Seven Years in Tibet

"Christianity and Buddhism have much in common. They are both founded on the belief in happiness in another world and both preach humility in this life. But there is a difference as things are today. In Tibet one is not hunted from morning till night by the calls of 'civilization.' Here one has time to occupy oneself with religion and to call one's soul one's own. Here it is religion which takes up most room in the life of the individual, as it did in olden days in the West."
-Heinrich Harrer

I don't want to start comparing Christianity and Buddhism, but I've had a huge respect for Tibetan monks since a group came to Salisbury for the international arts festival last spring (I think I blogged about it). I was able to attend a workshop with them at the college. I don't believe they know the Truth that matters, but there are some things I think they've got right. Using the arts to worship being one of them. And I just finished reading Seven Years in Tibet and the Tibetans' faith is really amazing. Unwavering. Never doubting. Or at least it was. This is pre-Chinese invasion. I don't know what Tibet is like now, but it is highly probably that they have lost the lifestyle described in the quote above, with the invasion of "civilization."

(I read the book after seeing the film by the way. I recommend the film, as long as you are aware that "based on a true story" means 95% fiction with a tiny sliver of truth. I was a little disappointed when I read the book and realized this. )

Photos taken May 2005, Salisbury Cathedral