A panorama of modern Tibet's social and political history unfolds within the reminisces of an elderly monk, from the 1959 Lhasa uprising to the implementation of socialism and land reform, the Sino-Indian War, and the contemporary era of opening and reform. Initiated into monkhood as a child, Jigme Wangdrak returns to lay life as a young man to experience ordinary joys and sorrows, yet finds there is no salve for some of the hurts that life inflicts. In his later years, an unhoped-for reunion elicits a retelling of his life story. This tale is equal to the parts of every man's history and personal quest for meaning and forgiveness. Vignettes from the life of the great Tibetan sage Milarepa provide a counterpoint to his narrative, underscoring the perseverance, humility, and sacrifice fundamental to the Tibetan spirit.