My Appeal to the World: In Quest of Truth and Justice on Behalf of the Tibetan People, 1961-2010

For decades, the Dalai Lama has been a powerful voice of compassion and moral perspective in the arenas of international politics and global Buddhism. Sometimes forgotten, however, is the history of the imposition of Chinese sovereignty over Tibet, which continues to the present day. This collection offers excerpts from the Dalai Lama's annual March 10 speeches (the day of the 1959 Tibetan uprising against the People's Republic of China) and essays by editor Stril-Rever providing historical context and commentary. The book's chronological arrangement allows readers to witness the evolution and growth of the Dalai Lama as a spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan people. His abdication of political power in 2011 and shift to moral encouragement of a democratic process among Tibetans becomes more powerful with the historical, theological, and political contexts that the collection provides. Those who wish to learn more about the late 20th-century history of Sino-Tibetan relations will find this a respectable resource, but it should be noted that this set of writings does not offer Chinese perspectives on the thorny issue. (Mar.)