Little Lhasa (Reflections on Transnational Tibet)

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Ever since they anchored on foreign shores, exiled Tibetans, under the guidance of the His Holiness the Dalai Lama, have contributed greatly to global culture, especially in the field of spirituality. Although they have had much less success in the realm of politics, their cause for freedom remains very much alive.

Driven out of their hauntingly beautiful homeland, Tibetans have tried to preserve their glorious cultural and religious heritage in exile. However, as this legacy and responsibility is being passed on to a new generation, it has given birth to a new and distinctive Tibetan culture.

In these ten essays Tsering Namgyal reflects, with curiosity and compassion, on this "in-between world" in which he grew up and which is now transforming at a rapid pace. He combines his own experience of growing up among the Tibetan communities of India, his extensive travels, and many interviews, to explain to himself and to others why his "virtual home" is so unique and intriguing. And why, despite the poignancy of dislocation, the stories from exiled Tibet have a strange ability to touch and to inspire.

Tsering Namgyal has worked for many years both in finance and journalism. His writings have appeared in many of the leading regional publications including the Asian Wall Street Journal, Asia Times, Dimsum (a literary journal), and Tibetan Review. He is fluent in Mandarin and is currently based in the United States.

The country of Tibet and its people have been the muse of writers and academics for many decades, but very few Tibetans write about themselves and give voice to their experiences. Since the second half of the 20th century, the world as Tibetans knew it has undergone a sea change. They have had to either live in exile or as colonised subjects of a hostile regime. Their life experiences should have provided a rich source of inspiration for Tibetan authors, but alas, while Tsering Namgyal notes in this book that "exile has been the mother of most writers", very few Tibetans have actually taken to writing.

Tsering Namgyal la's writings reflect a new generation of Tibetans who are giving a new voice to Tibetan lives. His writing is reflective and sometimes amusing as he surveys the world of Tibet from Dharamsala to Taipei, from New York to Kathmandu. His observations are insightful and occasionally comical. Tibet is everywhere yet it is ephemeral and fuzzy. What are Tibetans to make of their world? For the Tibetan diaspora, there is a daily struggle to reconcile he idea of Tibet they carry in their heart and their actual life experiences.

Namgyal la's writings provide a lucid and perceptive commentary on the emerging trends in Tibetan exiled culture. His critical reflections on the lives of the Tibetan diaspora are refreshing and a pleasure to read. Readers will find insights into the lives of Tibetans as they engage with the modern world, the pressures they face as they strive to keep their ancient culture alive, and their continuing struggle for their homeland.

Contents

Foreword	x
Little Lhasa	1
Shangrila Online	23
Buddha's Children	34
Memories of Protests	53
Miss Tibet	65
Of Exile and Activism	78
Movies and Meditation	95
Dharma Talk	114
The Lure of India	134
The Monk in Manali	153
Images from Exiles Tibet	168
Bibliography	185

Sample Pages