Care2.com (6/16/11)

Care2 worked with Built on Respect and the Robin Reed Trust to plan and sponsor Palden’s multi-city speaking tour and on Tuesday night, I was fortunate enough to get the chance to hear Palden speak in San Francisco. I was completely blown away by the power of his story and his incredible spirit.

Most of us cannot imagine the trauma and anguish that would come from spending more than three decades being isolated, tortured and abused, and to hear the story from someone who has lived through those experiences is incredibly inspiring. Palden’s recounting of losing his teeth after being tortured with an electric cattle prod is heartbreaking and terrible, but the way that he shared it, with bright smiles, made me feel hopeful and determined.

Tags: Built On Respect, care2, Palden Gyatso