The Open Road: The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama (Vintage Departures)

I heard an interview on NPR with Pico Iyer about this book. Iyer mentioned that the Dalai Lama was 72, which is my age as I write this. I was suddenly struck by the overwhelming thought that I had become this old with my spiritual values still unsettled.By all measures, Pico Iyer is your basic everyday genius, world traveler and visionary writer. He has written eight books plus hundreds of essays, columns, articles and book reviews for Time, New York Times, National Geographic, Harpers, The Financial Times and more. He also happens to have known the Dalai Lama for over thirty years. I had held Pico Iyer on my "authors-to-read" list for too long to miss this opportunity.Illustrated with many meetings and occasions over a period of decades, the author shows the enormous range of a seemingly simple man. The three sections of the book are titled: In Public, In Private, In Practice. Chapters are titled: The Conundrum, The Fairy Tale, The Icon, The Philosopher, The Mystery, The Monk, The Globalist, The Politician, The Future.The fourteenth Dalai Lama is "built like a middle linebacker" but is nonviolent. He is deeply religious--he rises at 3:30am and meditates and prays for four hours--but advises others to find their own way. "A religious teacher who is telling people not to get confused or distracted by religion." He is considered a living god but insists over and over that he is "just a man."He often says, "I don't know." At the end of a talk in Canada he says, "I will remain, to serve." He is famous for his laughter; he has a solid sense of humor but one suspects also he sees much silliness in the antics of those who ask him their profound questions or give him their worldly viewpoints.The author succeeds in illuminating "one of the most visible figures on the planet," a man of wide talents and considerations, whose people revere him and hope to learn through his actions. Young Tibetans are impatient with his policies but are dumbstruck in his presence. He is a doctor of metaphysics but appears childlike to many. A living contradiction of superlatives.I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

Through keen attention and not a little subtle irony, Pico Iyer brings an observation of any subject he tackles as penetrating as that of Proust in his observance of the human character, and as detailed as Peter Mattheissen or Reg Saner in turning his eye to the natural environment, which makes traveling with him a great joy. And yet the most delightful part, for me, are the glimpses we get of the author himself, always in the shadows, in the corner, huddled in some foreign internet cafe or the niche of an exotic monastery, never proselytizing, but occasionally sharing the wisdom he has garnered in his much traveled life. Iyer is definitely up to the task of comprehending a subject as deep as the Ocean of Compassion--the Dalai Lama. The Open Road is open, accessible, and superbly written. I recommend you to Iyer's other books.

Fascinating insight into the complex world of the Dalai Lama. I was intrigued by the multi-dimensional and oftentimes nearly mutually exclusive pressures that the exiled leader of Tibet is forced to balance in the course of a typical day. That his sponsors had the foresight to recognize this human being as the One best suited to safeguard the nation's future is amazing in itself. Learning how adept the 14th Dalai Lama became at even a young age in addressing the many threats to his troubled nation's very existence is by itself reason enough to read this book. The author provides a rare glimpse into this unimaginable world by following the Dalai Lama over several decades, being given remarkable access to the legendary man through family connections. If you are looking for an authentic understanding of the chaos and the harmony that tumble around this enigmatic figure, this book is a great place to start.

Iyer's biography of the Dalai Lama is interesting and well-written. Iyer has known the 14th Dalai Lama for more than 30 years, so it is rather surprising that the author seems so personally disengaged from the subject of his writing.Nevertheless there is a lot of interesting information here and I particularly liked Iyer's analysis of the conflicting worlds that the Dalai Lama has to navigate: monk and politician, innovator and preserver of tradition, scientist and mystic. And, unfortunately, it becomes very clear that the Chinese have now destroyed traditional Tibet. Whatever remains of that ancient culture is now centered in Dharamsala, India.

Pico Iyer presents a very balanced look at the life of the Dalai Lama, Tibeatan Buddhism and the continuing struggle for a homeland, that my be beyond their reach. I learned many new facets of the 14th Dalai Lama, and the often hidden aspect of Tibetan Buddhism rituals. Iyer spends an appropriate amount time discussing divisions, waiting in the wings, of those displaced Tibetans that would take up an arms to free Tibet. My respect for the monk of peace continues to increase.

I have heard "The Lama" speak and have often remarked he has become one of my favorite people alive today. Oddly, I chose this book to read apart from readily available scholarly works. I am delighted to say this work presented exactly what I wished to learn. I say oddly because I wonder how it could come to pass my experiences and current life beliefs should so align with a spiritual system of beliefs of which I knew almost nothing. Butterfly Effect possibly? Totally credible if I understand the other world I have come upon.

A nice introduction to Tibet and His Holiness. Simple and thorough explanation of the fruits, benefits, and challenges with the Buddhist and Tibetan life. Many challenges still exist and it's right to be aware. The most challenging aspect of our times seems to be holding on to tradition with a changing environment. Iyer and the Dahlia Lama don't give exact advice on what's next but they have a consciousness and openness to what's ahead.

Pico Iyer's father, a Hindu, was a close friend of the Dalai Lama, and this is how the author ultimately came to meet him. I got the impression that this book has been a long time in the making as there is a great deal of thought gone into what he has to say about the Dalai Lama and the conflicts and contradictions he has to handle given his place in the world. Most obviously the roles of 'simple' monk, temporal and spiritual leader/guide of a nation (both inside Tibet and those exiled), and global icon/celebrity, takes some balancing. The books main concern is about these conflicts and how the Dalai Lama has adjusted his public message on the global stage to be centred around general ethical considerations rather than a specifically (Tibetan) buddhist position. The author has a huge amount of respect for his subject, but does not shy away from being critical where he sees fit, or giving voice to those Tibetans who are openly critical of their leader. Interestingly the Dalai Lama welcomes criticisms of his position as he sees this as the only way to get to the real 'truth'; an interesting position to be taken by one so powerful amongst his people.If you haven't read anything about the Dalai Lama then I think this is the best place to start. If you've read many book about Tibet and the Dalai Lama (as I have), then I think you'll find this one of the most well rounded and considered books on the topic. A first class autobiography.P.S. Another reviewer has described this a a travel book, which I disagree with. Naturally a number of countries are visited, simply because the Dalia Lama does so much travelling, but with the exception of description of his exile home in India there is little else that I'd call travel writing.

I knew almost nothing about the Dalai Lama until I read this book, that is, other than his popularized media portrayals. Pico Iyer is well positioned and qualified to write about this man, having spent more than two decades in his presence or otherwise close to him. He's also provided an historical and familial context which makes the narrative comprehensive.Don't expect a deification of the DL, but you will be treated to a sensitive analysis of the political and cultural forces which the 14th DL has chosen to navigate for the welfare of Tibet. He's an amazing man with some very likeable qualities. I recommend the book because I think it's one that will stick with you whenever the western media represents him.My only criticism is that the writing quality is not consistent throughout.

If it's one book you want on contemporary paradoxes spanning religion, spirituality, politics, diplomacy, nation building across a lifetime, read this one

Insightful and superbly written. Very few travel writers can do that. He does this with such ease. You just can't get enough of him. What a pleasure to read.

Interesting