In this rich and deeply personal account of life in the highlands of Nepal; Geoff Childs chronicles the daily existence of a range of people; from venerated lamas to humble householders. Offering insights into the complex dynamics of the ethnically Tibetan enclave of Nubri; Childs provides a vivid and compelling portrait of the ebb and flow of life and death; of communal harmony and discord; and of personal conflicts and social resolutions. Part ethnography; part travelogue; and part biography; Tibetan Diary is a one-of-a-kind book that conveys the tangled intricacies of a Tibetan society.Childs's immensely readable and informative narrative incorporates contemporary observations as well as vignettes culled from first-person testaments including oral histories and autobiographies. Examining the tensions between cultural ideals and individual aspirations; he explores certain junctures in the course of life: how the desire to attain religious knowledge or to secure a caretaker in old age contrasts with social expectations and familial obligation; for example. The result is a vivid and unparalleled view of the quest for both spiritual meaning and mundane survival that typifies life in an unpredictable Himalayan environment.
#1306737 in Books 2000-01-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.16 x 6.31 x 9.33l; #File Name: 0520223012331 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Enlightening and InformativeBy J. RandolphJuergensmeyer straddles religious traditions to find common threads of violence. Fundamentalist; overly-rigid/simplistic philosophical reactions to technological and societal change bolster pathologically violent acts through dehumanization and demonizing of the secular and/or different. Much can be learned from this analysis. Great segment identifying Timothy McVey's right-wing; anti-government motivations for the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995. As a resident of Oklahoma; these ties were somehow white-washed and swept under the rug. Instead of focusing on the irrational fears and bigger societal movements that spawned his horrific action; Oklahomans tend to limit the lunacy to only he and Terry Nichols without greater attention to the separatist compound where he trained. Perhaps we also "run" from the truth with our memorial marathon. Moreover; Juergensmeyer's focus spans not only Islam; Judaism; and Christianity; but also (and surprisingly) Buddhism and Sikhism as well. No faith gets preferential treatment. A worthy read in a post-911 world for those looking for answers to avoid more senseless tragedy.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. ... book for a course (required reading) and am so happy to have read itBy CustomerI bought this book for a course (required reading) and am so happy to have read it. It's a really great look at religiously-motivated "terror" from a wide set of religions. While you get some brief deep-dives on certain groups or ideologies; the book takes a wider approach and scans various religions across all parts of the world and their common uniting threat in inspiring and encouraging terrorism/[political] violence. Juergensmeyer does a fantastic job and I definitely recommend getting this on your book shelf asap.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Strongly recommended to anyone at any level!By wadp1This is an excellent treatment of the subject by an author who has met personally (and continues to meet) many of the key actors on the global stage in this field! I therefore take his descriptions; opinions; and analyses very seriously! Very thoughtfully and interestingly written!
