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    Catching the Tail of the Tiger

    My Life from Tibet to Harvard Yard

    Author Tulku Thondup
    Foreword by Lydia Segal
    Edited by Lydia Segal
    Paperback
    $24.95 US
    Shambhala
    5-1/2"W x 8-1/2"H | 13 oz | 24 per carton
    On sale Jan 19, 2027 | 272 Pages | 9781645475323
    Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies

    The remarkable life story of Tulku Thondup (1939–2023), who traces his journey from a recognized reincarnate lama, or tulku, in Tibet to a renowned Buddhist scholar and teacher in America.

    Through vivid storytelling, this beloved Tibetan lama, the late Tulku Thondup reveals intimate details of his early life in the Do Valley, his recognition as a tulku and his dramatic escape from Tibet while political upheaval threatened centuries of Buddhist tradition. His widow, Lydia Segal, contributes an in-depth personal introduction, expanding his story to the present day. 

    The narrative weaves together personal revelations, historical events, and spiritual insights, offering readers unprecedented access to Tibetan Buddhist practices and philosophies. Tulku Thondup’s unique perspective as both an insider and cultural bridge-builder illuminates the depths of Buddhist wisdom, while making complex concepts accessible to Western readers. His account of establishing Buddhist teachings in America while maintaining connections to his homeland provides a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of Tibetan Buddhism in the modern world.  

    This remarkable memoir serves as both a historical document and a spiritual guide, offering readers profound insights into the nature of consciousness, death, and rebirth. Tulku Thondup’s teachings on unconditional love, combined with his personal experiences of loss and renewal, create an inspiring testament to the power of spiritual practice in transforming lives. His story will resonate with seekers of wisdom, students of Buddhist philosophy, and anyone interested in the intersection of Eastern spirituality with Western life.
    TULKU THONDUP (1939–2023) was born in East Tibet and was recognized to be a tulku at age five. He studied at Tibet’s famed Dodrupchen Monastery, settling in India in 1958 and teaching for many years in its universities. He came to the United States in 1980 as a visiting scholar at Harvard University. Residing in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for over forty years, he dedicated himself to writing, translating, and teaching through the Buddhayana Foundation. His numerous books include The Healing Power of Mind, which has now been published in eighteen languages, and Boundless Healing, which has been published in eleven languages.
    Tulku Thondup View titles by Tulku Thondup

    About

    The remarkable life story of Tulku Thondup (1939–2023), who traces his journey from a recognized reincarnate lama, or tulku, in Tibet to a renowned Buddhist scholar and teacher in America.

    Through vivid storytelling, this beloved Tibetan lama, the late Tulku Thondup reveals intimate details of his early life in the Do Valley, his recognition as a tulku and his dramatic escape from Tibet while political upheaval threatened centuries of Buddhist tradition. His widow, Lydia Segal, contributes an in-depth personal introduction, expanding his story to the present day. 

    The narrative weaves together personal revelations, historical events, and spiritual insights, offering readers unprecedented access to Tibetan Buddhist practices and philosophies. Tulku Thondup’s unique perspective as both an insider and cultural bridge-builder illuminates the depths of Buddhist wisdom, while making complex concepts accessible to Western readers. His account of establishing Buddhist teachings in America while maintaining connections to his homeland provides a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of Tibetan Buddhism in the modern world.  

    This remarkable memoir serves as both a historical document and a spiritual guide, offering readers profound insights into the nature of consciousness, death, and rebirth. Tulku Thondup’s teachings on unconditional love, combined with his personal experiences of loss and renewal, create an inspiring testament to the power of spiritual practice in transforming lives. His story will resonate with seekers of wisdom, students of Buddhist philosophy, and anyone interested in the intersection of Eastern spirituality with Western life.

    Author

    TULKU THONDUP (1939–2023) was born in East Tibet and was recognized to be a tulku at age five. He studied at Tibet’s famed Dodrupchen Monastery, settling in India in 1958 and teaching for many years in its universities. He came to the United States in 1980 as a visiting scholar at Harvard University. Residing in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for over forty years, he dedicated himself to writing, translating, and teaching through the Buddhayana Foundation. His numerous books include The Healing Power of Mind, which has now been published in eighteen languages, and Boundless Healing, which has been published in eleven languages.
    Tulku Thondup View titles by Tulku Thondup

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