Surviving the Dragon: A Tibetan Lama's Account of 40 Years under Chinese Rule

by Arjia Rinpoche, Dalai Lama XIV (Foreword)

On a peaceful summer day in 1952, ten monks on horseback arrived at a traditional nomad tent in northeastern Tibet where they offered the parents of a precocious toddler their white handloomed scarves and congratulations for having given birth to a holy child—and future spiritual leader.

Surviving the Dragon is the remarkable life story of Arjia Rinpoche, who was ordained as a reincarnate lama at the age of two and fled Tibet 46 years later. In his gripping memoir, Rinpoche relates the story of having been abandoned in his monastery as a young boy after witnessing the torture and arrest of his monastery family. In the years to come, Rinpoche survived under harsh Chinese rule, as he was forced into hard labor and endured continual public humiliation as part of Mao's Communist "reeducation."

By turns moving, suspenseful, historical, and spiritual, Rinpoche's unique experiences provide a rare window into a tumultuous period of Chinese history and offer readers an uncommon glimpse inside a Buddhist monastery in Tibet.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Buddhism, China, Biography

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read and insight into tibet and its culture. more people need to know of the oppression that has and is still going on in the world today.

[P C · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so heartbreaking but beautiful. Arjia Rinpoche has this way of telling stories that distills the extraordinary into seemingly ordinary terms. So many passages I had to read five, six times before even beginning to grasp their truth.

"The horror of my story was not just what had happened to so many Tibetans, Mongolians, and Chinese - that was normal in Tibet throughout the 1960s and again in the 1980s. No, the true horror resided in the possibility that those terrible experiences might divert our Tibetan people's karma away from the blessings of future happiness."

[Donkeyshorts · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, really enjoying this book. As most of you know, the Dalai Lama visits Bloomington a lot and I am in charge of ticketing for the events surrounding his visit. Arjia Rinpoche is the director of our Tibetan Cultural Center and I have also worked with him a few times. He's a lovely man and it's so neat to read about him as a child and the turmoil he went through just because of his beliefs.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live in Bloomington, IN, where Arjia Rinpoche now runs the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center. I am forever grateful to the friend that nudged me to read this -- I had no idea this man's story would be so compelling. I can't wait to meet him.

I would also recommend this for anyone with interest in Tibet, China, Mongolia, Buddhism, travel, other cultures....it's a quite beautifully written & fascinating story. More than anything, it's an honest look at the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took awhile for me to read, but I'm glad I hung in there with it. This Tibetan llama speaks to his experiences as a boy through adulthood going through the communist infusion of Tibet and the life changing, damaging effects on the monasteries in an effort to control the religion. The book continues through to the present time, detailing his escape from Tibet to eventually settling in Bloomington, IN.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Moving short of a Life of a Highlands lama in China

Moving for its genuineness, hardships and moral dilemmas. In a clear and down to earth approach, Rinpoche guides us though the pains and abuses of the Cultural Revolution and the intrigues and manipulation entailed in the process of building a fake Tibetan culture for tourists and world politics exhibition. Very informative and a reading hard to put down.

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surviving the Dragon tells the story of Arjia Rinpoche and his life as a Tibetan Buddhist monk in occupied Tibet. I enjoyed the "insider" view of how he and other monks tried to protect the Tibetan people and its culture from being completely destroyed by Chinese governmental policies, and how they had to balance this while still being considered "good comrades" by the Chinese government.

[Chitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating view of the process of colonization from the inside. One experiences through the narrative how it feels not just to have one's physical space taken over, but also your thinking, your identity, your freedoms of choice.

[Z.W · Rating 4 out of 5]

一直很喜欢阿来的尘埃落定，而这一本自传才让我对西藏有了一点点真正的了解。故事从一个两岁孩童的童年生活写起，那是多么幸福无邪的时光，而生活发生巨变，他从一个普通蒙古族牧民孩子变成了阿嘉活佛，要远离父母去享受无上荣光。而讽刺的是，一日他的父亲来探望他，发现他的被子里都是跳蚤，吃的食物还不如一个牧民孩子。父亲大怒，要马上带他离开寺院。往事历历在目，后来生活再次发生巨变，不知道他现在回想起那时被父亲守护的场景，会是怎样的心情。后来的巨变发生在八岁的一天，一夜之间，上千寺院被摧毁，所有的僧侣被勒令还俗。他站在空荡荡的大殿里，很孤独，连晚饭在哪里吃都不知道。此后的十几年，他作为需要被改造的对象在农场挖地，建筑大队里修水坝，家破人亡。再后来，政策又变了，突然他又可以穿上僧袍，他甚至成为国家高级干部，享受各种特权。。。再后来，他决定孑然一身出走。。。书里记录了太多人和事，一个人的一生可以经历这么多事，好像每一次都无从选择，又好像就算在巨大的漩涡里，你仍然可以决定自己应该如何面对。每一次那些看似简单和容易的选择，都暗地里早已被标下昂贵的价码，很多人都要用余生去支付沉重代价。阿嘉活佛，真的是一个充满勇气与光明的人。这本书智慧又诚恳，向我们指明了生活的方向。

[Esteban · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible look into Tibet's beautiful and rich culture, and the oppression of countless citizens under the merciless and unforgiving thumb of Communist China. Horrible events that should be remembered.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good history of a topic I knew little about.

[Ishana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story, but it is very matter of fact written so it's hard to 'get into'.

[Alexis K · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone unaware of how the Cultural Revolution tried to completely eradicate religion in China - READ THIS BOOK.

[Chris Aylott · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a first-person history than a memoir, and it feels a little incomplete. The Rinpoche never really explains the reasons for his faith, and why Tibetan mystics are important to the health of Tibetan society as a whole. That may be obvious to him, but it is less than obvious to a Western secular humanist, who may subscribe to Buddhist ethics but is less than clear on why a bunch of alleged reincarnations get to live much better than the average nomads around them. The Rinpoche also never makes any serious attempt to get into the Chinese mind -- why have they done the things they have done? What is the rationale that helps them sleep at night?

What the Rinpoche does do -- all too well -- is testify to the brutal and corrupt treatment of Tibet by China from the fifties through the nineties. For decades they have abused and tried to destroy an entire culture, and it is events like these that make me nervous about their role as a 21st century world leader.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am fascinated by books about the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. This one took on a bit of a different spin. I thought it interesting that he retained favor throughout when so many significant positions had such worse fates. I would have liked to know more about his fleeing the country and recent events.

*I received this book as a free advance copy.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history lesson on what has been happening in China and Tibet over the past 50 years. Plus, I got to meet Arjia Rinpoche this past spring, and he is an amazing and brave person for escaping China, and his powerful status, to come to the USA.

[Dolma]

just started reading this book and i am already hooked. by reading this book, i have come to realize how much i have yet to learn about my traditions and culture. the importance of buddhism in everyday life is very evident! will write more later when finished!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent story of Venerable Arjia Rinpoche's life in Tibet under Chinese rule and his escape. A true must read.

[Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A deservedly harsh review of China and its policies and actions. Also a very seldom seen telling of life as a Tibetan lama - how can one remain unmoved after reading this?

[Tsering Samdrup · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting book, I have expected more than this though........