My Life and Lives

My Life and Lives is a first-person account of Khyongla Rato, a recognized Tibetan Buddhist lama born in 1923 in the Kham region of Tibet. The autobiography, edited by Joseph Campbell, chronicles Rato's early recognition as a tulku at age five and his subsequent journey through Tibet's monastic education system. The narrative provides an insider's view of daily life in Tibet's most prestigious Buddhist institutions, including Rato Monastery and Gyudto Tantric College in Lhasa. Rato documents the traditional customs, rigorous training, and spiritual practices that shaped his development as a Buddhist scholar and teacher. The book spans the years leading up to 1959, when significant changes in Tibet forced many religious leaders, including Rato and the Dalai Lama, to flee into exile. The account ends with Rato's eventual establishment in India and later the United States. Through its detailed portrayal of monastic life and Buddhist training, the book serves as both a historical document of pre-1959 Tibet and an exploration of spiritual formation within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The personal narrative offers insights into the concept of reincarnation and the role of recognized tulkus in Tibetan society.

Readers appreciate the straightforward account of Khyongla Rato's life as a Tibetan Buddhist monk, with many noting his humble tone and detailed descriptions of monastery life and Buddhist training. Several reviews mention the value of learning about pre-1959 Tibetan culture through his personal experiences. Readers liked: - Clear explanations of Buddhist concepts and practices - First-hand accounts of traditional Tibetan life - Personal anecdotes about meeting the Dalai Lama - Matter-of-fact writing style without self-promotion Readers disliked: - Limited availability of the book - Some sections move slowly through ritual details - Abrupt ending after arriving in America Ratings: Goodreads: 4.33/5 (27 ratings) Amazon: 5/5 (2 ratings) One reader noted: "A rare glimpse into authentic Tibetan Buddhist monastic training without Western filters." Another commented: "The author's humility comes through in every chapter as he describes extraordinary experiences without sensationalism."

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⚜️ The author spent over 30 years in traditional Buddhist studies, mastering complex philosophical debates and earning the highest academic degree of Geshe Lharampa. ⚜️ The Khyongla lineage dates back to the 14th century, with each incarnation serving as an important spiritual leader in the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. ⚜️ The book describes the complex process of identifying reincarnated lamas, which involves interpreting dreams, consulting oracles, and conducting tests where children must identify objects belonging to their previous incarnation. ⚜️ In 1959, the author fled Tibet on foot across the Himalayas to India, carrying only a few precious religious texts and surviving extreme conditions along the way. ⚜️ After relocating to New York in 1968, Khyongla Rato established The Tibet Center, one of the first Tibetan Buddhist centers in North America, which continues to operate today.