Understanding Tibet: Imagination and Reality via Zoom, with Tom Grunfeld

Since the 1900s Americans have been fascinated with Tibet. The Dalai Lama has become a pop cultural icon and Tibetan Buddhism has become ubiquitous. But Tibet is a complicated place with an intensely disputed history. In fact, there are three Tibets: one of the Western imagination (the mythical Shangri-La); one of the Chinese government’s narrative (“a hell on earth”); and the real Tibet. The latter is the least well known. After the Dalai Lama and tens of thousands of Tibetans fled their country in 1959, the issue of Tibet became polarized as another component of the Cold War. Initially, this debate was among a very small number of people, as there was not widespread knowledge about Tibet. When the issues of human rights in Tibet and its independence became internationalized in the late 1980s, it became pervasive in American culture. While the spread of Tibetan Buddhism continues unabated and academic interest in all matters Tibetan grows apace, the fervor of the political side had faded. Join us for a talk sorting out the actual history of Tibet and a discussion about its future.

Note: Registrants will be contacted prior to the event with Zoom meeting ID and password.