Bhutan: The Land of Serenity Paperback – October 15, 2012

A great book with amazing photos

Having just visited Bhutan the contents of this book give a very insightful view of the country, historical and political, accompanied by beautiful photographs. A wonderful reference book which has made my trip come alive and will be a lasting memory of a very spiritual and interesting country. However, if you are looking for a guide book this book would not meet your needs.

Amazing information! Unfortunately, the design of the book undermines the text.

Unlike other photo-narratives on this often-mythologized kingdom, this practicing monk takes a sober, almost detached approach that reveals his calm. After a decade in the company of the Dalai Lama's tutor there, Tibetan refugee Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and now the Dalai Lama's French translator himself, French-born Ricard brings the same considered evaluation of Buddhist practice and culture that his sponsorship and appearance in the films "Brilliant Moon" and "The Spirit of Tibet" (see my Dec. 2012 reviews) demonstrate about his devotion to his mentors. What this has to do with Bhutan as a larger entity comes across more gradually, and the brief three pages introducing each of these eight sections of his brilliantly reproduced color photography, 1980-2007, convey this more vividly than the miniscule font (too small, let alone the captions even smaller) do in this admittedly handsome, compact text, translated by Ruth Sharman.About half of this content in words and images features or complements the surroundings of his dharma teacher in Bhutan. This complements Ricard's other treatments of him; it means that much of the photography documents monasticism and ceremonies around its operations. As for the country, this is not the best introduction, as no reading list, no map, and very little background is given about the region. The urbanization of many Bhutanese and the complications of modernization are barely glanced at. Intentionally, no doubt, but readers may want to consult other titles as well.The typeface is as noted tiny and may not be legible for some readers. The book is elegantly laid out, but rather small. You get much less attention to the natural landscape and everyday people, although some stunning depictions of scenery (not only the expected panoramic vistas--one of Everest on the plane's way from Kathmandu to Paro--but abstracted patterns in reflected water) introduce the terse overview of the nation and its situation as the last Tantric Buddhist realm.Taksang, the cover's Tiger's Lair, endures as the iconic image of the land, and its chapter shows it as before and then restored after the fire of 1998: it looks splendid in both incarnations. Sacred architecture and crafts show the incorporation of the spiritual landscape into art and costume, the Great Accomplishment ceremony, the intricate movements of dance and the composed presence of ritual. Ricard observes the "clear" lesson exemplifed by such as the Trongsar five-day festival dramatizing the message of Buddhism: "we are the architects of our own being." (153)While Ricard does not delve into his own manner of entry into such situations, one may assume his own position allows him a privileged status and a rare insider's perspective that allows him to bridge Himalayan contexts and Western expectations of what such mysterious presentations of Buddhism mean. Bhutan here shimmers more in its less commonly depicted textiles, paintings, and decorations that grace the inside walls of places perhaps prohibited to tourists, and his combination of exterior and interior illustrations works well to provide a Buddhist point of view.

Great pictures and information on Bhutan. We enjoyed the ok very much.

Beautiful images of a pristine land, valued by its people & protected by its government.Presents as a collection of images & text to deliver the beauty & serenity of a magnificent unspoilt landscape. Well recommended for those interested in this region of the world.

Especially if you've had the honor of visiting Bhutan, this is a wonderful book. Gorgeous photos. Fair price, fastshipping. Excellent seller.

Gorgeous! The text is a little small & can be difficult to read.

Gorgeous photography os this little know land.

Too expensive

I was very disappointed to find the paperback was much smaller than the hard cover version I had read in my library. The images and text cannot be appreciated in this version. A total waste of money. I had hoped to re-read the book and then gift it to a friend, but it failed on both counts.

This book is wonderful! Matthieu Ricard's photographs - of people and landscapes in Bhutan - are very beautiful, but what surprised me about this book was the text: it is fascinating to read and complements the photography near perfectly. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Bhutan, wonderful photography or of course modern Tibetan Buddhism.

Beautiful photography in a lovely book! Unfortunately in the paperback edition, the type is very, very small. In spite of that, this book offers wonderful glimpses of the almost-magical kingdom of Bhutan. (I have already ordered a second copy as a gift.)