Fearless in Tibet ─ The Life of the Mystic Terton Sogyal

Terton Sogyal was a 19th century visionary saint whose mastery of meditation led him to become the revered teacher to the 13th Dalai Lama. Known for his deep spiritual insights and service to the nation of Tibet, Terton Sogyal’s ability to harness the power of the mind was born of his own profound understanding of the Buddha’s teachings while engaging in the world. Terton Sogyal’s life of striving for perfection against great odds is an example of courageous diligence appreciated by spiritual practitioners of all traditions. And his practical instructions on meditation and opening one’s heart in devotion are as relevant today as they were during his lifetime. In Fearless in Tibet, Matteo Pistono shares Terton Sogyal’s essential teachings and life story; from the challenges Terton Sogyal faced during his early yogic training, to exploring the mystic’s inner world of visions and spiritual revelations, to how he worked to bring peace and harmony in Tibet and China. Fearless in Tibet is a journey where the readers will gain their own insight for today’s challenges: transforming negativity into opportunity magnetizing auspiciousness by letting go of attachments resting in awareness of the present moment enriching life by embracing impermanence finding refuge in meditation recognizing the awakened state is already present within Combining riveting storytelling with Terton Sogyal’s profound spiritual instructions, Fearless in Tibet will infuse the reader’s spiritual path with wisdom and inspiration, as if the mystical yogi himself were present.

Matteo Pistono is a writer, photographer, practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, and author of In the Shadow of the Buddha. Pistono’s images and writings about Tibetan and Himalayan cultural, political, and spiritual landscapes have appeared in the Washington Post, BBC’s In-Pictures, Men’s Journal, Kyoto Journal, and HIMAL South Asia. Pistono lived and traveled throughout the Himalayas for a decade, bringing to the West graphic accounts and photos of China’s human rights abuses in Tibet. He is the founder of Nekorpa (www.nekorpa.org), a non-profit foundation working to protect sacred pilgrimage sites around the world, and he sits on the Executive Council of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, Rigpa Fellowship, and the Conservancy for Tibetan Art and Culture. See www.matteopistono.com.