Through a lyrical narrative of her journey to Tibet in 2007, activist
Canyon Sam contemplates modern history from the perspective of Tibetan
women. Traveling on China's new "Sky Train," she celebrates Tibetan New
Year with the Lhasa family whom she'd befriended decades earlier and
concludes an oral-history project with women elders.
As she
uncovers stories of Tibetan women's courage, resourcefulness, and
spiritual strength in the face of loss and hardship since the Chinese
occupation of Tibet in 1950, and observes the changes wrought by the
controversial new rail line in the futuristic "new Lhasa," Sam comes to
embrace her own capacity for letting go, for faith, and for acceptance.
Her glimpse of Tibet's past through the lens of the women -- a visionary
educator, a freedom fighter, a gulag survivor, and a child bride --
affords her a unique perspective on the state of Tibetan culture today
-- in Tibet, in exile, and in the widening Tibetan diaspora.
Gracefully
connecting the women's poignant histories to larger cultural,
political, and spiritual themes, the author comes full circle, finding
wisdom and wholeness even as she acknowledges Tibet's irreversible
changes.
Canyon Sam is a San Francisco writer, performance
artist, and Tibet activist. Her one-woman show
The Dissident was
critically acclaimed in the
Village Voice and the
Boston Globe. This is
her first book.
More praise for Sky Train"Canyon Sam's
Sky Train powerfully moves the heart, as it brings to
life deep truths about our world today, about Tibet, the land and
people and especially its outstanding women. Just as important is the
author's own revelatory discovery of 'Tibet' as a compassionate, wise,
and down to earth state-of-mind essential to the survival of the whole
world. Words cannot express how wonderful is this honest, generous, and
perceptive book."
-Robert Thurman, Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of
Buddhist Studies at Columbia University
"Through
the experiences of older Tibetan women, the author offers a captivating
journey spanning half a century and several countries.
Sky Train
conveys women's lessons of community-building, generosity, faith, and
determination. A beautiful, moving, riveting book."
-Valerie
Matsumoto, UCLA
"This book about the Dharma of connection, of
companioning, of compassion, has strengthened my own devotion."
-Sylvia Boorstein, author of
Happiness Is an Inside Job: Practicing for
a Joyful Life"It is Canyon Sam's love for Tibet -- its culture
and its people -- that makes this book so special. An important work . .
. poignant and inspiring."
-Sharon Salzberg, author of
Lovingkindness:
The Revolutionary Art of Happiness 
The 