Suggested Source Material for Grades 9-12
The
below have been compiled by Tibet Education Network at Global
Source as recommended as suggested source material for grades
9-12 and useful introductory and background source material
for teacher education. It is not an exhaustive resource but
does cover the broad landscape of available resources for
the study of Tibet.
Ama Adhe: The Voice That Remembers
By Adhe Tapontsang The autobiography of an extraordinary Tibetan
woman who survived 27 years in Chinese labor camps for resisting
the occupation of her homeland with remarkable courage and
strength. Since leaving Tibet in 1987, she has become an international
spokeswoman for the Tibetan struggle and champion for human
rights everywhere. Paper. 258 Pages. Wisdom, 1998.
The
Anguish of Tibet
Edited by Petra Kelly, Gert Bastian, and Pat Aiello An important
collection of 24 essays, articles, and speeches, on the current
Tibetan situation, with a blend of Tibetan and non-Tibetan
scholars, political leaders and activists speaking about Tibetan
history, the Chinese occupation, the issue of independence,
human rights, environmental issues and political initiatives.
Includes appendices of primary source documents from Treaties
to UN Resolutions. Paper. 382 Pages. Parallax Press, 1991.
The Art of Exile: Paintings by Tibetan Children in India
Remarkable,
powerful paintings by Tibetan refugee children, tell of their
lives in Tibet, escaping into exile, life in India and their
hope for a future Tibet. Includes interviews, photographs
and essays. Visit their website to find out more about the origins and current status of this
art project. Educators can seek permission through the website
to reprint certain paintings for classroom use. Paper. 135
Pages. Museum of New Mexico Press, 1998
The Autobiography of a Tibetan Monk
By Palden Gyatso. The remarkable story of a Tibetan monk who
spent 25 years in a Chinese prison enduring incredible hardship
and suffering for the strength of his beliefs. He leaves prison
in 1992 with the tools of torture used to interrogate him,
which he smuggles out of Tibet to help tell the world his
story. A compelling biography of the resilience of the human
spirit. Paper. 232 Pages. Grove Press, 1997.
The
Buddhist Handbook
By John Snelling. A comprehensive survey of Buddhist teachings,
history, schools, practice and resources. Recommended as preparation
reading for educators and as course material for students.
Paper. 337 Pages. Inner Traditions, 1991.
Buddhist
Symbols in Tibetan Culture
By Dagyab Rinpoche. An authoritative investigation, with brief
commentaries, on the nine best-known groups of symbols in
Tibetan culture. An excellent reference source for studying
Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan religious art. Paper. 147 Pages.
Wisdom, 1995.
Demystifying
Tibet: Unlocking the Secrets of the Land of Snows
By Lee Feigon. An authoritative overview of Tibetan civilization
and history, examining the global perspectives which have
shaped our image of Tibet. Written by a professor of East
Asian Studies, with detailed footnotes. Recommended as a text
for high school and college courses. Paper. 241 Pages. Ivan
Dee, 1996.
Feminine Ground: Essays on Women & Tibet
Edited by Janice Willis. A collection of essays by scholars
that explore women issues and female role models in ancient
and contemporary Tibet. Paper. 164 Pages. Snow Lion, 1989.
In Exile from the Land of Snows
By John Avedon. Considered a primer on the current Tibetan
situation, recounting the modern history of Tibet from 1933
through the Chinese invasion, the exile of The Dalai Lama
and the evolution of the contemporary Tibetan Diaspora. With
chapters on the Tibetan resistance movement, Tibetan medicine,
and Tibet's Chief Oracle. This updated edition contains a
useful timeline and an in-depth interview with The Dalai Lama.
Recommended as a text for high school students. Paper. 456
Pages. HarperCollins, 1997.
In The Footsteps of Gandhi: Conversations with Spiritual
Social Activists
By Catherine Ingram. Twelve interviews with a variety of inspirational
leaders, including The Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Cesar Chavez,
Joanna Macy, Ram Dass, Joan Baez and Gary Snyder. A great
source of wisdom to help examine issues of social justice
and social responsibility. Paper. 284 Pages. Parallax Press,
1990.
My
Land and My People
By Tenzin Gyatso, The Fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet. This
initial autobiography of The Dalai Lama written a few years
after his escape into exile in 1959, describing the loss of
his country and the struggle maintain an ancient culture in
an emerging Diaspora. Written during his mid-20's, this book
is an excellent source for teaching young adults about responsibility
and leadership. Recently republished with new introduction
and forward. Paper. 231 Pages. Warner Books, 1998 (1962).
The
Mystical Arts of Tibet
By Glenn Mullin & Andy Weber. A survey and exhibition of Tibetan
arts. Part One introduces the reader to Tibet, Buddhism, and
themes in Tibet art, followed by chapters on creating sacred
images, sand painting, and sacred music and dance. Part Two
features exhibits the personal objects of The Dalai Lama and
sacred objects from the Drepung Loseling Monastery, with a
closing chapter on maintaining the traditional Tibet art forms
in exile communities of India and Nepal. A recommended source
for introducing a study of Tibetan art and connecting this
function of culture with the larger study of Tibet. Paper.
165 Pages. Longstreet Press, 1996
Open
Heart, Clear Mind
By Thubten Chodron. An introduction to Buddhist philosophy
and practice written for a western audience. The author, an
American Tibetan Buddhist Nun, offers a Buddhist approach
to daily life in clear and engaging language. Written for
those new to Buddhism and for people who have studied and
practiced for years. Includes an insightful and thought-provoking
section on working with anger. Paper. 216 Pages. Snow Lion,
1990.
Orphans
of the Cold War: America and The Tibetan Struggle for Survival
By John Kenneth Knaus. The history of the Tibetan Resistance
against Communist Chinese occupation and America's involvement
in the conflict from the 1950's through the 1970's. Knaus
is a former CIA Officer who was one of the core team for Tibet
Mission, now an associate at the Fairbanks Center for East
Asian Research at Harvard. This books makes a valuable contribution
to documenting and revealing a little known, but essential
part of modern Tibetan history. A valuable source for for
the study of American foreign policy during the Cold War years.
Paper. 395 Pages. Public Affair, 1999.
A
Portrait of Lost Tibet
Written by Rosemary Jones Tung, Photographs by Ilya Tolstoy
and Brooke Dolan. A thematic view of traditional Tibetan society
and culture prior to 1949, with 131 black and white photographs
from Americans on an official visit to Tibet during the early
1940's. Recommended for those studying Tibetan civilization.
You can read the story of the Tolsoy-Dolan expedition in "Across
Tibet from India to China", National Geographic, August 1946.
Paper. 224 Pages. U. California Press, 1980.
Seven
Years in Tibet
By Heinrich Harrer. The autobiographical story of an Austrian
mountain climber who escapes a British internment camp in
India during WWII to Tibet, and becomes a personal tutor of
the young Dalai Lama. A classic travel tale which offers an
intimate outsider's view of Lhasan society prior to the Chinese
occupation. A good book for an English Lit. or Humanities
class. The 1998 Hollywood film of the same name makes a good
visual companion for discussing the book. See the section
on Heinrich Harrer for additional support material. Paper.
329 Pages. Tarcher, 1998 (1954).
The
Snow Lion's
Turquoise Mane: Wisdom Tales from Tibet
By Surya Das. A large collection of traditional Tibetan tales
and spiritual parables, translated and edited by a western
Tibetan Buddhist teacher. Paper. 255 pages. Harper Collins,
1993.
Tibet:
Enduring Spirit/Exploited Land
By Robert Apte and Andres Edwards.
A comprehensive case study of traditional Tibetan land use
and ecological wisdom, contrasted with the current, endangered
natural environment resulting from Communist Chinese rule.
Recommended as a text for high school or college. Cloth. 175
Pages. Heartsfire, 1998.
The
Tibet Guide
By Stephen Batchelor. An updated edition of the best guide
for travel in Central, Southern and Western Tibet, offering
rich detail and context for visiting monasteries, nunneries,
and other traditional Tibetan institutions. One of the few
to deal openly with contemporary issues in Tibet. Written
by a leading scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, the introductory
chapters on land and people, the history of Tibet, and Tibetan
Buddhism are thorough and informative. The appendices contain
useful information on preparing for a trip, getting to Tibet,
iconography, Tibetan language, and glossary of key terms.
Paper. 350 Pages. Wisdom, 1997.
Tibet
Outside the TAR: Control , Exploitation and Assimilation,
Development with Chinese Characteristics
By Steven Marshall and Susette Ternent Cooke. This is a thoroughly
researched, detailed educational tool for examining the demographics
and development of Tibetan areas absorbed into Chinese provinces
outside the Tibet Autonomous Region. CD ROM. Alliance for
Research in Tibet, 1997.
Tibet:
The Issue is Independence
Edited by Edward Lazar. Eight personal essays by Tibetans-in-exile
address the Tibetan issue that the world avoids. A great source
for Tibetan voices. Paper. 92 Pages. Parallax Press, 1994.
When
the Iron Bird Flies: A Handbook on Tibetan Cultural Survival
Edited by Jon Garfunkel and the Milarepa Fund. An excellent
resource or starter library for educators and students. This
comprehensive handbook features valuable primary, secondary
and reference source material selected to introduce teachers
and students to the wealth of educationally friendly source
material reading on Tibetan civilization, Tibet under Chinese
occupation, and the future of Tibet. Binder. 261 Pages. The
Milarepa Fund, 1996.
The
Wisdom Teachings of The Dalai Lama
Edited
by Matthew Bunson. Collected wisdom excerpted from teachings,
speeches, and writings of The Dalai Lama, organized into sections
on Buddhism, religion, human rights, non-violence, universal
responsibility, and the occupation of Tibet. Recommended as
a curricular resource. Paper. 257 Pages.
The World's Religions / The Illustrated World's Religions
By Huston Smith. A thoroughly detailed and insightful view
of the world's religions from one of the leading scholar's
of Comparative Religious Studies. Widely used as a high college
and college text. Paper. 391 Pages/255 Pages.
Special
Tibet Issue of Faces, October 1999
Faces: Peoples Places and Cultures, the well-known children's
magazine, dedicated their October 1999 issue to learning about
Tibet. It features ten articles and stories, three activities,
and other resources covering a broad scope of Tibetan issues,
including The 14th Dalai Lama, Singer Yungchen Lhamo, Dharamsala,
traditional Tibetan celebrations, a Tibetan Cultural Center
in the US. TEN Director Jon Garfunkel, was a consulting editor,
and contributed an article about The 11th Panchen Lama. Recommended
as a student reader the study of Tibet for grades 4-9. Paper.
46 pages. Cobblestone Publishing, 1999.
Special
Tibet Issue of New Internationalist, December 1995
New Internationalist magazine (based in the UK) dedicated
their December 1995 issue to Tibet, providing the reader with
a series of engaging stories which cover a wide scope of Tibet
issues. This still-timely feature includes nine articles,
a map, two-page fact sheet, a visual history of Tibet, and
photographs. New Internationalist gives complimentary copyright
permission for educational use. Recommended as a student reader
the study of Tibet for grades 5 and up. Paper. 23 pages. New
Internationalist, 1995.
