European University Institute Library

The Dalai Lama's special envoy, memoirs of a lifetime in pursuit of a reunited Tibet, Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

autobiography

mapsillustrations

index present

non fiction

The Dalai Lama's special envoy

bibliography

1289737297

Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari

memoirs of a lifetime in pursuit of a reunited Tibet

"Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari spent decades drawing attention to the plight of the Tibetan people and striving for resolution of the Tibetan-Chinese conflict. He was the Dalai Lama's special envoy and chief negotiator with the People's Republic of China in the formal negotiations over the status of Tibet. In this revealing memoir, Gyari chronicles his lifetime of service to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause. Gyari recounts his work conducting formal dialogue with the Chinese leadership from 2002 to 2012, as well as his efforts during the many years of quiet diplomacy preceding these historic negotiations. He details the fits and starts of the parties' relationship, addressing successes as well as failures and highlighting misperceptions, missteps, and missed opportunities by both sides. Gyari grounds his recollections of his time as special envoy in his life experience, providing a powerful account of the personal side of Tibet's struggles. He describes the Tibetan resistance to the Chinese invasion and the tumultuous early years of the Tibetan community in exile as well as his family's history and spiritual lineage. A reincarnated Tibetan Buddhist lama forced to flee Tibet during the Chinese invasion, Gyari illuminates how his political efforts fulfilled his spiritual calling. Informed by his unparalleled experiences, Gyari offers realizable-but provocative-recommendations for restarting the Tibetan-Chinese dialogue to achieve a mutually beneficial resolution of the issue. For all readers interested in Tibet's complex modern history, this book offers an incomparable look inside the decades-long effort to achieve the Dalai Lama's vision of a reunited Tibet"--, Provided by publisher

Part I. Land of My Ancestors -- History of Nyarong, Kham, My Birthplace -- The Gyari Family : Descendants of Nyarong Gönpo Namgyal -- My Spiritual Lineage: The Mindrolling Tradition and Lumorab Monastery -- The Gyaritsang's Involvement in the Tibetan Resistance -- Our Flight from Nyarong -- The Journey to Lhasa -- From Mindrolling to Exile in India -- Part II. Tibet Restored: Reuniting the Tibetan People -- A Unified Tibet: Centerpiece of the Tibetan Struggle -- Tibetan Exile Organizations: Too Often Compromised by Conflicting Agendas and Personality Disputes -- Repercussions from Divisions Within the Tibetan Community in Exile -- Tibetans Inside Tibet: Flag Bearers of a Unified Tibet -- Part III. Thirty Years of Engagement with the PRC: Tibetans Betrayed by Suspicion, -- Chinese Betrayed by Unrealistic Hope -- The Early Years: 1979-1984 -- Tibet's Rise to Prominence on the International Stage: Adoption of the Middle Way Approach -- Developing U.S. Support for Tibet -- India, Our Home Away from Home -- Assistance from Other Asian Countries, Europe, Nongovernmental Organizations, and Dharma Centers -- The 1990s: Renewal of Efforts to Engage Beijing -- Fits and Starts: Reengaging the United Front -- Formal Dialogue Begins -- Nine Rounds of Dialogue -- Status of Relationship, Obstacles to Reconnection, and Recommendations

Memoirs of a lifetime in pursuit of a reunited Tibet