Canyon Sam

A very thought-provoking book. Canyon Sam, a Chinese American, traveled to China, but became more interested in the Tibetan women she met, and sometimes stayed with. A little off-putting history for the western feminist follower of Tibetan Buddhism: when the Chinese invaded Tibet in the 50's, apparently all the men (including lamas, who would not travel with women) fled and left the women to suffer in labor camps, jail, and "re-education." Also, Canyon Sam shows the disappointment of the older Tibetans in the monks and lamas who choose a comfortable life teaching Tibetan Buddhism to westerners, rather than the young displaced Tibetans, who grow up not knowing the old ways.… (mere)