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A Step Away from Paradise

The True Story of a Tibetan Lama's Journey to a Land of Immortality

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A Step Away from Paradise

By: Thomas K. Shor
Narrated by: Philip Battley
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About this listen

It was the early 1960s. The place, a far-off corner of the Himalayas long fabled in Tibetan tradition to be hiding a valley of immortality among its peaks and glaciers - a real-life Shangri-La. They waited generations for the prophesied lama to come, the one with the secret knowledge of how to "open" the Hidden Land. Then, one day, he came. His name was Tulshuk Lingpa.

This book tells the true story of this charismatic visionary lama and his remarkable expedition. Against the wishes of the kings of both Sikkim and Nepal, he and over three hundred followers ventured up the snowy slopes of the third highest mountain of the planet. Their aim: to open a crack in the very fabric of reality and go to a land we would all wish to inhabit if it were only there - a land of peace and concord.

Forty years later, the author spends over five years tracking down the surviving members of this extraordinary expedition. He deftly weaves their stories together with humor, wisdom, and scholarly research into Tibetan traditions of Hidden Lands, all the while reflecting on what this means for the rest of us.

“Like no other book I have ever read…a riveting tale of adventure…honest to the real spirit of Tibet…both unique and intriguing…an engrossing read. Highly recommended.” (Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, from the Foreword)

From Tulshuk Lingpa’s Guidebook to the Hidden Land:

“Don’t listen to anybody. Decide by yourself and practice madness. Develop courage for the benefit of all sentient beings. Then you will automatically be free from the knot of attachment. Then you will continually have the confidence of fearlessness and you can then try to open the Great Door of the Hidden Place.”

What would have happened...

If Lewis Carroll had proclaimed the reality of Alice’s Wonderland? What if he had gathered a following and launched an expedition?

©2012 Thomas K. Shor (P)2019 Thomas K. Shor
Biographies & Memoirs Buddhism Witty Inspiring Thought-Provoking Nepal
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What listeners say about A Step Away from Paradise

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Magical tale of another world

As the book itself says, this tale will change your sense of reality. I really love this book.

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An extraordinary book

The voice of the author was as clear and distinct as the voices of the many people in his story. The lyrical simplicity of the style was as a beautiful counterpoint to the challenging nature of the subject. The reading was smooth and mellifluous. Stepping into this hidden world with the author, I found myself carried along with the narrative, and am left with the echoes of the lamas playing in the recesses of my mind.

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Great book

I loved listening to this account. The performance was really engaging and the writer strikes a good balance in the detail he provides. It certainly makes you wonder.

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I didn’t want it to finish 🥲

Best story I ever heard. Hands down. I kept going back chapters because I didn’t want it to finish !

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A Step Closer To Paradise

‘A step away to paradise’ makes you realize that the ‘paradise’ is all in you. The further you go away from the delusional need of what is socially known as paradise - the further you go from external desires, the closer you go within and reach the actual paradise. Thomas is a genius in making you lead yourself to go deeper and deeper in consciousness 🤍

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Beautiful and fascinating

What a fantastic book. Such a beautiful and fascinating story, and read so well.

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Fascinating read

Wonderfully told fact based story inspiring and thought provoking, a wonderful insite into mystery of Tibetan Dharma.

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A riveting story on the true nature of reality

A remarkable story of a truly remarkable man and what we humans are capable of when we truly believe! It has touched me deeply. I am full of gratitude that this story found me🙏

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An extraordinary story - poetic and beautiful

An amazingly well researched book which does a very good job of trying to separate fact from fiction while being empathic to the lives of those affected. I have spent some time in Himachel Pradesh and the author gave me a totally new insight into the events of 1963 and their aftermath. Also very well read. Highly recommended.

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Fabulous in every way

A must read for everyone who is curious about the esoteric practices of Tibetan Buddhism. There is mystery, there is magic and there are profound words of wisdom within the pages of this book.

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