SUMMARY

It deals with Matthiessen’s difficulties he faced, his struggles and hardships he

faced throughout the trip and throughout his life. This books shows the past
experiences that the writers has faced and how did they get related to his present
and the details from his present as they unfold according to his belief. During the
trip he only talked about the son he left at home and his wife Deborah who died of
cancer a few years ago, Matthiessen remembers of the days of past with his family
in the United States and to the days when he and his wife were young and were in
love with each other’s and happy together. Matthiessen was great a follower of
Buddhism and teaching of Buddha.

This time he walked for five weeks under the massif of Annapurna, from the
Dhorpatan to Dzong, over Jang La pass, between the Seng and Bheri Rivers, on to
Ring-mo, and on over Kang La pass, toward Crystal Mountain in "the Land of
Dolpo," before the onrush of approaching winter. His companion was George
Schaller, who, though no Darwin at synthesizing or speculating is a remarkable
observer of matters of fact--probably the most enterprising of all present-day
wildlife biologists. Mr. Schaller, at 40, had studied lions, tigers, gorillas and,
indeed, dozens of other animals in passing. He was out to learn something about
the November rutting behavior of Himalayan blue sheep, and maybe to see a snow
leopard, a rarity and another interest of his. Mr. Matthiessen, older by six years,
was after sights and premonitions from which to fashion a most complicated and
ambitious book. For fame, for craft, for our enlightenment, they did us the old-
fashioned honor of risking their lives.
They walked for weeks under from the Dhorpatan to Dzong, and from Jang La
pass, between the Seng and Bheri Rivers, on to Ring-mo, and again from over
Kang La pass, toward Crystal Mountain before the winter approaches. Mr.George
Schaller, who, was the greatest present wildlife biologists. Mr. Schaller, who had
studied lions, tigers, gorillas and, indeed, dozens of other animals in passing. He
was there to learn something about the Himalayan blue sheep change in behavior
during month of November, and to see a snow leopard.

Usually Mr. Matthiessen's companions have been a scruffy collection of shabby

hirelings and rich macho playboys who were footing the bill. So with his friend
and with the noble Sherpas there is lightness to this walk for him. What is from
time to time confusing is that, as well as this worthy company, he feels the
presence of Buddha, the Awakened One, here in high Buddhist country, having
lately, in America, become a committed convert himself. Also, his wife has died of
cancer, and so memories of her are interjected throughout this radiant but rather
fragile, flickering book. In his "beloved" boots, a hoopoe feather in his hat, and
leaning on his faithful stave, near spiritual rebirth, near death along the giddy
canyon trails, he takes his omens from the fate of copper-colored grasshoppers and
blue and golden dragonflies. Competing with the goldfinches for marijuana seeds,
he sees the very spider webs shimmer from the forces of a cicada's song. He
doesn't "clutch the mountain," which in ancient Assyrian, he says, was a
euphemism for tumbling into death. When he is exhausted, a lamergeier's wing
shadow sweeping across the snow "draws me taut and sends me on."

Inbound, they cross the Himalayas from south to north; then, outbound, from north
to south, going up to 17,000 feet. This is saint and bandit country--hermit saints
and pony bandits-- where mythic prophets riding astride flying snow leopards once
battled the old dread mountain gods, who were assisted by hordes of snakes. It is a
land of "air burials," where even the bones of a dead person that the carrion birds
have left are pulverized and mixed with dough, so that they too will serve to make
bird flesh. Griffons and golden eagles swoop low over Mr. Matthiessen as he sits
meditating on the mountainside, mistaking him for just such a corpse.

On every trail there are prayer cairns and altars. Prayer mills turn in the torrents;
prayer flags flap and prayer wheels spin in the wind. Yak dung fuels the lamasery
fires, and yak butter the lamps. Stooping like a harmless dung seeker, Mr.
Matthiessen stalks the rutting sheep. His favorite Sherpa, Tukten, does a yeti
(Hindu for Sasquatch) cry for him, and says there would be more yetis left if the
villagers had not killed many with poisoned barley years ago. Mr. Matthiessen sees
what he suspects is one, nevertheless. The sun is roaring, filling to bursting each
crystal of snow. "There shall none learn to live who hath not learned to die," he
quotes, in order to encourage himself along the dizzy ledges. Lightness of step and
radiance of light--although the Buddha once cried out in pity for an immodest
yogin who had wasted 20 years of life in learning to walk on the water, when for a
small coin the ferryman would have taken him across.

Now, of course, it is not the all-too-facile fancy of a religious enthusiast that has
accomplished the waterfalls of imagery that sometimes dash on for 20 pages at a
clip. Rather, 20 years' experience at note-taking on the trail, of bird study and
anthropological reading is at work here. Yet, still, the blue sheep, gentle leopards,
wolves, yaks, foxes, ponies, and "exalted," "berserk" village mastiffs that threaten
to rip him limb from limb are more exact and vivid as natural history for all of this
adjoining mysticism. And most of us know, really, that in their airiness, the best of
the holy men of the great world religions are probably right, even if we don't
choose to invest enough of our time in readying ourselves for enlightenment of that
type. So, Mr. Matthiessen's paeans and sutras, his plum-pit amulets and "oms," are
not without justification, especially in this huge skyscape where the most awesome
sequences of cliff and peak and snow and ice are juxtaposed one upon another.
Warm tears freeze to his face as easily as he shouts with unexpected laughter. He
has a playful step, when not crawling in semiparalysis along the edge of a drop-off.
"All the way to Heaven is heaven," he tells port Mr. Schaller--who is sometimes
alarmed by his rhapsodies--quoting St. Catherine as "the very breath of Zen." And
through their tiring journey they returns to their homeland.
Context

This book is of two months long journey for the search of the Snow Leopard with
his travel friend and a naturalist George Schaller in the Himalayan Country of
Nepal along the far western Tibetan Plateau; they undertook this five-week
journey as the winter snows were sweeping into the high passes. Mr.Matthiesssen
shares his travel experience with the readers providing the understanding and depth
knowledge of Buddhism and also showcasing the lifestyle of peo

People living in the Himalayan region of Nepal.Descriptions of the flora, fauna and
Himalayan villages are also the main part of the book.

The story begins in Nepal, Matthiessen and Schaller were walking from west under
Annapurna and to north around the Dhaulagiri peaks and across the Kanjiroba,
255 miles to the Land of Dolpo, in the Tibetan Plateau.
 Character Analysis

1. Peter Matthiessen

Peter is the author and main character of this book. He was an American
novelist, naturalist. He was a great follower of Buddhism. He loved his wife too
much, who died because of cancer a few years ago. She was the
only person with whom Matthiessen felt the oneness that he has
sought ever since he became a follower of the teaching of the
Buddha. He describes the influence of outsiders upon the mostly
isolated, solitary regions of Tibet. What Matthiessen sees as an
opportunity,

2. George Schaller:

George Beals Schaller American mammologist, biologist,

conservationist and author.He is well known biologist,
studying wildlife throughout Africa, Asia and South
America. He is there in search of Bharal, a rare blue sheep
and Snow Leopard which is extremely rare into the
Himalayas of Nepal. They faced many difficulties in the
Crystal Mountains of Nepal. George Schaller wants to
know the relationship between the Bharal and the more
common sheep of the United States of America by
examining them during the mating season. Schaller unlike
is only interested in his work and sees as a job.
3. Deborah

Deborah is Peter Matthiessen’s wife, who died of cancer. They loved

each other deeply. She and her husband both followed
Buddhism

4. Alex

Alex is the son of Mitthiessen and Deborah. He goes to school. He loves

his father. He seems to be bad at spellings, and loves it when his father
corrects him.

5. Tukten, Dawa, Gyaltsen, Jang-bu and Phu-Tsering:

They are the Sherpa who assist Matthiessen and G.S. in their expedition.
Tukten is especially Matthiessen’s favorite Sherpa because of his extra
cheery nature.
Flora and Fauna

Flora is plant and fauna is animal life. Flora sounds like flowers,
which are part of the plant kingdom and fauna sounds like “fawn”
and fawns are the animal kingdom. In the book, The Snow
Leopard, flora and fauna has a great importance. In fact, the
whole book talks about the flora and fauna, especially fauna
which relates to the very animal, snow leopard. Matthiessen and
Schaller stars their journey in search of Snow Leopard and the
Bharal sheep. Schaller is searching for the Blue Sheep. Schaller is
interested in his work and gives more focus in his job. Whereas
Matthiessen is in search of Snow Leopard which is very, very less
in number. The book also mentions about the rare plants and
herbs found in the Himalayas which can be very useful in the field
of medical science.

The main Flora and Fauna in the novel are:

 Sal forests, hibiscus, bougainvillea blossoming in heroic

landscapes
 Indian Rhinoceros
 Asiatic Black Bear
  Bharal, A Himalayan blue sheep
 Yeti
 Cotton Trees
 Mention of Capra, Ovis, Hemitagus and Ammotagus
 Asian Redstarts
 Himalayan Langurs
 Harvests like yellow squash, red peppers, bronze tobacco, a red
millet, maize an dhemp

Snow Leopard as a Travelogue

The meaning of “Travelogue” is a film, book or illustrated

lecture about the places visited by or experiences of a
traveler. The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen as a
travelogue. In this book, he tells the readers about his
quest in search of the very rare animal, Snow Leopard in
the Himalayas of Nepal which the Buddhists or the locals
call, “The Crystal Mountain”. The Snow Leopard is a
masterful description of the landscapes, peoples and
systems of belief encountered by Matthiessen during his
expedition. The journey is described in full from the first
day, when the Matthiessen and Schaller met in
Kathmandu to the last, when they begin their return
home from the Crystal Mountain and everything in
between, without the omission of a single detail, exactly
as Matthiessen penned in his beloved daily journal. On
the surface, The Snow Leopard seems to be simply a
description of one man’s thoughts and views throughout
the journey through Tibet, but underneath lies
Matthiessen’s morals and beliefs tangled with his
struggles and hardships throughout the trip and
throughout his life. Matthiessen shows the rich culture
and tradition of Himalayas of Nepal especially the
Buddhism and also he shows the flora and fauna of the
Himalayas through his travelogue.

Buddhism in The Snow Leopard

Buddhism is one of the main themes of this novel. Matthiessen himself is a

follower of Zen Buddhism along with his wife Deborah. Zen is a school of
Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty as Chan
Buddhism. Zen meditation is a way of vigilance and self discovery. Throughout
this book, Matthiessen gives importance to the Buddhist culture, rituals and
practices. He considers meditating really vital to maintain his calm mind. Time and
again, he also mentions quite a lot of the Buddhist chant “Om Mani Padme Hum”
and its meaning. He is also seen meditating on cliff tops.
 Through Zen Buddhism, he hopes to connect with his wife who has already
passed on. It was she who introduced him to Buddhism and he owes everything to
her. He considers his journey to Shey Gompa a spiritual one, the type through
which he can gain some sort of enlightenment. Through this journey, he attempts
to gain inner peace as well as external exploration. Zen Buddhism does not
distinguish between birth, life, death, and the hereafter. All things are related and
cyclical. The transition between the various stages of life is simply a move
between planes of existence and seemingly negative experiences, such as death,
should be no cause for sorrow.It is also mentioned that there is no exact word for
Buddhism in Tibet. However, the people follow this religion and it is said that
Buddhists, more specifically the Sherpa are lighthearted and devoid of arrogance.
So they pose as ideal and unique beings to most of the Westerners.

Symbols

a. The Snow Leopard and the Bharal

The snow leopard has been symbolized in the novel itself. These rare creatures
symbolize the importance of existence. Two extremely unique creatures thrive to
survive in the extreme landscape of the Himalayas. However, they are the predator
and prey respectively. This also denotes the circle of life. In order to live, you have
to compete. The snow leopards also carry the message and medicine of focused
silence, true strength and power, gracefulness and independence. The snow leopard
also teaches us the power of silence. Snow leopard teaches us to be fearless leaders
and to use our power wisely
 b. The Sherpa:

The Sherpa are the people during their tour they were most cheerful people we can
see in book. Their good hearts set up an example for the rest of the humankind.
They also teached us how important it is to accept things the way they are, without
any hesitation.

c. Enlightenment tree:

Here the enlightenment tree is dedicated to Bodhi tree. Enlightenment tree refers to
the place where Gautam Buddha attained the enlightenment.

d. Livestock dung
Here livestock dung symbolizes the biogas, through which the women
used to cook food during the time of rush of monsoon season.

Book Review
of
The Snow Leopard
by Peter
Mathiessen
 Submitted by:
Digvijaya Koirala
Section A
Roll No. 177049
BBA Year I Semester I

Submitted to:
Mr. Bharat Pd. Neupane
Faculty of English
Kathmandu University School of Management
Date:
27th December 2017

About Author: Peter Matthiessen

Peter Matthiessen (May 22, 1927- April 5, 2014) was an American novelist,
naturalist, wilderness writer and happened to be a CIA agent as well. He was the
co- founder of the literary magazine, The Paris Review. He was the only writer to
have won the National Book Award in both fiction and non-fiction. In 2008,
Matthiessen received the National Book Award for fiction for Shadow Country

He attended St. Bernard’s School, The Hotchkiss School and Yale University. At
his University, he majored in English and published short stories and also studied
Zoology. Marrying and resolving to undertake a writer’s career, he soon moved
back to Paris, where he associated with other emigrant American writers such as
William Styron, James Baldwin, etc.

In 1959, Matthiessen published the first edition of Wildlife in America, a history of

the extinction and endangerment of animal and bird species as a consequence of
human settlement, throughout North American history and of the human effort to
protect endangered species. In 1973, Matthiessen joined field biologist George
Schaller on an expedition in the Himalaya Mountains which was the basis for The
Snow Leopard, his double award winner,

He died at his home in Sagaponack on April 5, 2014, at the age of 86.

Conclusion:
The book is a journal with intricate details about the author’s experiences of
meeting native people with diverse culture, northern Nepal’s weather, terrain,
landscapes, and flora and fauna.Matthiessen's interactions with people,
reminiscences of his deceased wife, letter from his son and his thirst for spiritual
enlightenment helps the readers get a better idea of his feelings and mental state: “I
long to let go, drift free of things, to accumulate less, depend on less, to move more
simply” (Matthiessen, Pg122).

The book reveals Peter’s philosophical insight of religions, especially Zen

Buddhism, and how he strives to gain a deeper understanding of Buddhism.For
him, the whole journey was a search for spirituality which he relies on to free
himself from the turmoil of emotional distress. Despite failing to spot the snow
leopard, he realizes that the trip was worth taking: “I am disappointed, and also, I
am not disappointed. That the snow leopard is, that it is here, that its frosty eyes
watch us from the mountain- that is enough” (Matthiessen, Pg221). Just like how
the solitary snow leopard is rarely seen, sighting the true essence of life and
spirituality is also rare.

The book is interesting and has the appeal to compel us to think about the true
meaning of life. It conveys a message that the world contains a boundless amount
of energy, not limited within mere physical existence. However, since the book is
full of minute details of everything the author observes during the journey, it may
become confusing and less interesting for many readers who do not have any
background information on the respective topics; so, I don’t think it’s suitable for
young people and young teenagers.

Lastly, this book is heart-warming and somehow seems to transcend the usual
travelogue genre. It gives a moral about rising above materialistic living and uses
the snow leopard as a symbol of ambition for spiritual enlightenment which Peter
relates to science.