Canyon Sam is a Chinese American who, in the nineties, went
to China
in search
of a deeper understanding of her heritage. While there, she traveled to
Tibet
and
discovered a true sense of home and belonging with the Buddhist people
and, in
particular, the women of the Tibetan and Buddhist culture. She found
herself extremely
close to four women -- a child bride, a gulag survivor, a
visionary educator, and a freedom fighter -- and has woven their
stories into
Sky Train. In the book she
finally comes to
term with her own past and forges a lifelong connection to Tibet
and the
Buddhist faith and, in addition, chronicles the vast changes to Tibetan
people and landscapes by a greater connection with the Chinese through
the new high-speed "sky train" that connects Lhasa to China.
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 
Sky Train: 