Many people who have some understanding of the situation in Tibet may not be aware of the country's history. This book makes a useful contribution to filling that gap. The author tells the tale of Tibet, recounting first the myths of the origin of the land and its people and then what historical documents record. She explains how Tibet was once a major military power in Central Asia, exerting its influence throughout Central Asia and beyond into neighbouring territories...
On the one hand, Buddhism, with its peaceful outlook and emphasis on non-violence, diminished Tibetan military inclinations, but on the other it became the source of a completely different kind of influence - an influence based on knowledge. For more than a thousand years Tibetans have been custodians of the full range of the Buddha's teachings...
Readers can find out here not only how Tibet was shaped by Buddhist traditions, but also how those raditions came about and originally flourished in India itself. Here is evidence of the indisputably strong ties that have long existed between Tibetans and Indians, and which I pray will continue tothrive long into the future. |
