His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama: An Illustrated Biography

Product Description

This beautifully illustrated chronicle presents an in-depth, firsthand narrative of the Dalai Lama’s life story and the Tibetan saga. From remembrances of those close to him, and a treasure trove of over 400 images of Tibet’s priceless visual heritage, it preserves a record of what it was like to create a nation from nothing, in exile, and how His Holiness rallied endlessly for his people. A rich blend of biography, history, and legacy, it captures a detailed account of the tumultuous events through which the Dalai Lama was forced to chart a path, leading to his emergence as an international figure. It illuminates as well his initiatives in the wider world to relieve suffering, overcome global challenges, and foster human flourishing through compassionate universal ethics, working hand in hand with science and ingenuity.    
Tendzin Choegyal was thirteen years old when he accompanied his elder brother, the Dalai Lama―twenty-three at the time―on his dangerous 1959 escape to India. Decades later, he began encouraging his lifelong personal friend, Tenzin Geyche Tethong―for forty years His Holiness’ personal aide―to record their people’s journey. As “elders” in the Tibetan community, they have collaborated with photo archivist Jane Moore and a creative team to produce a memorable, comprehensive, and close-up portrait. It offers, in these uncertain times, an uplifting retrospective of an iconic leader, a heritage, a cause, and a creative vision that have won the attention and hearts of people around the world.  

Review

“Via personal testimony and stunning, rarely seen photographs, Tethong chronicles the remarkable journey of a man who has led by example with kindness and empathy … A fluid work that effectively honors a gentle, compassionate teacher and writer … [H]andsomely illustrated …” ―
Kirkus Reviews

“[A] vivid insider’s look at the life of one of the most revered spiritual figures in the world … a gripping narrative and never-before-seen photos of the Dalai Lama and his family … This remarkably candid and intimate account sheds new light on the life of the world leader.” ―
Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Tenzin Geyche Tethong has been a trusted companion and aide to His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, for over four decades, and is part of a family legacy of service. Born in 1943 in Lhasa, Tethong first joined the Tibetan administrative service in the early 1960s, and later served in the Private Office of His Holiness until 2006. This is the first time that he has written about these remarkable years.

Jane Moore is an acclaimed photo researcher and editor. Formerly Photo Editor at the Sunday Times Magazine in London, she is the founder of Tibet Images, a picture archive dedicated to Tibet and the Tibetan diaspora. She is a leading expert on the cultural institution of the Dalai Lama and continues to build up a rare archive of his life and his people.