The Open Road: The Global Journey of the XIVth Dalai Lama

by Pico Iyer

book data

138 ratings, 3.80 average rating, 51 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		23%
4		41%
3		28%
2		6%
1		0%

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published

March 25th 2008 by Knopf

binding

Hardcover, 288 pages

isbn

0307267601 (isbn13: 9780307267603)

description

One of the most acclaimed and perceptive observers of globalism and Buddhism now gives us the first serious consideration—for Buddhist and non-Buddhis

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03/04/09

Mazola1 rated it:

The Open Road bills itself as a look at the paradoxical life of the Dalai Lama written by someone who has known him for three decades. While the book does examine the Dalai Lama as a spiritual and temporal leader, a man with one foot planted firmly in the ancient past of his Buddhist tradition and one foot planted firmly in the modern world, it is surprisingly superficial and spotty.

The premise of the book is far better than its execution. For instance, Iyer quotes a Tibetan as sayi...more

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05/26/08

Brayden rated it:

Read in May, 2008

Iyer is a travel writer who has a personal relationship with the Dalai Lama dating back to his youth. In this book Ayer provides an insider's view of the Dalai Lama's life and mind. I didn't know much about the man before reading the book, and so I was surprised by a lot of what I read. Iyer points out that the Dalai Lama on the surface seems to be full of contradictions (for example, he values science and logic but he also believes in prophecy and spiritual manifestations). Iyer helps the rea...more

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01/07/09

Stop added it

Read in April, 2008

Read the STOP SMILING review of The Open Road:

We are not accustomed to thinking of our leaders as perennially jolly, which has at times proven to be a problem for the Dalai Lama. Though he is one of the world's wisest and certainly one of its most spiritual men, Pico Iyer reminds us that he sometimes sounds like he is promoting saccharine, feel-good truths — “bromides, as it may seem, that tell people no more than any Golden Rule or Boy Scout’s manual might.” In part, this is...more

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02/05/09

Bookmarks Magazine added it

In his study of the Dalai Lama, Iyer offers a rich historical context made stronger by his own diligent research and vast knowledge of global politics (not to mention a personal connection). Given the current unrest between Tibet and China, Iyer's book takes on additional weight by lending urgency to the story of an otherwise little understood��if venerated and idolized��man and his goals, both speciously simple in a complex world. (Only the Washington Post cited weak analysis of the Dalai Lam

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06/01/08

Elissa rated it:

didn't love it, but i liked some parts of it. maybe because i read it 5 pages at a time right before bed.

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04/14/08

M rated it:

bookshelves: religion

Read in December, 2008

Reading Pico Iyer’s book about the Fourteenth Dalai Lama felt like a nice long walk or run along the trails by my house. We have a very popular trail with many offshoot paths that don’t have signs; exploring them can lead to unexpected pleasant discoveries, such as the day when I finally found the trail to the library. So it is with this book, which is replete with all sorts of anecdotes about the Dalai Lama, Tibet, and Dharamsala.

The section about the liturgical aspects of Tib...more Reading Pico Iyer’s book about the Fourteenth Dalai Lama felt like a nice long walk or run along the trails by my house. We have a very popular trail with many offshoot paths that don’t have signs; exploring them can lead to unexpected pleasant discoveries, such as the day when I finally found the trail to the library. So it is with this book, which is replete with all sorts of anecdotes about the Dalai Lama, Tibet, and Dharamsala.

The section about the liturgical aspects of Tibetan Buddhism was an eye opener. I didn’t realize it had so many deities, some of which apparently haven’t been on speaking terms for centuries. Now that is a long time to hold a grudge. I kept thinking about monkeys. I had heard a radio interview with a primatologist a while back about morality in primates and how monotheistic religions originated in the desert, where there are no primates. He gave examples of morality in the social behavior of monkeys and apes, and his theory was that, in their absence, desert societies devised monotheistic systems to instill moral behavior. These systems eventually became Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Anyway, it appears that monkeys do live in Tibet, which might explain the multiple deities.

I cannot fault anyone for writing long sentences because I’m guilty of the same thing, but it meant that I had to re-read some of the paragraphs several times. For example, I thought I had read that there is a Wal-Mart in downtown Lhasa, but the sentence was about how the Chinese government believes that "modernity means having access to satellite television, sexy dance halls and the spoils of Wal-Mart and Nike." So I can’t tell, but it would not surprise me at all. Another good reason to avoid Wal-Mart.

The Dalai Lama’s absolute insistence on peace and the simmering restlessness among some Tibetan groups in India and elsewhere made me wonder what will happen when he passes away. Add a severe economic slowdown resulting from the current global recession and who knows what other future political spark...But in keeping with the theme of Buddhism I should focus on the present moment rather than worry about the future, and at the present moment it is time to start another book.(less)

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04/09/08

Kristianne rated it:

Read in April, 2008

If you meet the Dalai Lama on the road. . .

How are we to think about the Dalai Lama? He is a Nobel laureate, a king kept from his country, a spiritual leader, a pop culture darling and an unswerving voice of global compassion. In the past half century he has been thrust onto the world’s stage, first as a fairy tale prince driven from his home and now as the beatific wise man who has charmed billions of people across the globe, drawing 65,000 people to Qwest stadium in Seattle to h...more If you meet the Dalai Lama on the road. . .

How are we to think about the Dalai Lama? He is a Nobel laureate, a king kept from his country, a spiritual leader, a pop culture darling and an unswerving voice of global compassion. In the past half century he has been thrust onto the world’s stage, first as a fairy tale prince driven from his home and now as the beatific wise man who has charmed billions of people across the globe, drawing 65,000 people to Qwest stadium in Seattle to hear him speak. Because the Dalai Lama maneuvers a variety of roles, a biography of him is a daunting task. Seasoned travel writer, Pico Iyer rises to the challenge and, rather than flattening out the surface, illuminates the complex facets of the Dalai Lama’s life.

Drawing on experiences from his 30-year acquaintance with the Dalai Lama, Iyer addresses both the public and the personal. We learn the history of Tibet’s entry into the global neighborhood and the Dalai Lama’s reactions to these changes. We see crowds come like moths to a flame and see him grow tired or long for the simple life of a monk.

The monk, the politician, the philosopher, the global face of tradition and change, ultimately, Iyer considers the Dalai Lama a doctor in our global neighborhood. A good doctor strives to make himself redundant by inspiring us to take control of our own health, either by using the tools and advice he gives us or by going ourselves to the source. As Iyer follows the Dalai Lama through Japan, Canada, and the United States and to his exile home in Dharamsala, the future looms. What will happen when he is gone? Will we adopt global policies of compassion? Will the Chinese government install a political puppet in his place? He has done what he can as a philosopher, a politician and a global icon but, in the end, he must simply hope that the wisdom he has prescribed will be taken to heart and his country and the world will recover. Meanwhile, he continues to pray for his Chinese brothers and sisters daily and he turns out each light when he exits a room because, he tells Iyer, even such a small gesture can have effect, especially if more people in more rooms remember.(less)

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03/26/08

Ann rated it:

bookshelves: biography, buddhism

Read in March, 2008

I'm very glad to have read this book. Iyer does an excellent job of exploring the conflicts inherent in the Dalai Lalma's dual role as a secular/spiritual leader. Nonviolence is such a hard road. How does one know it's working? How can it not be seen as appeasement, especially when China is the opponent, and has moved not one inch in its position in the last 50 years? This is what many outside observers ask, as well as frustrated young Tibetans. But the Dalai Lama answers that these are th...more

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02/07/09

Jason Lundberg rated it:

(review of isbn 074759726X)

bookshelves: 0wnz0red, reviewed

Read in June, 2008

An incredible look into the life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, and the current political and religious situation in both Tibet and Dharamsala. Through Iyer's 30-year relationship with the Buddhist monk, and his insightful and considered observations, the reader is provided with both the public and private sides of the Dalai Lama, and of the continuing insistence on using compassion, patience, and nonviolence in dealing with China. Fascinating reading.

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09/06/08

MJ rated it:

Read in September, 2008

This has been a slow read for me - I kept going off and reading other things, then coming back to it. Not because it was difficult, but just so dense with ideas. It is a sort of biography by Pico Iyer of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and attempts to explain his delicate position as leader of a country that virtually no longers exists, having been systematically destroyed by the Chinese since he escaped it at the age of 14. It explores his philosophies, his attempts to bring his people into a modern...more

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10/13/08

JennyGranola rated it:

I was really excited when I picked this book up a the library. And I was still excited after reading the first couple of pages. But the deeper I got into what I thought would be a sort of life story, the more I felt like I was at a dinner party full of extremely intelligent people who already knew the story and were just chuckling over little inside jokes on karma and the "chi" of the universe. I ended up skipping around looking for a real story to follow for my little brain, but ended...more

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08/06/08

Nancy rated it:

bookshelves: currently-reading, slis-202

Read in August, 2008

recommends it for: Anyone interested in Pico Iyer, the Dali Lama, or Tibetan Buddhism

I'm a little disappointed because I had high expectations. I like Pico Iyer's writing so much, and I'm somewhat interested in Tibetan Buddhism.
The author's purpose is, I believe, to peal away the layers of myth and cult surrounding the Dali Lama and give the reader an insight into the Dali Lama as a person, an exiled head of state, and to some, a god figure. (Pico Iyer's father is a friend of the Dali Lama, and Pico himself has known him for more than 30 years).
Instead, I came away...more

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12/30/08

Peter rated it:

bookshelves: buddhism, history, religion

Read in March, 2008

This is a great companion piece to the book Why The Dalia Lama matters (see review). Iyer, a rather astute observer of the evoloving global culture has written an intriguing biography/cultural history of the Dalai Lama and his times. It is filled with fascinating history as well as troubling questions.

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06/13/08

Suju rated it:

Read in July, 2008

I enjoyed this book but, though I have not read other books about the Dalai Lama, my guess is this is not the cream of the crop. I appreciated the fact that Iyer has a special relationship with the DL (Iyer's father was a friend of the DL's) and I think he exploits that to some extent in terms of giving us insight into the man. But I often felt that the book lacked focus and I wasn't quite certain what the thesis was or was supposed to be. My favorite part of the book was probably the section...more

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03/03/09

Sarika rated it:

Read in March, 2009

So this book was kind of hard for me to get through in the begining, but I started getting really into it and ended up learing so much and finished the book with a million more questions about the situation in Tibet and the role and life of the Dalai Lama. It left me wanting find out more which was great b/c the author includes a reading list at the end of the book which I plan on cheking out--will let you guys know what I think!

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04/09/08

Alexis rated it:

Read in April, 2008

I'd only read some short articles by Pico Iyer before I picked up this book. I plan to read more of Iyer's books because I really enjoy his writing style.

This book is a portrait and overview of the Dalai Lama. Iyer's father was friends with His Holiness and Iyer has known him for more than 30 years. This enables him to give a good overview of the DL and his general character and daily life. I like the DL a lot, and appreciated the chance to learn more about his character. However, th...more

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06/22/09

Grace rated it:

Read in June, 2009

This was my first foray into the beautifully written world of Pico Iyer. His writing made me wish that I had read his works years ago. This is a lovely book that can get you thinking on global issues .

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12/14/08

Marie rated it:

Read in January, 2008

I was very intrigued by this book but found the writing by Pico Iyer somewhat simplistic and so did not gain as much understanding about this fascinating figure as I had hoped.

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07/01/08

Janis rated it:

Read in July, 2008

Pico Iyer -- raised in Britain, the son of a Tamil philosopher, currently living in Japan and a member of the global community if there ever was one -- explores the roles of the Dalai Lama as a monk, as leader of his exiled people, as statesman, and as a world religious leader. I appreciated the author's thoughtful analysis of Tibetan politics and the Dalai Lama's teachings and only wished (though the ground's been covered by others) that he had started this work with a chapter on Tibet prior to...more

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04/21/09

Monjamckay rated it:

Suggested this to my family... it is a very quick read but fascinating and captures my life in Dharamsala very acurately

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