Boken Det var en gång en sjö skildrar en buddistisk tankevärld i berättelsens form. Så här skriver Dalai Lama i bokens introduktion: "This book by Elisabet H[ä]renstam is about Pema Dorjee's childhood in Tibet. It is a story about the memories of a Tibetan when nature was not destroyed, animals were not afraid, lakes were clean and mountains were majestic. These memories have been beautifully illustrated by Tashi Topden, a Tibetan artist who is well aware about the land and nature of Tibet as it existed before China's occupation. I am confident that this book will help readers, especially the children, to learn something about the past, peaceful environment of Tibet."

Boken Det var en gång en sjö skildrar en buddistisk tankevärld i berättelsens form. Så här skriver Dalai Lama i bokens introduktion: "This book by Elisabet H[ä]renstam is about Pema Dorjee's childhood in Tibet. It is a story about the memories of a Tibetan when nature was not destroyed, animals were not afraid, lakes were clean and mountains were majestic. These memories have been beautifully illustrated by Tashi Topden, a Tibetan artist who is well aware about the land and nature of Tibet as it existed before China's occupation. I am confident that this book will help readers, especially the children, to learn something about the past, peaceful environment of Tibet."