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The Tibetan Book of the Dead: A Journey Through the Afterlife and Self-Discovery
Introduction:
Have you ever wondered what happens after death? Cultures across the globe grapple with this profound question, offering diverse perspectives on the soul’s journey. Among the most fascinating and complex is the Tibetan Buddhist understanding, meticulously detailed in the Tibetan Book of the Dead, also known as the Bardo Thodol. This comprehensive guide delves into this enigmatic text, exploring its history, core concepts, and its surprising relevance to contemporary life, far beyond its esoteric origins. We'll unravel its mysteries, clarifying common misconceptions and revealing the profound wisdom it offers for navigating not only death, but life itself.
The Origins and History of the Bardo Thodol
The Tibetan Book of the Dead isn't a single book, but a collection of teachings compiled over centuries. Its origins are shrouded in some mystery, with various texts and interpretations evolving over time. While pinpointing a precise author or date is difficult, scholars generally agree that the core text crystallized around the 8th century CE, drawing upon earlier Buddhist traditions and indigenous Tibetan beliefs. The text’s significance stems from its unique integration of Buddhist philosophy with the experiential realities of the dying process and the subsequent intermediate state, known as the bardo.
Understanding the Bardo: Between Lives
The bardo, a central concept within the Bardo Thodol, isn't simply an afterlife. It represents a transitional period, a liminal space between death and rebirth. Tibetan Buddhism posits that death isn't a singular event but a process, a series of experiences the consciousness undergoes as it leaves the physical body and prepares for its next incarnation. The Bardo Thodol meticulously describes these experiences, outlining the different bardos – the chi-khai bardo (the moment of death), the chos-nyid bardo (the clear light experience), and the si-pa bardo (the realm of experiencing visions).
#### The Clear Light Experience: A Crucial Moment
The chos-nyid bardo, often translated as the "clear light experience," is considered the most crucial stage. It's described as a state of pure consciousness, devoid of conceptual thought and free from the limitations of the physical world. This is the moment, according to the text, where liberation from the cycle of rebirth (samsara) is possible. Recognizing the nature of this clear light is key to achieving enlightenment and escaping the cycle of suffering.
Interpreting the Symbolism and Imagery
The Bardo Thodol is rich in vivid imagery and symbolism, often depicting deities, demons, and terrifying visions. These aren't meant to be taken literally but as symbolic representations of the mind's states during the bardo. The terrifying visions, for instance, reflect the anxieties and attachments that bind us to the cycle of samsara. The deities, on the other hand, represent the potential for enlightenment and liberation.
Practical Applications for Contemporary Life
While the Bardo Thodol focuses on death and the afterlife, its wisdom offers profound insights into living a meaningful life. The teachings on mindfulness, self-awareness, and recognizing the impermanent nature of reality are highly relevant to contemporary struggles with anxiety, stress, and existential questions. By understanding the impermanence highlighted in the text, we can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the present moment and let go of clinging to fleeting experiences.
Beyond the Literal: A Guide to Self-Discovery
The Tibetan Book of the Dead is not merely a guide for the dying; it's a profound exploration of the human condition. Its teachings offer a roadmap for navigating the complexities of life, death, and the space in between. The text encourages self-reflection, cultivating compassion, and ultimately, achieving liberation from suffering. By studying its symbolism and contemplating its teachings, we embark on a journey of self-discovery, confronting our fears, and ultimately finding greater peace and understanding.
Conclusion:
The Tibetan Book of the Dead remains a potent and enigmatic text, offering a unique perspective on death, rebirth, and the nature of consciousness. While its origins are steeped in ancient Tibetan Buddhism, its wisdom transcends cultural boundaries, resonating with anyone seeking to understand the human experience and find meaning in life's journey. Its detailed descriptions of the bardo and the emphasis on mindful awareness provide a framework for navigating not only death, but also the challenges and opportunities of daily existence. The text is a testament to the enduring human quest for understanding our place in the universe and our potential for spiritual growth.
FAQs:
1. Is the Tibetan Book of the Dead only for Buddhists? No, while rooted in Tibetan Buddhism, its core themes of death, consciousness, and the search for meaning resonate with people of all faiths and backgrounds.
2. Should I read the Tibetan Book of the Dead before I die? The text can be challenging to interpret without proper guidance. Reading it can be insightful, but it's recommended to approach it with a mindful and respectful attitude, perhaps with the assistance of a qualified teacher or scholar.
3. What is the significance of the visualizations described in the text? The visualizations are not mere illustrations; they are powerful tools for transforming consciousness and navigating the different stages of the bardo.
4. Does the Tibetan Book of the Dead offer a guaranteed path to enlightenment? The text presents a path, but enlightenment is a personal journey requiring dedication, practice, and often, guidance from a teacher.
5. Where can I find reliable translations of the Tibetan Book of the Dead? Several reputable translations exist, but it's crucial to choose a version that provides context and commentary to aid understanding. Look for translations from established publishers specializing in Buddhist texts.
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Robert Thurman, 2011-02-02 The most accessible and informative version of the Buddhist classic available in English, with instruction in meditation, illuminating commentary, and guidance in the practical use of the prayers The so-called “Tibetan Book of the Dead” has been renowned for centuries as a cornerstone of Buddhist wisdom and religious thought. More recently, it has become highly influential in the Western world for its psychological insights into the processes of death and dying—and what they can teach us about the ways we live our lives. It has also been found to be helpful in the grieving process by people who have recently lost their loved ones. Composed in the eighth century C.E., it is intended to prepare the soul for the trials and transformations of the afterworld. Its profound message is that the art of dying is as important as the art of living. Drawing on Tibetan spiritual traditions, it shows us the workings of the mind in its various manifestations—terrifying and comforting, wrathful and beautiful—which appear more clearly after death in the consciousness of the deceased. By recognizing these manifestations, we can attain a state of enlightenment, both in this existence and in the existence to come. This authoritative translation preserves the form and spirit of the original and was prepared especially for Western readers by Robert A. F. Thurman, one of the most prominent Tibetan scholars in America and a close associate of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Tibetan Book of the Dead W. Y. Evans-Wentz, 2020-11-18 Derived from a Buddhist funerary text, this famous volume's timeless wisdom includes instructions for attaining enlightenment, preparing for the process of dying, and moving through the various stages of rebirth. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Robert Thurman, 1993-12-01 The most accessible and informative version of the Buddhist classic available in English, with instruction in meditation, illuminating commentary, and guidance in the practical use of the prayers The so-called “Tibetan Book of the Dead” has been renowned for centuries as a cornerstone of Buddhist wisdom and religious thought. More recently, it has become highly influential in the Western world for its psychological insights into the processes of death and dying—and what they can teach us about the ways we live our lives. It has also been found to be helpful in the grieving process by people who have recently lost their loved ones. Composed in the eighth century C.E., it is intended to prepare the soul for the trials and transformations of the afterworld. Its profound message is that the art of dying is as important as the art of living. Drawing on Tibetan spiritual traditions, it shows us the workings of the mind in its various manifestations—terrifying and comforting, wrathful and beautiful—which appear more clearly after death in the consciousness of the deceased. By recognizing these manifestations, we can attain a state of enlightenment, both in this existence and in the existence to come. This authoritative translation preserves the form and spirit of the original and was prepared especially for Western readers by Robert A. F. Thurman, one of the most prominent Tibetan scholars in America and a close associate of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book Of Living And Dying Sogyal Rinpoche, 2012-02-29 25th Anniversary Edition Over 3 Million Copies Sold 'I couldn't give this book a higher recommendation' BILLY CONNOLLY Written by the Buddhist meditation master and popular international speaker Sogyal Rinpoche, this highly acclaimed book clarifies the majestic vision of life and death that underlies the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It includes not only a lucid, inspiring and complete introduction to the practice of meditation, but also advice on how to care for the dying with love and compassion, and how to bring them help of a spiritual kind. But there is much more besides in this classic work, which was written to inspire all who read it to begin the journey to enlightenment and so become 'servants of peace'. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying Sogyal Rinpoche, 2009-10-13 “A magnificent achievement. In its power to touch the heart, to awaken consciousness, [The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying] is an inestimable gift.” —San Francisco Chronicle A newly revised and updated edition of the internationally bestselling spiritual classic, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, written by Sogyal Rinpoche, is the ultimate introduction to Tibetan Buddhist wisdom. An enlightening, inspiring, and comforting manual for life and death that the New York Times calls, “The Tibetan equivalent of [Dante’s] The Divine Comedy,” this is the essential work that moved Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions, to proclaim, “I have encountered no book on the interplay of life and death that is more comprehensive, practical, and wise.” |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Karma Lingpa, Sambhava Padma, Coleman Graham, 2023-12-12 One of the greatest works created by any culture and overwhelmingly the most significant of all Tibetan Buddhist texts in the West, The Tibetan Book of the Dead has had a number of distinguished translations, but none encompassed the work in its entirety. Now, in one of the year's most important publishing events, the entire text has not only been made available in English but in a translation of quite remarkable clarity and beauty. With an introductory commentary by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, who calls this translation an extraordinary accomplishment undertaken with great care over many years this complete edition faithfully presents the insights and intentions of the original work. It includes one of the most detailed and compelling descriptions of the after-death state in world literature, exquisitely written practices that can transform our experience of daily life, guidance on helping those who are dying, and an inspirational perspective on coping with bereavement. Translated with the close support of leading contemporary masters, including HH Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, and learned scholars such as Khamtrul Rinpoche and Zenkar Rinpoche. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Luminous Emptiness Francesca Fremantle, 2003-03-11 The Tibetan Book of the Dead, a best-seller for three decades, is one of the most widely read texts of Tibetan Buddhism. Over the years, it has been studied and cherished by Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. Luminous Emptiness is a detailed guide to this classic work, elucidating its mysterious concepts, terms, and imagery. Fremantle relates the symbolic world of the Tibetan Book of the Dead to the experiences of everyday life, presenting the text not as a scripture for the dying, but as a guide for the living. According to the Buddhist view, nothing is permanent or fixed. The entire world of our experience is constantly appearing and disappearing at every moment. Using vivid and dramatic imagery, the Tibetan Book of the Dead presents the notion that most of us are living in a dream that will continue from lifetime to lifetime until we truly awaken by becoming enlightened. Here, Fremantle, who worked closely with Chögyam Trungpa on the 1975 translation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead (Shambhala), brings the expertise of a lifetime of study to rendering this intriguing classic more accessible and meaningful to the living. Luminous Emptiness features in-depth explanations of: • The Tibetan Buddhist notions of death and rebirth • The meaning of the five energies and the five elements in Tibetan Buddhism • The mental and physical experience of dying, according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Graham Coleman, Thupten Jinpa, 2008-11-06 The acclaimed English translation of this masterpiece of world literature - prepared with the participation of the Dalai Lama One of the greatest works created by any culture and one of the most influential of all Tibetan Buddhist texts in the West, The Tibetan Book of the Dead has had a number of distinguished translations, but strangely all of these have been partial abridgements. Now the entire text has not only been made available in English but in a translation of quite remarkable clarity and beauty. A comprehensive guide to living and dying, The Tibetan Book of the Dead contains exquisitely written guidance and practices related to transforming our experience in daily life, on the processes of dying and the after-death state, and on how to help those who are dying. As originally intended this is as much a work for the living, as it is for those who wish to think beyond a mere conventional lifetime to a vastly greater and grander cycle. 'Extraordinary ... this work will be a source of inspiration and support to many' His Holiness the Dalai Lama |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Hidden History of the Tibetan Book of the Dead Bryan J. Cuevas, 2005-12-08 In 1927, Oxford University Press published the first western-language translation of a collection of Tibetan funerary texts (the Great Liberation upon Hearing in the Bardo) under the title The Tibetan Book of the Dead. Since that time, the work has established a powerful hold on the western popular imagination, and is now considered a classic of spiritual literature. Over the years, The Tibetan Book of the Dead has inspired numerous commentaries, an illustrated edition, a play, a video series, and even an opera. Translators, scholars, and popular devotees of the book have claimed to explain its esoteric ideas and reveal its hidden meaning. Few, however, have uttered a word about its history. Bryan J. Cuevas seeks to fill this gap in our knowledge by offering the first comprehensive historical study of the Great Liberation upon Hearing in the Bardo, and by grounding it firmly in the context of Tibetan history and culture. He begins by discussing the many ways the texts have been understood (and misunderstood) by westerners, beginning with its first editor, the Oxford-educated anthropologist Walter Y. Evans-Wentz, and continuing through the present day. The remarkable fame of the book in the west, Cuevas argues, is strikingly disproportionate to how the original Tibetan texts were perceived in their own country. Cuevas tells the story of how The Tibetan Book of the Dead was compiled in Tibet, of the lives of those who preserved and transmitted it, and explores the history of the rituals through which the life of the dead is imagined in Tibetan society. This book provides not only a fascinating look at a popular and enduring spiritual work, but also a much-needed corrective to the proliferation of ahistorical scholarship surrounding The Tibetan Book of the Dead. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Karma-gliṅ-pa, 1987 |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead W. Y. Evans-Wentz, 2000-09-28 The Tibetan Book of the Dead is one of the texts that, according to legend, Padma-Sambhava was compelled to hide during his visit to Tibet in the late 8th century. The guru hid his books in stones, lakes, and pillars because the Tibetans of that day and age were somehow unprepared for their teachings. Now, in the form of the ever-popular Tibetan Book of the Dead, these teachings are constantly being discovered and rediscovered by Western readers of many different backgrounds--a phenomenon which began in 1927 with Oxford's first edition of Dr. Evans-Wentz's landmark volume. While it is traditionally used as a mortuary text, to be read or recited in the presence of a dead or dying person, this book--which relates the whole experience of death and rebirth in three intermediate states of being--was originally understood as a guide not only for the dead but also for the living. As a contribution to the science of death and dying--not to mention the belief in life after death, or the belief in rebirth--The Tibetan Book of the Dead is unique among the sacred texts of the world, for its socio-cultural influence in this regard is without comparison. This fourth edition features a new foreword, afterword, and suggested further reading list by Donald S. Lopez, author of Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West. Lopez traces the whole history of the late Evans-Wentz's three earlier editions of this book, fully considering the work of contributors to previous editions (C. G. Jung among them), the sections that were added by Evans-Wentz along the way, the questions surrounding the book's translation, and finally the volume's profound importance in engendering both popular and academic interest in the religion and culture of Tibet. Another key theme that Lopez addresses is the changing nature of this book's audience--from the prewar theosophists to the beat poets to the hippies to contemporary exponents of the hospice movement--and what these audiences have found (or sought) in its very old pages. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Padmasambhava, Karma Lingpa, 2013-03-12 The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Awakening Upon Dying, with introductory commentary by Dzogchen Buddhist master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, is a new translation of the ancient text also known as The Great Liberation through Hearing in the Intermediate State. Both a practical guide and intriguing historical, cultural, and spiritual document, this new version incorporates recent discoveries that have allowed for a better translation of previously ambiguous passages. Revealing a set of instructions designed to facilitate the inner liberation of the dead or dying person, the book provides a guide to navigating the bardo--the interval between death and rebirth. Originally composed by Padmasambhava, an important Indian master of the eighth century, the Tibetan Book of the Dead was concealed in Tibet until it was discovered in the fourteenth century by Karma Lingpa, a famous Tibetan tertön (discoverer of ancient texts). Describing in detail the characteristics and fantastic visions of each stage beyond death, the book includes invocations to be read aloud to the dying person, to help his or her successful journey toward the stage of liberation. Chögyal Namkhai Norbu's introduction clarifies the texts from the Dzogchen point of view and provides a scholarly summary of the ancient material based on his oral teachings and written works. In addition, material from several of Namkhai Norbu's more recent written works and oral teachers have been added, including an essay on the four intermediate states after death entitled Birth, Life, and Death. A full-color 16-page insert of traditional Tibetan art highlights Tibet's unique aesthetic wisdom. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Padmasambhava, John Baldock, 2018-07-31 Said to have its origins in the 'treasure texts' that were supposedly hidden away by Padmasambhava, the Lotus Guru, in Tibet in the 8th century, The Tibetan Book of the Dead was traditionally read aloud to the dying or recently deceased as a guide to the afterlife. It explains how to recognize the true nature of the mind so that after death it will be possible to attain enlightenment and liberation from the suffering associated with the endless cycle of death and rebirth. For many, reading The Tibetan Book of the Dead has been a revelatory experience on the path to finding a sense of spirituality and self-knowledge. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The 36 Strategies of the Martial Arts Hiroshi Moriya, 2013-05-14 In the spirit of The Art of War and The Book of Five Rings, this fascinating strategy guide is full of ancient Chinese wisdom that can be applied to all areas of modern life The 36 Strategies of the Martial Arts is a classical collection of Chinese maxims on understanding, engaging, and defeating your enemy. The origin of the collection is unknown; however, the text is a synthesis of various military maxims, political expressions, and even folk sayings—some of which are from sources that date back 1,500 years. Professor Hiroshi Moriya, a Tokyo-based authority on Chinese culture and philosophy, supplies clear and succinct explanations of each maxim and illustrates them with examples not only from Chinese literature and history but also from events in Europe and modern business affairs. This book will resonate with anyone interested in a classic approach to psyching out an opponent and emerging victorious—in martial arts, business, sports, or politics. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead, as Popularly Known in the West Karma-gliṅ-pa, 1994 |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Donald S. Lopez, Jr., 2011-02-07 How an eccentric spiritualist from Trenton, New Jersey, helped create the most famous text of Tibetan Buddhism The Tibetan Book of the Dead is the most famous Buddhist text in the West, having sold more than a million copies since it was first published in English in 1927. Carl Jung wrote a commentary on it, Timothy Leary redesigned it as a guidebook for an acid trip, and the Beatles quoted Leary's version in their song Tomorrow Never Knows. More recently, the book has been adopted by the hospice movement, enshrined by Penguin Classics, and made into an audiobook read by Richard Gere. Yet, as acclaimed writer and scholar of Buddhism Donald Lopez writes, The Tibetan Book of the Dead is not really Tibetan, it is not really a book, and it is not really about death. In this compelling introduction and short history, Lopez tells the strange story of how a relatively obscure and malleable collection of Buddhist texts of uncertain origin came to be so revered—and so misunderstood—in the West. The central character in this story is Walter Evans-Wentz (1878-1965), an eccentric scholar and spiritual seeker from Trenton, New Jersey, who, despite not knowing the Tibetan language and never visiting the country, crafted and named The Tibetan Book of the Dead. In fact, Lopez argues, Evans-Wentz's book is much more American than Tibetan, owing a greater debt to Theosophy and Madame Blavatsky than to the lamas of the Land of Snows. Indeed, Lopez suggests that the book's perennial appeal stems not only from its origins in magical and mysterious Tibet, but also from the way Evans-Wentz translated the text into the language of a very American spirituality. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Lieh-tzu , 2001-12-11 A renowned Taoist scholar offers a conversational and modern-day translation of Lieh-tzu's masterwork, one of the most important texts in Taoism Lieh-tzu is a collection of stories and philosophical musings of a sage of the same name who lived around the fourth century BCE. Lieh-tzu's teachings range from the origin and purpose of life, the Taoist view of reality, and the nature of enlightenment to the training of the body and mind, communication, and the importance of personal freedom. This distinctive translation presents Lieh-tzu as a friendly, intimate companion speaking directly to the reader in a contemporary voice about matters relevant to our everyday lives. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Bardo Or Not Bardo Antoine Volodine, 2016 In each of these seven vignettes, someone dies and has to make their way through the Tibetan afterlife, also known as the Bardo. In the Bardo, souls wander for forty-nine days before being reborn, helped along on their journey by the teachings of the Book of the Dead. Unfortunately, Volodine's characters bungle their chances at enlightenment, with the recently dead choosing to waste away their afterlife sleeping, crying in empty bars or choosing to be reborn as an insignificant spider. And the still-living aren't much better off, making a mess of things too. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Karma-gliṅ-pa, 2000-09-28 As a contribution to the science of death and dying - not to mention the belief in life after death, or the belief in texts of the world, for its socio-cultural influence in this regard is without comparison.--BOOK JACKET. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Buddhism for Beginners Thubten Chodron, 2001-01-01 This easy-to-understand introduction to Buddhism is “written for people wanting to understand basic Buddhist principles and how to integrate them into their lives” (H.H. the Dalai Lama) This user’s guide to Buddhist basics takes the most commonly asked questions—beginning with “What is the essence of the Buddha’s teachings?”—and provides simple answers in plain English. Thubten Chodron’s responses to the questions that always seem to arise among people approaching Buddhism make this an exceptionally complete and accessible introduction—as well as a manual for living a more peaceful, mindful, and satisfying Life. Buddhism for Beginners is an ideal first book on the subject for anyone, but it’s also a wonderful resource for seasoned students, since the question-and-answer format makes it easy to find just the topic you’re looking for, such as: • What is the goal of the Buddhist path? • What is karma? • If all phenomena are empty, does that mean nothing exists? • How can we deal with fear? • How do I establish a regular meditation practice? • What are the qualities I should look for in a teacher? • What is Buddha-nature? • Why can't we remember our past lives? |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Padma Sambhava, 1994 |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Tibetan Book of the Dead Frank Machovec, 2012-06-05 Ancient guide through the process from death to rebirth, a spiritual journey that can take up to 49 days, shorter if the guide is followed carefully and well. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: On the Shoulders of Giants Umberto Eco, 2019-10-22 A posthumous collection of essays by one of our greatest contemporary thinkers that provides a towering vision of Western culture. In Umberto Eco’s first novel, The Name of the Rose, Nicholas of Morimondo laments, “We no longer have the learning of the ancients, the age of giants is past!” To which the protagonist, William of Baskerville, replies: “We are dwarfs, but dwarfs who stand on the shoulders of those giants, and small though we are, we sometimes manage to see farther on the horizon than they.” On the Shoulders of Giants is a collection of essays based on lectures Eco famously delivered at the Milanesiana Festival in Milan over the last fifteen years of his life. Previously unpublished, the essays explore themes he returned to again and again in his writing: the roots of Western culture and the origin of language, the nature of beauty and ugliness, the potency of conspiracies, the lure of mysteries, and the imperfections of art. Eco examines the dynamics of creativity and considers how every act of innovation occurs in conversation with a superior ancestor. In these playful, witty, and breathtakingly erudite essays, we encounter an intellectual who reads comic strips, reflects on Heraclitus, Dante, and Rimbaud, listens to Carla Bruni, and watches Casablanca while thinking about Proust. On the Shoulders of Giants reveals both the humor and the colossal knowledge of a contemporary giant. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Reading Aloud Karma-gliṅ-pa, Jean Claude Van Itallie, 1998 Based on the classic Buddhist text, this moving, poetic book is designed to be read aloud to loved ones or to be read to oneself in times of crisis. Includes full-color photos of van Italie's own stage production of this material. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead John Baldock, 2013-03-15 The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a Buddhist funerary text and guide to the afterlife. It was read aloud to the dying or recently deceased to help them attain enlightenment and liberation from the endless cycle of death and rebirth. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation W. Y. Evans-Wentz, 2000-09-28 The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation, which was unknown to the Western world until its first publication in 1954, speaks to the quintessence of the Supreme Path, or Mah=ay=ana, and fully reveals the yogic method of attaining Enlightenment. Such attainment can happen, as shown here, by means of knowing the One Mind, the cosmic All-Consciousness, without recourse to the postures, breathings, and other techniques associated with the lower yogas. The original text for this volume belongs to the Bardo Thödol series of treatises concerning various ways of achieving transcendence, a series that figures into the Tantric school of the Mah=ay=ana. Authorship of this particular volume is attributed to the legendary Padma-Sambhava, who journeyed from India to Tibet in the 8th century, as the story goes, at the invitation of a Tibetan king. Padma-Sambhava's text per se is preceded by an account of the great guru's own life and secret doctrines. It is followed by the testamentary teachings of the Guru Phadampa Sangay, which are meant to augment the thought of the other gurus discussed herein. Still more useful supplementary material will be found in the book's introductory remarks, by its editor Evans-Wentz and by the eminent psychoanalyst C. G. Jung. The former presents a 100-page General Introduction that explains several key names and notions (such as Nirv=ana, for starters) with the lucidity, ease, and sagacity that are this scholar's hallmark; the latter offers a Psychological Commentary that weighs the differences between Eastern and Western modes of thought before equating the collective unconscious with the Enlightened Mind of the Buddhist. As with the other three volumes in the late Evans-Wentz's critically acclaimed Tibetan series, all four of which are being published by Oxford in new editions, this book also features a new Foreword by Donald S. Lopez. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Living, Dreaming, Dying Rob Nairn, 2004-08-03 The Tibetan Book of the Dead is one of the best-known Tibetan Buddhist texts. It is also one of the most difficult texts for Westerners to understand. In Living, Dreaming, Dying, Rob Nairn presents the first interpretation of this classic text using a modern Western perspective, avoiding arcane religious terminology, keeping his explanations grounded in everyday language. Nairn explores the concepts used in this highly revered work and brings out their meaning and significance for our daily life. He shows readers how the Tibetan Book of the Dead can help us understand life and self as well as the dying process. Living, Dreaming, Dying helps readers to live deliberately—and confront death deliberately. One thing that prevents us from doing that, according to Nairn, is our tendency to react fearfully whenever change occurs. But if we confront our fear of change and the unknown, we can learn to flow gracefully with the unfolding circumstances of life rather than be at their mercy. Of course, change occurs throughout our life, but a period of transition also occurs as we pass from the waking state into sleep, and likewise as we pass into death. Therefore the author's teachings apply equally to living as well as to dreaming and dying. Through meditation instructions and practical exercises, the author explains how to: • Explore the mind through the cultivation of deep meditation states and expanded consciousness • Develop awareness of negative tendencies • Use deep sleep states and lucid dreaming to increase self-understanding as well as to train oneself in how to die so that one is prepared for when the time comes • Confront and liberate oneself from fear of death and the unknown |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Padmasambhava, 2023-02-21 The best-known work of Nyingma literature, the oldest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the Bardo Thodol, or The Tibetan Book of the Dead is the work of Tibetan Buddhist spiritualism first revealed by Karma Lingpa in the 14th century. The Tibetan Book of the Dead is part of a larger corpus of texts called the Profound Dharma of Self-Liberation through the Intention of the Peaceful and Wrathful Ones which is believed to have been composed by Padmasambhava in the 8th century and written down by his student Yeshe Tsogyal. Intended as a work to help guide the spirit in the afterlife from death to the next rebirth, The Tibetan Book of the Dead describes the experiences that the consciousness will have after death. The work also includes descriptions of the signs of death and the rituals that one must undertake to prepare for the journey following one's death. This volume presents the English translation of Walter Evans-Wentz first published in 1927 which helped to popularize the work in the West. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Being Ram Dass Ram Dass, Rameshwar Das, 2021-01-12 “Ram Dass lived a full life and then some. His final statement is thorough and, yes, enlightening.” —Kirkus Reviews Perhaps no other teacher has sparked the fires of as many spiritual seekers in the West as Ram Dass. If you’ve ever embraced the phrase “be here now,” practiced meditation or yoga, tried psychedelics, or supported anyone in a hospice, prison, or homeless center—then the story of Ram Dass is also part of your story. From his birth in 1931 to his luminous later years, Ram Dass saw his life as just one incarnation of many. This memoir puts us in the passenger seat with the one-time Harvard psychologist and lifelong risk-taker Richard Alpert, who loved to take friends on wild rides on his Harley and test nearly every boundary—inner or outer—that came his way. Being Ram Dass shares his life’s odyssey in intimate detail: how he struggled with issues of self-identity and sexuality in his youth, pioneered psychedelic research, and opened the doorways to Eastern spiritual practices. In 1967 he trekked to India and met his guru, Neem Karoli Baba. He returned with a perspective on spirituality and psychology that changed millions. Featuring 64 pages of color photographs, this intimate memoir chronicles the cultural and spiritual transformations Ram Dass experienced that resonate with us to this day, a journey from the mind to the heart, from the ego to the soul. Before, after, and along these waypoints, readers will encounter many other adventures and revelations—each ringing with the potential to awaken the universal, loving divine that links us to this beloved teacher and all of us to each other. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Illustrated Tibetan Book of the Dead Stephen Hodge, 1999 Uniquely blending poetry and prose, this magnificently illustrated modern adaptation of the Buddhist “reference manual to the soul” offers spiritual teachings that are practical for today’s world. Adapted from a version written by one of Tibet’s great spiritual leaders in the 8th century. “A new translation and commentary...features lively poetry and prose accompanied by lavish full-color illustrations.”—Publishers Weekly. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Magic Dance Thinley Norbu, 1985 This is a unique and powerful presentation of the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism on the five elements: earth, water, air, fire, and space. In their gross and subtle forms, these elements combine to make up the infinite illusory display of phenomenal existence. Through teachings, stories, and his distinctive use of language, Thinley Norbu Rinpoche relates how the energies of the elements manifest within our everyday world, in individual behavior and group traditions, relationships and solitude, medicine and art. He explains their links to the five Buddha families and their respective Wisdom Dakinis, and shows how each element relates to our senses, temperament, passions, habits, and karmic potentials. This magic dance of the elements, he concludes, can be transformed through meditation practice and cultivating the calm, vast, and playful state of consciousness that he calls playmind. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Natural Liberation Padmasambhava, 2012-06-04 A perfect companion to the well-known Tibetan Book of the Dead. In life and in death, in meditation and in sleep, every transitional stage of consciousness, or bardo, provides an opportunity to overcome limitations, frustrations, and fears. The profound teachings in this book provide the under- standing and instruction necessary to turn every phase of life into an opportunity for uncontrived, natural liberation. Like the Tibetan Book of the Dead, Natural Liberation is a terma, a hidden treasure attributed to the eighth-century master Padmasambhava. Gyatrul Rinpoche's lucid commentary accompanies the text, illuminating the path of awakening to the point of full enlightenment. Natural Liberation is an essential contribution to the library of both scholars and practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Preparing to Die Andrew Holecek, 2013-07-09 We all face death, but how many of us are actually ready for it? Whether our own death or that of a loved one comes first, how prepared are we, spiritually or practically? In Preparing to Die, Andrew Holecek presents a wide array of resources to help the reader address this unfinished business. Part One shows how to prepare one's mind and how to help others, before, during, and after death. The author explains how spiritual preparation for death can completely transform our relationship to the end of life, dissolving our fear and helping us to feel open and receptive to letting go in the dying process. Daily meditation practices, the stages of dying and how to work with them, and after-death experiences are all detailed in ways that will be particularly helpful for those with an interest in Tibetan Buddhism and in Tibetan approaches to conscious dying. Part Two addresses the practical issues that surround death. Experts in grief, hospice, the funeral business, and the medical and legal issues of death contribute chapters to prepare the reader for every practical concern, including advance directives, green funerals, the signs of death, warnings about the funeral industry, the stages of grief, and practical care for the dying. Part Three contains heart-advice from twenty of the best-known Tibetan Buddhist masters now teaching in the West. These brief interviews provide words of solace and wisdom to guide the dying and their caregivers during this challenging time. Preparing to Die is for anyone interested in learning how to prepare for death from a Buddhist perspective, both spiritually and practically. It is also for those who want to learn how to help someone else who is dying, both during the time of illness and death as well as after death. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Walter Yeeling Evans-Wentz, 1957 |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Cultivating Ch'i Kaibara Ekiken, 2013-04-09 Discover a different side of Japanese swordsmanship through this fascinating treatise by a samurai doctor on how to maintain a healthy mind, body, and spiritual life Samurai are best known for taking life—but here is a samurai doctor’s prescription for how to preserve life, and to make yours a long and healthy one. Unlike other samurai of his time, the samurai Kaibara Ekiken (1630–1714) was concerned less with swordsmanship than with how to maintain and nurture the healthy mind and body upon which martial techniques and philosophy depended. While serving as the chief medical doctor and healer to the Kuroda clan, he came to a holistic view of how the physical, mental, and spiritual lives of his patients were connected. Drawing from his medical practice, the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, and his life experience, Ekiken created this text as a guide to sustaining health and stamina from youth to old age. Ekiken’s advice regarding moderation, food and drink, sleep, sexual activity, bathing, and therapeutic practices is still amazingly intuitive and appropriate nearly three hundred years after this book was written. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation Chögyam Trungpa, 2002-02-12 Featuring a new foreword by Pema Chödrön, this Tibetan Buddhist classic explores the meaning of freedom and how we can attain it through meditation Freedom is generally thought of as the ability to achieve goals and satisfy desires. But what are the sources of these goals and desires? If they arise from ignorance, habitual patterns, and negative emotions, is the freedom to pursue these goals true freedom—or is it just a myth? In The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation, Chögyam Trungpa explores the true meaning of freedom, showing us how our attitudes, preconceptions, and even our spiritual practices can become chains that bind us to repetitive patterns of frustration and despair. He also explains how meditation can bring into focus the causes of frustration, and how these negative forces can aid us in advancing toward true freedom. Trungpa's unique ability to express the essence of Buddhist teachings in the language and imagery of contemporary American culture makes this book one of the best, most accessible sources of the Buddhist doctrine ever written. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Glenn H. Mullin, 2009 The Tibetan Book of the Dead brings together a range of stunning images by the renowned photographer Thomas Kelly, with a contextual analysis and abridged translation by the ubiquitous Tibetologist Glenn H. Mullin. The Tibetan Book of the Dead, or Bardo Todol, is one of the great classics of Tibetan literature. The present volume is a fresh look at this timeless classic. It brings together a range of stunning images by the renowned photographer Thomas Kelly, with a contextual analysis and abridged translation by the ubiquitous Tibetologist Glenn H. Mullin. As such, the Bardo Todol is as relevant as a guidebook to daily (and nightly) living as it is to a successful death and transmigration. Thomas Kelly s photographs bring this great Tibetan classic to life, and draw the reader into a deeper sense of the spiritual environment in which The Tibetan Book of the Dead exists. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: The Tibetan Book of the Dead Karma-gliṅ-pa, 1993 |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Divine Messengers Guyer-Stevens, Francoise Pommaret, 2021-12-14 As mystics, healers, and travelers to the netherworld, female shamans continue to impact the spiritual lives of the Bhutanese. These divine messengers act as mediums for local spirits, cure diseases through prayer, and travel to the realm of the dead. They are sometimes referred to as “sky-goers,” “reincarnations,” or “returners from the beyond,” and their stories are intimately connected with the Buddhist ideas of karma and rebirth. Journalist Stephanie Guyer-Stevens and anthropologist Françoise Pommaret traveled to the Himalayas to meet seven living Bhutanese female shamans and to help make their stories known. Stephanie and Françoise offer an intimate narrative of these shamans’ spiritual experiences and important roles in society. This book also provides an overview of the history of this tradition and a translation of an autobiography of the famous eighteenth-century divine messenger, Sangay Choezom. This insightful and sensitive account is a rare look inside the world of these brave women. |
| the tibetan book of the dead: Jung on Death and Immortality C. G. Jung, 1999-10-24 As a doctor, I make every effort to strengthen the belief in immortality, especially with older patients when such questions come threateningly close. For, seen in correct psychological perspective, death is not an end but a goal, and life's inclination towards death begins as soon as the meridian is past.--C.G. Jung, commentary on The Secret of the Golden Flower ? Here collected for the first time are Jung's views on death and immortality, his writings often coinciding with the death of the most significant people in his life. The book shows many of the major themes running throughout the writings, including the relativity of space and time surrounding death, the link between transference and death, and the archetypes shared among the world's religions at the depths of the Self. The book includes selections from On Resurrection, The Soul and Death, Concerning Rebirth, Psychological Commentary on The Tibetan Book of the Dead from the Collected Works, Letter to Pastor Pfafflin from Letters, and On Life after Death. |
Tibetan lamas provide more nutritious 'chicken soup'
Oct 27, 2016 · Here are five books from five respected Tibetan lamas, which will guide you on your way to find fortune, face difficulties and even heal the wounds of the past. The Tibetan …
Tibet opens rare ancient books to readers worldwide
Apr 25, 2021 · As part of efforts to protect the ancient culture, the regional ancient book protection center announced it had uploaded rare ancient books with over 20,000 folios to an online …
Tibetan Buddhism in Its Prime - CHINA TODAY
Drukhang Tubdain Kaizhub was identified as the seventh Living Buddha in 1958, the first reincarnation of a Living Buddha after the peaceful liberation of Tibet. Involving close attention …
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Nov 24, 2021 · A book series on the Tibetan epic King Gesar has been published, a Qinghai provincial center for the protection and research of the Epic of King Gesar said on November …
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Apr 28, 2020 · More than 50 volumes of ancient books in the Tibet autonomous region have been converted into e-books for public reading through the efforts of the Library of Tibet, Xinhua …
On Top of the World: 60 Years of Transformation in Tibet - 北京周报
Mar 29, 2019 · In his book Old Tibet Faces New China, French Tibetologist Alexander David-Neel wrote, “All the farmers in Tibet are serfs saddled with lifelong debt, and it is almost impossible …
Tibet's Path of Development Is Driven by an Irresistible Historical ...
Sep 15, 2015 · The peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951 made it possible to expel the forces of imperialism from Tibet, and the democratic reform in 1959 brought to an end the feudal …
Tibet in My Eyes – Foreign Scholars' Take on Tibet's ... - 北京周报
May 18, 2021 · Wondalem said, “For centuries, Tibet was ruled by feudal serfdom before the democratic reform in Tibet in 1959. Women were subjected to cruel execution and oppression …
New Tibet, the rising "Roof of the World" - Qiushi
These great changes, as noted in the late American journalist Israel Epstein's 1983 book Tibet Transformed, "were profoundly emancipatory, physically and mentally, for the overwhelming …
Seventy years after its peaceful liberation, Tibet takes on a ... - Qiushi
Seventy years after its peaceful liberation, Tibet takes on a new look. Staff members with the regional ancient book protection center upload digital scans of rare ancient books to an online …
Tibetan lamas provide more nutritious 'chicken soup'
Oct 27, 2016 · Here are five books from five respected Tibetan lamas, which will guide you on your way to find fortune, face difficulties and even heal the wounds of the past. The Tibetan …
Tibet opens rare ancient books to readers worldwide
Apr 25, 2021 · As part of efforts to protect the ancient culture, the regional ancient book protection center announced it had uploaded rare ancient books with over 20,000 folios to an online …
Tibetan Buddhism in Its Prime - CHINA TODAY
Drukhang Tubdain Kaizhub was identified as the seventh Living Buddha in 1958, the first reincarnation of a Living Buddha after the peaceful liberation of Tibet. Involving close attention …
Collection on Tibetan epic King Gesar published-- Beijing Review
Nov 24, 2021 · A book series on the Tibetan epic King Gesar has been published, a Qinghai provincial center for the protection and research of the Epic of King Gesar said on November …
Rare Tibetan classics go digital - China Tibetannnet
Apr 28, 2020 · More than 50 volumes of ancient books in the Tibet autonomous region have been converted into e-books for public reading through the efforts of the Library of Tibet, Xinhua …
On Top of the World: 60 Years of Transformation in Tibet - 北京周报
Mar 29, 2019 · In his book Old Tibet Faces New China, French Tibetologist Alexander David-Neel wrote, “All the farmers in Tibet are serfs saddled with lifelong debt, and it is almost impossible …
Tibet's Path of Development Is Driven by an Irresistible Historical ...
Sep 15, 2015 · The peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951 made it possible to expel the forces of imperialism from Tibet, and the democratic reform in 1959 brought to an end the feudal …
Tibet in My Eyes – Foreign Scholars' Take on Tibet's ... - 北京周报
May 18, 2021 · Wondalem said, “For centuries, Tibet was ruled by feudal serfdom before the democratic reform in Tibet in 1959. Women were subjected to cruel execution and oppression …
New Tibet, the rising "Roof of the World" - Qiushi
These great changes, as noted in the late American journalist Israel Epstein's 1983 book Tibet Transformed, "were profoundly emancipatory, physically and mentally, for the overwhelming …
Seventy years after its peaceful liberation, Tibet takes on a
Seventy years after its peaceful liberation, Tibet takes on a new look. Staff members with the regional ancient book protection center upload digital scans of rare ancient books to an online …
