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The Open Road
by Pico Iyer
Reviewed by Terry Grose
Pico Iyer's The Open Road is a timely book in light of the huge upsurge in international interest in Tibet and the Fourteenth Dalai Lama during the lead up to the 2008 Olympic Games. Iyer cannot however be accused of any short-term interest for the sake of publicity.
Iyer's father, an Oxford academic, had known the Dalai Lama since 1960 and Iyer first met him in 1974 when he accompanied his father to Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama's home in exile. He has previously written about the Dalai Lama in his 2004 book Sun After Dark and, as he recounts in The Open Road, he has regularly met with the Dalai Lama at various locations all over the world as well as attended many of his public addresses. With this background of personal contact combined with an obvious interest in spirituality and meditation, a reputation as an excellent travel writer and the international perspective of an Indian who grew up in England and now lives part of the time in the US, part in Japan and part on the road, Iyer is very well placed to write the book he has subtitled as The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama.
Iyer claims modestly that in writing the book he has attempted to "be a general reader speaking to other general readers, and bringing little more than the curiosity and interest of a journalist."
The resulting book is easy to read without in any way trivializing the subject, and for this reason is a valuable information source in an age when so many find it easier to see things in simple black and white with little capacity to see the shades of grey in the world.
Iyer identifies and discusses a number of contradictions that exist about Tibet and the Dalai Lama. For example, the idea that Tibet is a sort of Shangri-la similar to that described in the James Hilton novel Lost Horizon is quickly debunked. He describes some of the plotting and murders that have taken place between the different religious factions during the time of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama which make it clear that Tibet has been a tough place.
Another contradiction noted by Iyer, in this case one that is more widely understood, is that caused by the Dalai Lama's dual roles as a spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists and a political leader of Tibet. Much has been written on the dissatisfaction of the more independently oriented Tibetans of the Dalai Lama's unwillingness to speak out too stridently against China.
Iyer also draws attention to the apparent contradiction between the image of the Dalai Lama in public where he is known to giggle a lot, to tug people's beards, or to pull out a toothbrush and clean his teeth in public, and his more serious persona as a political and religious philosopher who can debate issues with world political and religious leaders.
A further, more profound contradiction (at least for the rational western mind) is the contrasts Iyer describes between the caring, humanist teaching for which the Dalai Lama is known internationally, and the more mystical aspects of Tibetan Buddhism which includes monks known as oracles speaking in tongues while foaming at the mouth in some form of trance. Using the analogy of light and dark or day time and night time to describe these two aspects of the religion Iyer explains this in the following way:
The Open Road is an intelligent and sympathetic writer with a totally international view of the world. His personal account of the life of the Dalai Lama is a thoughtful and insightful read for those who wish to know more about the man and his philosophy.
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Terry Grose runs his own corporate advisory business, Grose International providing counsel to Asian medium sized companies. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions and helping business owners manage effectively and profitably. Terry is an avid reader who enjoys cooking and all things French. When he is not reading, cooking or traveling, he's probably out running.
by Pico Iyer
Reviewed by Terry Grose
Pico Iyer's The Open Road is a timely book in light of the huge upsurge in international interest in Tibet and the Fourteenth Dalai Lama during the lead up to the 2008 Olympic Games. Iyer cannot however be accused of any short-term interest for the sake of publicity.
Iyer's father, an Oxford academic, had known the Dalai Lama since 1960 and Iyer first met him in 1974 when he accompanied his father to Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama's home in exile. He has previously written about the Dalai Lama in his 2004 book Sun After Dark and, as he recounts in The Open Road, he has regularly met with the Dalai Lama at various locations all over the world as well as attended many of his public addresses. With this background of personal contact combined with an obvious interest in spirituality and meditation, a reputation as an excellent travel writer and the international perspective of an Indian who grew up in England and now lives part of the time in the US, part in Japan and part on the road, Iyer is very well placed to write the book he has subtitled as The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama.
Iyer claims modestly that in writing the book he has attempted to "be a general reader speaking to other general readers, and bringing little more than the curiosity and interest of a journalist."
The resulting book is easy to read without in any way trivializing the subject, and for this reason is a valuable information source in an age when so many find it easier to see things in simple black and white with little capacity to see the shades of grey in the world.
Iyer identifies and discusses a number of contradictions that exist about Tibet and the Dalai Lama. For example, the idea that Tibet is a sort of Shangri-la similar to that described in the James Hilton novel Lost Horizon is quickly debunked. He describes some of the plotting and murders that have taken place between the different religious factions during the time of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama which make it clear that Tibet has been a tough place.
Another contradiction noted by Iyer, in this case one that is more widely understood, is that caused by the Dalai Lama's dual roles as a spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists and a political leader of Tibet. Much has been written on the dissatisfaction of the more independently oriented Tibetans of the Dalai Lama's unwillingness to speak out too stridently against China.
Iyer also draws attention to the apparent contradiction between the image of the Dalai Lama in public where he is known to giggle a lot, to tug people's beards, or to pull out a toothbrush and clean his teeth in public, and his more serious persona as a political and religious philosopher who can debate issues with world political and religious leaders.
A further, more profound contradiction (at least for the rational western mind) is the contrasts Iyer describes between the caring, humanist teaching for which the Dalai Lama is known internationally, and the more mystical aspects of Tibetan Buddhism which includes monks known as oracles speaking in tongues while foaming at the mouth in some form of trance. Using the analogy of light and dark or day time and night time to describe these two aspects of the religion Iyer explains this in the following way:
- Like any being, Tibetan Buddhism has a daylight and a night-time side, a part that belongs to the public, visible world and a part that belongs to the realm of dreams and premonitions and everything that exists outside the conscious mind.
- The Dalai Lama carefully unfolded across the globe principles for selflessness and compassion, examples of responsibility drawn from the Buddhist notion of interconnectedness and an emphasis on practicing humanity, as it were, without having to think constantly about religious rites and scriptures.
The Open Road is an intelligent and sympathetic writer with a totally international view of the world. His personal account of the life of the Dalai Lama is a thoughtful and insightful read for those who wish to know more about the man and his philosophy.
--
Terry Grose runs his own corporate advisory business, Grose International providing counsel to Asian medium sized companies. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions and helping business owners manage effectively and profitably. Terry is an avid reader who enjoys cooking and all things French. When he is not reading, cooking or traveling, he's probably out running.
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