Laurence J. Brahm

In Conversations with sacred mountains. A journey along Yunnan's tea caravan trail the author, Lawrence Brahm, describes how he found inspiration to look for a new life-style through mainly three Chinese artists, who, in recent years have moved away from the big cities to lead more fulfilling lives in southwest China. He relates how some Chinese people, especially artistically minded, are becoming aware of cultural and earth preservation, and rather than protest, choose to create positive, new life-styles away from the polluted and capitalism-driven urban centres.

Many people are drawn to Tibet, with the vague expectation of finding some deeper meaning of life. For some, this search starts with disillusionment in their daily life. Lawrence Brahm, the author of this book, describes how all his life, he had a longing for the purity of life in the East. In two very muddled paragraphs on page 142 the author gives his opinion about capitalism, and the role of the (American) government and the media in creating and sustaining a "dysfunctional society" which alienates people from their own selves. Brahm explains how he quit his fast-life career in finance and law in bustling Hong Kong and Beijing after two decades, to dedicate himself to cultural heritage protection and eco-tourism, make films and do other projects along those lines.

The book, Conversations with sacred mountains. A journey along Yunnan's tea caravan trail, starts on that note, and takes the shape of a travelogue, plotting a trek from Yunnan's capital Kunming, via Dali, Lijiang, and Lugu, to Zhongdian and Mount Kawagebo in Tibet. This route has existed for about 1,000 years as the "Tea Horse Road", the road along which China exported Pu-Erh tea to Tibet and beyond, to India, in exchange for war horses from the Tibetan plateau. Yunnan Province, in southwest China, is home to many ethnic minorities, such as the Bai in Dali, the Naxi in Lijiang and the Mosu matriarchal society near Lugu. In each of these places, Brahm interviews local people and friends about their ideas and ideals in life.

As the journey progresses, the aim of the journey changes. In Lijiang, the author wonders what fascinated Joseph Rock to live there for so many years, and suggests that Rock's publications were the real source for James Hilton's novel The lost horizon, a book which first describes the magical land of Shangri-la. Brahm's journey then changes to a quest for Shangri-la.

Shangri-la is a mythical land, which cannot be found on any map. "It is within," the author tells us, "actually, Shangri-la is Shambhala." (p.44). From that moment, the journey becomes a pilgrimage. The author is guided on the path to deeper understanding of himself.

The book can be read as a travelogue of southwest China. It is richly illustrated, and its approach through interviews with local people, especially people belonging to ethnic minorities, makes the book quite unique. At the same time, the book may serve as a guide to Tibetan Buddhism, especially for people who would enjoy to know more about it through a light and entertaining reading, without religious overtones.… (altro)