Through a lyrical narrative of her journey to Tibet in 2007,
activist Canyon Sam contemplates modern history from the
perspective of Tibetan women. Traveling on China's new "Sky Train,"
she celebrates Tibetan New Year with the Lhasa family whom she'd
befriended decades earlier and concludes an oral-history project
with women elders.
As she uncovers stories of Tibetan women's courage,
resourcefulness, and spiritual strength in the face of loss and
hardship since the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950, and
observes the changes wrought by the controversial new rail line in
the futuristic "new Lhasa," Sam comes to embrace her own capacity
for letting go, for faith, and for acceptance. Her glimpse of
Tibet's past through the lens of the women - a visionary educator,
a freedom fighter, a gulag survivor, and a child bride - affords
her a unique perspective on the state of Tibetan culture today - in
Tibet, in exile, and in the widening Tibetan diaspora.
Gracefully connecting the women's poignant histories to larger
cultural, political, and spiritual themes, the author comes full
circle, finding wisdom and wholeness even as she acknowledges
Tibet's irreversible changes.
Canyon Sam is a San Francisco writer, performance artist, and
Tibet activist. Her one-woman show "The Dissident" was critically
acclaimed in the "Village Voice" and the "Boston Globe." This is
her first book.
"Canyon Sam's "Sky Train" powerfully moves the heart, as it
brings to life deep truths about our world today, about Tibet, the
land and people and especially its outstanding women. Just as
important is the author's own revelatory discovery of 'Tibet' as a
compassionate, wise, and down to earth state-of-mind essential to
the survival of the whole world. Words cannot express how wonderful
is this honest, generous, and perceptive book." - Robert Thurman,
Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Buddhist Studies at Columbia
University
"Years ago following her ancestral roots to China, but finding
instead Tibet as a spiritual home, Canyon Sam made a miracle of a
journey. Now in "Sky Train" she guides the reader on a
life-changing adventure back to Tibet after more than twenty years
and an epoch of cataclysmic change to produce a miracle of a book."
- Maxine Hong Kingston, author of "The Woman Warrior"
"A book that is sure to illuminate a Tibet so many of us have
been longing to know." - Alice Walker, author of "The Color
Purple"
"Through the experiences of older Tibetan women, the author
offers a captivating journey spanning half a century and several
countries. "Sky Train" conveys women's lessons of
community-building, generosity, faith, and determination. A
beautiful, moving, riveting book." - Valerie Matsumoto, UCLA
"This book about the Dharma of connection, of companioning, of
compassion, has strengthened my own devotion." - Sylvia Boorstein,
author of "Happiness Is an Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful
Life"
"It is Canyon Sam's love for Tibet - its culture and its people
- that makes this book so special. An important work . . . poignant
and inspiring." - Sharon Salzberg, author of "Lovingkindness: The
Revolutionary Art of Happiness"
For more about the author, go to http:
//www.canyonsam.com/skytrain.html
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