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The Book of Tibetan Elders
A collection of stories and meditations gathered from Tibet's spiritual teachers and doctors--many of whom have suffered persecution by the Chinese government--reflects on the spiritual world, the experience of being possessed, and the gift of life.
- GenresBuddhism
282 pages, Hardcover
First published July 16, 1996
About the author
Sandy Johnson
52 books7 followersSandy Johnson attended the University of Pennsylvania, CIDOC in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and the New School for Social Research in New York City. She studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York and at the Lee Strasberg Studio in Los Angeles.
As an actress, Johnson appeared in numerous regional stage productions, various TV episodes, soap operas and appearances in feature films Ash Wednesday and Two-Minute Warning.
In 1989, Johnson joined the faculty of Washington College in Chestertown, MD, as a creative writer instructor.
Johnson published her first novel, THE CUPPI (Delacorte/Dell), a fictionalized account of a twelve-year-old runaway, THE CUPPI (a police acronym for Circumstances Undetermined Pending Police Investigation) was the first book to deal with the rising epidemic of teen-aged children taking to the streets. Because of the extensive research involving interviews with dozens of runaways, Johnson was called upon to lecture to parent-teacher groups, and law enforcement and social agencies, and made numerous TV appearances: Washington and Philadelphia morning shows, Good Morning America, The Mike Douglas Show, among them.
As a result of her personal crusade, sections of the book were read into the Congressional Record, and twelve crisis shelters opened in major cities. Stories appeared in newspapers and magazines around the country, including a four-page spread in People Magazine. Features ran in Newsday, San Francisco Chronicle, Wall Street Journal, Liz Smith's column, and received rave reviews in The New York Times, Publishers Weekly and the Wall Street Journal. The Library Journal featured Johnson's photograph on its cover.
Johnson’s second novel, WALK A WINTER BEACH (Delacorte/Dell 1982), was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
AGAINST THE LAW (Bantam 1986), a non-fiction account of the Knoxville, Tennessee attorney Mary Evans who fell in love with her convict-client and aided his escape from prison.
THE BOOK OF ELDERS: The Life Stories & Wisdom of Great American Indians (HarperSanFrancisco 1994). THE BOOK OF TIBETAN ELDERS (Riverhead 1996) with a foreword by His Holiness the Dali Lama, THE BRAZILIAN HEALER WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE and Other Stories of Mystics, Shamans and Miracle-Makers (Rodale 2003). Republished as MYSTICS AND HEALERS
Johnson has just completed a memoir, The Thirteenth Moon and is currently working on a novel, Day of Yemanja.
As an actress, Johnson appeared in numerous regional stage productions, various TV episodes, soap operas and appearances in feature films Ash Wednesday and Two-Minute Warning.
In 1989, Johnson joined the faculty of Washington College in Chestertown, MD, as a creative writer instructor.
Johnson published her first novel, THE CUPPI (Delacorte/Dell), a fictionalized account of a twelve-year-old runaway, THE CUPPI (a police acronym for Circumstances Undetermined Pending Police Investigation) was the first book to deal with the rising epidemic of teen-aged children taking to the streets. Because of the extensive research involving interviews with dozens of runaways, Johnson was called upon to lecture to parent-teacher groups, and law enforcement and social agencies, and made numerous TV appearances: Washington and Philadelphia morning shows, Good Morning America, The Mike Douglas Show, among them.
As a result of her personal crusade, sections of the book were read into the Congressional Record, and twelve crisis shelters opened in major cities. Stories appeared in newspapers and magazines around the country, including a four-page spread in People Magazine. Features ran in Newsday, San Francisco Chronicle, Wall Street Journal, Liz Smith's column, and received rave reviews in The New York Times, Publishers Weekly and the Wall Street Journal. The Library Journal featured Johnson's photograph on its cover.
Johnson’s second novel, WALK A WINTER BEACH (Delacorte/Dell 1982), was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
AGAINST THE LAW (Bantam 1986), a non-fiction account of the Knoxville, Tennessee attorney Mary Evans who fell in love with her convict-client and aided his escape from prison.
THE BOOK OF ELDERS: The Life Stories & Wisdom of Great American Indians (HarperSanFrancisco 1994). THE BOOK OF TIBETAN ELDERS (Riverhead 1996) with a foreword by His Holiness the Dali Lama, THE BRAZILIAN HEALER WITH A KITCHEN KNIFE and Other Stories of Mystics, Shamans and Miracle-Makers (Rodale 2003). Republished as MYSTICS AND HEALERS
Johnson has just completed a memoir, The Thirteenth Moon and is currently working on a novel, Day of Yemanja.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 28, 2008
This was a collection of interviews of Tibetans who lived in Tibet before the Chinese invasion during the 1950's. Spiritual masters, yogis and yogins, teachers, personal attendents to the Dalai Lama and others relate what Tibet was like before the Chinese, as well as the wisdom of over a thousand years of uninterupted spiritual practice.
It was sad to think that the traditions of so many hundreds of years are coming to an end but the consolation may be that the rest of us now get an opportunity to learn from these amazing people.
Out of about two dozen interviews only one person admitted to being unable to control his anger towards the Chinese. Everyone else was so filled with compassion and understanding. It's almost incomprehensible. But the feeling I got when reading their words was that every one of them was being completely genuine. There is no repression of hatred or anger in these people. And most importantly, they are not just passively "taking it". They truly believe that they will prevail by practicing love and compassion, and get this: even if they don't ever get their country back!
It was sad to think that the traditions of so many hundreds of years are coming to an end but the consolation may be that the rest of us now get an opportunity to learn from these amazing people.
Out of about two dozen interviews only one person admitted to being unable to control his anger towards the Chinese. Everyone else was so filled with compassion and understanding. It's almost incomprehensible. But the feeling I got when reading their words was that every one of them was being completely genuine. There is no repression of hatred or anger in these people. And most importantly, they are not just passively "taking it". They truly believe that they will prevail by practicing love and compassion, and get this: even if they don't ever get their country back!
December 7, 2011
Enjoyed greatly. She connects the stories/interviews of wise practitioners with her own search for understanding about Buddhism.
July 22, 2008
A great perspective on the Buddhist way of life in Tibet from a western female's point of view. Her journey takes you to many different lamas and each one teaches something special. Very informative about the Buddhist way of life.
August 2, 2008
Excellent interviews.
November 1, 2022
A very commendable endeavor by this women to investigate and write this.
July 21, 2015
I liked this book especially because of the many narratives it tells- of so many people, sharing a lineage of forceful displacement, each of whom have vast depths of experience and understanding of the culture they hold with them. You probably couldn't find the stories they have to share anywhere else, unless you attempt to recreate the journey that Sandy Johnson takes. This book is that journey. It's definitely an interesting read.
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July 24, 201310
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews