{"product_id":"prisoners-shangri-la-tibetan-buddhism-and-the-west-9780226485485","title":"Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor the Western imagination, Tibet evokes images of exoticism, mysticism, and wonder: a fabulous land detached from the harsh reality of modern times, spiritually enriched with what the West seems to have lost.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginally published in 1998,  \u003cem\u003ePrisoners of Shangri-La\u003c\/em\u003e  is the first cultural history of the remarkable encounter between Tibetan Buddhism and the West. Donald Lopez reveals in it the misconceptions about Tibetan life and religion. He covers, among other things:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe politics behind the term \"Lamaism\", a condescending designation for Tibetan Buddhism\u003c\/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe theosophical, psychedelic, and New Age applications of the so-called Tibetan Book of the Dead\u003c\/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe unexpected history of the famous Tibetan mantra \"om mani padme hum\"\u003c\/li\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese images of Tibet are not merely pop culture phenomena, but are often intertwined with scientific sources, creating a unique mix of popular and academic insights.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUpon publication,  \u003cem\u003ePrisoners of Shangri-La\u003c\/em\u003e  caused a stir in Tibet studies and was regarded as a timely, challenging, and courageous critique. Twenty years later, the situation in Tibet is more pressing than ever, with events such as the unrest of 2008, the demolition of thousands of monks' cells in Larung Gar in 2016, and the number of self-immolations by Tibetans as a protest against the Dalai Lama's exile.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn his new foreword to this anniversary edition, Lopez returns to the metaphors of prison and paradise to illuminate the state of Tibetan Buddhism, both in exile and in Tibet, where monks and nuns still seek a way home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLanguage and Target Audience\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book is written in English and is suitable for advanced language users (C1-C2). It serves as a valuable learning tool for education, research, and self-study in the field of cultural history and religion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePrisoners of Shangri-La\u003c\/em\u003e  is reliably available through Intertaal, with a guarantee of fast delivery.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Intertaal","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53951059427668,"sku":"9780226485485","price":22.45,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0967\/0538\/0692\/files\/prisoners-shangri-la-tibetan-buddhism-and-the-west-paperback-817_08953f96-5d46-4ca8-a375-6be74d73a82b.webp?v=1776920365","url":"https:\/\/intertaalid.nl\/en\/products\/prisoners-shangri-la-tibetan-buddhism-and-the-west-9780226485485","provider":"Intertaal","version":"1.0","type":"link"}