My Land and My People: The Original Autobiography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet

My Land and My People is the autobiography of the Dalai Lama, written while he was a young man in exile. The book recounts his life from childhood in Lhasa, where at age four he was identified as the reincarnated leader of Tibet and placed on a gilded throne in an ancient palace. The narrative describes his isolated upbringing, the miraculous search that identified him as the reincarnated leader, and his education within palace walls. It offers an intimate portrait of Tibetan Buddhism and the way of life that existed before foreign invasion. The book traces his evolution from a gentle monk to a world leader and spiritual figure, documenting Tibet's history and his ongoing efforts regarding his country's freedom.