibetan signage is incorrect or missing, they are not allowed to speak of the 14th Dalai Lama or show his image anywhere, and in Lhasa police checkpoints line the streets.
It is almost unbelievable that despite these assaults, the Dalai Lama remains free of hatred or anger toward the Chinese. The book contains a little of his Buddhist philosophy and analyses, and it would have been interesting to see more of that. Hopefully his efforts in maintaining Tibetan culture in exile will bear fruit, because China's iron grip on its occupied territories and on the minds of its people (among whom I lived for two years, and met many kind and lovely individuals, but who have little knowledge of the outside world and believe what their government tells them) don't bode well for Tibet.
It took me a while to read this for three reasons. Firstly, I was already familiar with a lot of it, having been told the story of the Dalai Lama's escape when I visited Tibet. Secondly, it is very much 'tell', which in some ways is a good thing, because reading a direct account of the atrocities suffered by the Tibetan people would be horrifying. Which leads up to the third reason, that it is just a tragic story. And a travesty that China's occupation of Tibet is still ongoing. And though they might have dialed back the murder and torture a little, they are still committing cultural genocide in a country with as rich and long a history as their own. Children are taught in Mandarin only, Tibetan signage is incorrect or missing, they are not allowed to speak of the 14th Dalai Lama or show his image anywhere, and in Lhasa police checkpoints line the streets.
It is almost unbelievable that despite these assaults, the Dalai Lama remains free of hatred or anger toward the Chinese. The book contains a little of his Buddhist philosophy and analyses, and it would have been interesting to see more of that. Hopefully his efforts in maintaining Tibetan culture in exile will bear fruit, because China's iron grip on its occupied territories and on the minds of its people (among whom I lived for two years, and met many kind and lovely individuals, but who have little knowledge of the outside world and believe what their government tells them) don't bode well for Tibet.
October 14, 2020
Freedom in exile is a detailed narration of the life of the 14th Dalai Lama. Starting with the traditional process of choosing the Holy One, the initiation and the training, the book delves deeper into the customs and way of life of Tibetans. The autobiography is very insightful abouts his holiness relationship with China, his thought process of seeking exile in India and the relocation of fellow Tibetans as refugees. The langauge is simple,humble and quite innocent sometimes. The struggle for Tibets autonomy has been brought into the forefront with real life horrific punishments meted about publicly. The book also touches on the spirituality and principles related with Tibetan Buddhism. Dalai Lamas plans about returning back to homeland and expectations of world peace and nature conservation are things to ponder.
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