Thus the title of a magnificent book on the indigenous shamanistic religion of Tibet, which, together with Buddhism, formed over a couple of millennia what is known as Tibetan Buddhism today.[1] Philip Wilson, the book’s publisher, as well as a resident of Motovun for many a decade, brought it to my door about an hour ago. We talked about the book the last time he was here, which was three or four weeks back, and he promised to bring me a copy on his next trip. But he did not tell me about its title, which I spotted as soon as I opened the door. Philip was clutching the book close to his chest, its dust jacket turned outward. Over the moon, I could not contain my excitement. “If I were to come up with a book title,” I confessed as he was leaving, “I could not come up with a better one.” A gentle man, he just kept giggling.

Footnote

1. Karmay, S.G., and J. Watt, eds., New York and London: Rubin Museum of Art and Philip Wilson Publishers, 2007.