Through the life of one of the great masters of Buddhist thought past, Matteo Pistono powerfully shows a route for all people to live in harmony and with unbelievable powers
Nineteenth-century Tibetan mystic Tertön Sogyal was a visionary, whose mastery of meditation led him to be a revered teacher to the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. Known for his deep spiritual insights and service to the nation of Tibet, Tertön Sogyal’s ability to harness the power of the mind was born of both his profound understanding of the Buddha’s teachings and the unique experiences he had while striving for peace against tremendous odds. His life is an example of courage and diligence appreciated by spiritual practitioners of all traditions; and his practical instructions on meditation and opening one’s heart—amid conflict, uncertainty, and change—are as relevant today as they were during his lifetime.
Fearless in Tibet, the first comprehensive work in English on Tertön Sogyal, captures the essence of his teachings, visions, and spiritual realizations, as well as the challenges he faced during his early yogic training and his efforts to promote harmony between Tibet and China.
Combining riveting storytelling and Tertön Sogyal’s profound instructions, Matteo Pistono takes you on a journey through a mystical past that reveals practical inner guidance for today’s challenges. You will see the power of transforming negativity into opportunity, letting go of attachments, becoming mindfully present, and embracing impermanence. This intricate tapestry of intrigue and spirituality will infuse your path with timeless wisdom and inspiration.
“The life of Tertön Sogyal offers an epic tale of great spiritual practice. Fascinating to read, the story shares many key teachings as well. Fearless in Tibet is a gem for anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhist practice and culture.” — Sharon Salzberg, New York Times best-selling author of Lovingkindness
“Fifteen years in the making, Matteo Pistono has written a lyrical biography of Tertön Sogyal (1856–1926), the most powerful tantric master of his era. Pistono’s gracefully written stories are evocative and magically playful, but his rendition of Tertön Sogyal’s journey is also critical to understanding the fate of Tibet. As a dakini named Tsephei warned the master in 1915, ‘If China and Tibet fight in the future, everyone will lose, but in the end Tibet will succumb.’ This is now the living tragedy of our Tibet.” — Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer and historian
“Tertön Sogyal exemplified the mastery of Buddha Dharma and the yogic conduct of a mahasiddha. Biographies of the great, authentic masters of Buddha Dharma are an integral part of the study and practice of Buddhism. They serve as true inspiration for practitioners and motivate all to strive continuously on the path of practice. This wonderful biography will be of great benefit and inspiration not only for practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism but also for anyone with sincere interest in discovering the depth of Buddhist insight.” — Mindrolling Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche
“Fearless in Tibet is filled with stories and poetry centering around the most profound topics in our human civilization. And what’s more—it’s a remarkably good read. A unique spiritual biography and a must for all followers of Padmasambhava’s teachings.” — Erik Pema Kunsang, author of Wellsprings of the Great Perfection
Matteo Pistono is a writer, photographer, practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, and author of In the Shadow of the Buddha. Pistono’s images and writings about Tibetan and Himalayan cultural, political, and spiritual landscapes have appeared in the Washington Post, BBC’s In-Pictures, Men’s Journal, Kyoto Journal, and HIMAL South Asia. Pistono lived and traveled throughout the Himalayas for a decade, bringing to the West graphic accounts and photos of China’s human rights abuses in Tibet. He is the founder of Nekorpa (www.nekorpa.org), a non-profit foundation working to protect sacred pilgrimage sites around the world, and he sits on the Executive Council of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, Rigpa Fellowship, and the Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture. See www.matteopistono.com.
Through the life of one of the great masters of Buddhist thought past, Matteo Pistono powerfully shows a route for all people to live in harmony and with unbelievable powers
Nineteenth-century Tibetan mystic Tertön Sogyal was a visionary, whose mastery of meditation led him to be a revered teacher to the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. Known for his deep spiritual insights and service to the nation of Tibet, Tertön Sogyal’s ability to harness the power of the mind was born of both his profound understanding of the Buddha’s teachings and the unique experiences he had while striving for peace against tremendous odds. His life is an example of courage and diligence appreciated by spiritual practitioners of all traditions; and his practical instructions on meditation and opening one’s heart—amid conflict, uncertainty, and change—are as relevant today as they were during his lifetime.
Fearless in Tibet, the first comprehensive work in English on Tertön Sogyal, captures the essence of his teachings, visions, and spiritual realizations, as well as the challenges he faced during his early yogic training and his efforts to promote harmony between Tibet and China.
Combining riveting storytelling and Tertön Sogyal’s profound instructions, Matteo Pistono takes you on a journey through a mystical past that reveals practical inner guidance for today’s challenges. You will see the power of transforming negativity into opportunity, letting go of attachments, becoming mindfully present, and embracing impermanence. This intricate tapestry of intrigue and spirituality will infuse your path with timeless wisdom and inspiration.
Reviews
“The life of Tertön Sogyal offers an epic tale of great spiritual practice. Fascinating to read, the story shares many key teachings as well. Fearless in Tibet is a gem for anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhist practice and culture.” — Sharon Salzberg, New York Times best-selling author of Lovingkindness
“Fifteen years in the making, Matteo Pistono has written a lyrical biography of Tertön Sogyal (1856–1926), the most powerful tantric master of his era. Pistono’s gracefully written stories are evocative and magically playful, but his rendition of Tertön Sogyal’s journey is also critical to understanding the fate of Tibet. As a dakini named Tsephei warned the master in 1915, ‘If China and Tibet fight in the future, everyone will lose, but in the end Tibet will succumb.’ This is now the living tragedy of our Tibet.” — Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer and historian
“Tertön Sogyal exemplified the mastery of Buddha Dharma and the yogic conduct of a mahasiddha. Biographies of the great, authentic masters of Buddha Dharma are an integral part of the study and practice of Buddhism. They serve as true inspiration for practitioners and motivate all to strive continuously on the path of practice. This wonderful biography will be of great benefit and inspiration not only for practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism but also for anyone with sincere interest in discovering the depth of Buddhist insight.” — Mindrolling Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche
“Fearless in Tibet is filled with stories and poetry centering around the most profound topics in our human civilization. And what’s more—it’s a remarkably good read. A unique spiritual biography and a must for all followers of Padmasambhava’s teachings.” — Erik Pema Kunsang, author of Wellsprings of the Great Perfection
Author
Matteo Pistono is a writer, photographer, practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, and author of In the Shadow of the Buddha. Pistono’s images and writings about Tibetan and Himalayan cultural, political, and spiritual landscapes have appeared in the Washington Post, BBC’s In-Pictures, Men’s Journal, Kyoto Journal, and HIMAL South Asia. Pistono lived and traveled throughout the Himalayas for a decade, bringing to the West graphic accounts and photos of China’s human rights abuses in Tibet. He is the founder of Nekorpa (www.nekorpa.org), a non-profit foundation working to protect sacred pilgrimage sites around the world, and he sits on the Executive Council of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, Rigpa Fellowship, and the Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture. See www.matteopistono.com.
