Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • A Step Away from Paradise

  • The True Story of a Tibetan Lama's Journey to a Land of Immortality
  • By: Thomas K. Shor
  • Narrated by: Philip Battley
  • Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (61 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
A Step Away from Paradise cover art

A Step Away from Paradise

By: Thomas K. Shor
Narrated by: Philip Battley
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £18.99

Buy Now for £18.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

From a Mountain in Tibet cover art
Cave in the Snow cover art
Magic & Mystery in Tibet cover art
Enlightened Vagabond cover art
The Way of the White Clouds cover art
In the Footsteps of Rama cover art
Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master cover art
The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep cover art
The Magician of Lhasa cover art
Cynicism and Magic cover art
The Final Summit cover art
My Journey to Lhasa cover art
The Way of the Bodhisattva cover art
The Heart of Compassion cover art
Awakening the Sacred Body cover art
Storytime with Robert: Robert A. Johnson Tells His Favorite Stories and Myths cover art

Summary

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

What listeners say about A Step Away from Paradise

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    49
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    44
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    47
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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🙏

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Magical, insight in another World

Loved every moment. Great Narration. Lots of memories taken from such vivid Stories. Hope Bayul is still there as Humanity may need it Soon.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating read

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enthralling Profound and Moving

Thomas K Shor takes us on a deeply moving and beautifully written account of a series of events in the life of Terton Tulshuk Lingpa, culminating in his journey with 300 followers to the promised land.
The author and narrator transport us easily to the land of the Tibetan people with their rich customs and the deep teachings, allowing us to experience not only Tulshuk Lingpa's journey, but the deep faith of his many followers.
The reverent voice Phillip Battley distinctly added to the hypnotic journey of this audio book.
I highly recommend this audio book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A spiritual pilgrimmage thru the power of Story

I first was attracted to this audiobook as the narrator has also narrated one of my novels, along with the fact I have had my own sacred journeys in the Himalayas. As The Man From Story Mountain I have seen numerous times various versions of Bayal - the name given to the 'paradise land' in this Tibetan story. Therefore, I am according to this story a perfect companion for such a journey, as my belief is absolute. I found this a charming, educational, and enticing adventure story, with some rare teachings to help make the listening more than worthwhile.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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 !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating read

The level of research, detail, and interpretation all combined to produce a fascinating and enjoyable read/ listen. Entertaining but food for thought. I will listen again. The narration is excellent. During the credits I learned there are photos in the book. It would be even better if these are attached as a pdf.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!