“The questions which Bertrand Odelys puts to the Dalai Lama and to ordinary Tibetans in exile are questions we also have to answer. When things don’t work out during the day what helps us? What do we hang on to in order to find our centre again? What aspects of Buddhism guide us best in the moment?The responses to these questions provide a tare insight into the day-today existence of those who live far away from their country people who have chosen to answer the madness 0f their aggressors with lucidity compassion and non-violence.The fragility of the human being is infinite - and to reach some perfection through this fragility is the essence of the teachings Bertrand Odelys found in Dharamsala. Our enemy inside and out is our best teacher. Faced with tribulations what we must fear is not so much to lose our freedom but to lose our compassion. Isn’t it because of that compassion that we deserve the name of human being?This fascinating book combines anecdote with philosophical insight. These rich chronicles about real life experiences should concern us all.”About the present English version (2010):The Tibetans portrayed here are not represented as downtrodden victims but as a courageous people waiting for an opportunity to show their worth. “Don’t Say No to a Tibetan” is not a slogan. The title sends a message to the Chinese that the karmic retribution for treading on an innocent people will be great. The book makes a distinction between the brutal “no!” 0f the aggressor and the well thought out ‘No’ of the person open to dialogue. Tibetans have a perfect right to say No to their colonizers. To learn to fight back as an organized movement is now a necessity. Author : In this book Bertrand Odelys has collected together portraits of people living in Dharamsala which has been my home since the early 60’s. Some are Tibetans some are Indians and some come from further afield. Nearly all are in some way contributing to our effort in keeping the Tibetan identity alive and to preserving and promoting the values of Tibetan culture. On the one hand we are doing this with an optimistic eye on that future day when we shall return to Tibet. But on the other hand I have often pointed out that Tibetan culture is part of human culture and humanity as a whole would be poorer if it were lost. These are stories not only about maintaining traditions from the past but also significantly about coming to terms with and contributing to the modern world. The lesson that history has taught us so abruptly is that our world and its population are increasingly interdependent.I am grateful to everyone who dedicates himself or herself to helping the cause of Tibet. I believe that if we are successful in winning genuine freedom and autonomy for our people it will be as a result of the great support and friendship we have received from many people in many parts of the world. I am sure readers of this book will derive a much better understanding of the crisis that confronts the Tibetan people and the part those of us in Dharamsala are playing in trying to resolve it.

Isbn No.    9789380359120

Author:    Bertrand Odelys

Publisher:    Library of Tibetan Works & Archives

Binding:    Paperback

Language :   English

Edition:    1

No. Of Pages :    355

Year Of Publication :   2010