Fearless in Tibet – The Life of the Mystic Tertön Sogyal
Matteo Pistono
Very rarely but from time to time, I pick up a book and know that it is a living thing, not mere pages and print. This book is alive and will be a dear companion for the seeker walking along the razor edge. It tells of the life of Tertön Sogyal but is more than a re-telling, it is an induction into the ancient spiritual practices of the Tibetan lineage.
Often when I hear of the mystics of Tibet it feels to me as though these lives are from another world. What Matteo Pistano achieves with “Fearless in Tibet – The Life of the Mystic Tertön Sogyal” is to bring this life of a realised master and his insight of spiritual awakening into this world and make it relevant for todays climate of political, cultural and global upheaval.
The level of research conducted by the author goes beyond academia to complete devotion to his subject. It is the kind of text that emerges from lifetimes, not years of what one could call love, but moves far beyond, to a point of unification and understanding of the treasure a realised teacher is when they can reveal our true nature. At a certain point, it is no longer a matter of love that keeps one connected to the guru, but a reverence and respect for the journey they have endeavoured for our benefit.
Guru of the thirteenth Dalai Lama, Tertön Sogyal or Lerab Lingpa, was instrumental in guiding peace between China and Tibet at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, prior to the invasion of Tibet. It speaks of a time when forces beyond geo-political drama were strongly at play and is a reminder of the multi-dimensional reality of relationships between people, cultures and nations.
The forward written by Sogyal Rinpoche (author of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying) who is considered the current day incarnation of Tertön Sogyal reads, ‘I believe I must have first heard about Tertön Sogyal from my own beloved master, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, who raised me as his one, gave me the name “Sogyal” and recognized me as an incarnation of Lerab Lingpa… As time went by, I became increasingly aware of and inspired by Tertön Sogyal’s revelations, so much so that they became the cornerstone of my life, my practice, and my teachings…”
At times while reading the details of this account, I questioned, how could Pistono possibly have known these intricacies occurred? And then decided to surrender to the narrative and be taken on the journey. There is no way Pistono could have recounted the spiritual awakening and meditation in such details without having had his own deep journey of dedicated practice and insight. The retelling is done with such intimacy that through the reading of this book, I truly believed I was there, with Tertön Sogyal on all dimensions, beyond time:
“…When he looked again at the stone treasure casket on the shrine, he saw that it had opened by itself, revealing five compartments. Inside each compartment was a rolled golden parchment with dakini script. Like steam rising from a boiling kettle spout, wrathful and peaceful deities began to emanate from the paper and took up their place in the form of a mandala in the space before Sogyal…” (p. 42)
This style of biography reminded me of The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone which I had read many years ago (a retelling of the life of Michaelangelo, explored here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlhn_Kxgm8g). These authors are truly rare treasures and in the age of ChatGPT where the authenticity of devotional research and retelling of history through the human heart is at serious threat, I appreciate them with a burning fire. The importance of these teachings resonate today more than ever:
Padmasambhava told Tertön Sogyal in a vision, “In these degenerate times, when evil forces are strong, obstacles will come like unending waves. In actuality, the negative forces will come from within your own rangs and seek to destroy you. There will be a time when students receive teachings, even placing their guru’s feet upon their crown, and then backbite their teacher straight away” (p. 98)
The text is clearly deeply researched, with a fair majority of the book dedicated to references, index and footnoting, making it an excellent starting point for any historian. However it is important to allow your mind to be suspended. To allow a reality to unfold that moves between lifetimes, between dimensions and so far beyond the physical it becomes a narrow scaffold that is a mere hint of the worlds that live beyond our narrow human perception of mind. Time and space cease to hold their spell in moments of Terma revelations such as:
…The scroll’s secret script was a mnemonic device that spurred Sogyal’s memory of receiving The Most Secret Wrathful Vajrakilaya from Padmasambhava and allowed him to reveal it in the present. As if the lock on a treasure chest were clicked open with the turning of a key, the teaching flowed from Sogyal’s mind… (p 43)
The life of Sogyal underscores the power of spiritual practice, true insight and high frequency awareness during times of political conflict and culutural unrest. A recent film I watched “Project Mincemeat” (also highly recommend) echoes this theme of nuances of dualism and conflict. On the high-octane spiritual path (as opposed to the Yoga and pilates pill too eagerly prescribed today), the greatest challenges will always be from within. Within your self, your family, your friends, your colleagues. Every lesson you require is no further away than the tip of your nose. This book provided a wonderful companion and guide to have the courage to go deeper.
Miyoga Club 