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The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Liberation Through Understanding the Between
The most prominent expert on Tibetan Buddhism in the West offers a translation of this essential book of Tibetan philosophy that captures the true spirit and poetry of the original work--a profound book that reveals the nature of the mind and its manifestations and offers pure enlightenment.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 1993
574 people are currently reading
1713 people want to read
About the author
Padmasambhava
52 books191 followersAccording to tradition, Padmasambhava was incarnated as an eight-year-old child appearing in a lotus blossom floating in Lake Dhanakosha, in the kingdom of Uddiyana, traditionally identified with the Swat Valley in present-day Pakistan. His special nature was recognized by the local king who married him to one of his daughters, Mandarava. She and Padmasambhava's other main consort, Yeshe Tsogyal, developed into realised practitioners. Many thangkas and paintings show Padmasambhava in between them.
Padmasambhava's ability to memorize and comprehend esoteric texts in a single hearing established his reputation as a master above all others. Knowing that the life force of the wife and son of evil minister was about to end, he constructed an accident which resulted in their death. As a result, Padmasambhava was banished from the court and exiled in a charnel ground. Transiting various heavens and hells, he developed the power to transcend the cycle of birth and death, accomplishing the so-called great transference.
His fame became known to Trisong Detsen, the 38th king of Tibet (742–797), whose kingdom was beset by evil mountain deities. The king invited Padmasambhava to Tibet where he used his tantric powers to subdue the evil deities he encountered along the way, eventually receiving the Emperor's wife, identified with the dakini Yeshe Tsogyal, as a consort. This was in accordance with the tantric principle of not eliminating negative forces but redirecting them to fuel the journey toward spiritual awakening. In Tibet he founded the first monastery in the country, Samye Gompa, initiated the first monks, and introduced the people to the practice of Tantric Buddhism.
In Bhutan he is associated with the famous Taktshang or "Tiger's Nest" monastery built on a sheer cliff wall about 500m above the floor of Paro valley. He flew there from Tibet on the back of Yeshe Tsogyal, whom he transformed into a flying tigress for the purpose of the trip. Later he travelled to Bumthang district to subdue a powerful deity offended by a local king. Padmasambhava's body imprint can be found in the wall of a cave at nearby Kurje Lhakhang temple.
According to Tibetan tradition, the Bardo Thodol (commonly referred to as the Tibetan Book of the Dead) was among many treasures hidden by Padmasambhava, subsequently discovered by a Tibetan terton, Karma Lingpa.
Padmasambhava's ability to memorize and comprehend esoteric texts in a single hearing established his reputation as a master above all others. Knowing that the life force of the wife and son of evil minister was about to end, he constructed an accident which resulted in their death. As a result, Padmasambhava was banished from the court and exiled in a charnel ground. Transiting various heavens and hells, he developed the power to transcend the cycle of birth and death, accomplishing the so-called great transference.
His fame became known to Trisong Detsen, the 38th king of Tibet (742–797), whose kingdom was beset by evil mountain deities. The king invited Padmasambhava to Tibet where he used his tantric powers to subdue the evil deities he encountered along the way, eventually receiving the Emperor's wife, identified with the dakini Yeshe Tsogyal, as a consort. This was in accordance with the tantric principle of not eliminating negative forces but redirecting them to fuel the journey toward spiritual awakening. In Tibet he founded the first monastery in the country, Samye Gompa, initiated the first monks, and introduced the people to the practice of Tantric Buddhism.
In Bhutan he is associated with the famous Taktshang or "Tiger's Nest" monastery built on a sheer cliff wall about 500m above the floor of Paro valley. He flew there from Tibet on the back of Yeshe Tsogyal, whom he transformed into a flying tigress for the purpose of the trip. Later he travelled to Bumthang district to subdue a powerful deity offended by a local king. Padmasambhava's body imprint can be found in the wall of a cave at nearby Kurje Lhakhang temple.
According to Tibetan tradition, the Bardo Thodol (commonly referred to as the Tibetan Book of the Dead) was among many treasures hidden by Padmasambhava, subsequently discovered by a Tibetan terton, Karma Lingpa.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
December 12, 2007
i was about 3/4 done with this book when my car was stolen, the book was in the car. i got the car back two days later, but no tibetan book of the dead. hopefully some car thief will have greater understanding on his journey through the next bardo.
May 9, 2009
I have read the Tibetan book of the Dead, but I haven't. To read it once, isn't to read it at all. It takes time, effort, and a particular frame of mind, to truly get to grips with the text. You can take from it what you need, or take all of it, and make of it what you will. I find it very difficult to write a 'review' of the Tibetan Book of the dead. Listen to 'Tomorrow Never Knows' by The Beatles. The choral sounds in this music, reflect (only a little) the spirit of this masterpiece.
March 15, 2022
This book is one of the funerary texts read aloud in the presence of a dying or recently deceased person in Tibetan Buddhism.
This is a fascinating book full of colourful descriptions of deities such as the Red Hoopoo-Headed Desire-Goddess, the Green Stag-Headed Wealth Guardian Goddess and the Red Lion-Headed Iron-Chain-Holding Goddess. All these goddesses are encountered on one day in the book and the imagery these vivid names conjure up are one of the joys of the book.
Other names for this book include Bardo Thodol or Bar Do Thos Grol, where Bardo means intermediate and refers to the intermediate state between life and rebirth.
Traditions relates that the Bardo Thodol was one of many sacred texts hidden in remote locations in 8th-Century Tibet by Padmasambhava, the Lotus Guru, so they could be revealed at a more appropriate time.
This intermediate state comprises three bardos: The Chikhai Bardo or 'Bardo of the moment of death', the Chonyid Bardo or 'Bardo of the experiencing of reality' and the Sidpa Bardo or 'bardo or rebirth'.
The deceased's experience is summed up in the following order:
Chikhai Bardo - 1st stage: The Primary Clear Light seen at the moment of death.
Chikhai Bardo - 2nd stage: The Secondary Clear Light seen immediately after death.
Chonyid Bardo - apparitions of the Peaceful and Wrathful deities, projections of the deceased's own mind.
Sidpa Bardo: the deceased's consciousness is now separated from the body, but its attachment to life is still there.
Each of these bardos is described in great detail in the book.
This is a fascinating book full of colourful descriptions of deities such as the Red Hoopoo-Headed Desire-Goddess, the Green Stag-Headed Wealth Guardian Goddess and the Red Lion-Headed Iron-Chain-Holding Goddess. All these goddesses are encountered on one day in the book and the imagery these vivid names conjure up are one of the joys of the book.
Other names for this book include Bardo Thodol or Bar Do Thos Grol, where Bardo means intermediate and refers to the intermediate state between life and rebirth.
Traditions relates that the Bardo Thodol was one of many sacred texts hidden in remote locations in 8th-Century Tibet by Padmasambhava, the Lotus Guru, so they could be revealed at a more appropriate time.
This intermediate state comprises three bardos: The Chikhai Bardo or 'Bardo of the moment of death', the Chonyid Bardo or 'Bardo of the experiencing of reality' and the Sidpa Bardo or 'bardo or rebirth'.
The deceased's experience is summed up in the following order:
Chikhai Bardo - 1st stage: The Primary Clear Light seen at the moment of death.
Chikhai Bardo - 2nd stage: The Secondary Clear Light seen immediately after death.
Chonyid Bardo - apparitions of the Peaceful and Wrathful deities, projections of the deceased's own mind.
Sidpa Bardo: the deceased's consciousness is now separated from the body, but its attachment to life is still there.
Each of these bardos is described in great detail in the book.
December 11, 2015
Whew! This one took a while.
Thurman's articulation (and sometimes analysis) of the art of death preparation through Tibetan Buddhism is patiently layered. His writing is accessible, if complex, and his translation work, though wordy and abstract, is still digestible given range of abstraction he must have waded through.
THE TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD chronicles the steps necessary to authentically aid an individual's encounters with the many between states of existence. There are two critical facets of this book that make it a dynamic text for Buddhism research.
(1) Thurman contextualizes and prefaces his translation of Padma Sambhava's treasure texts with an exquisite historical observation of the cultural importance/ fascination/ understanding of "the phenomena of dying," as the Dalai Lama states in the foreward. What is the role of dying/death among Tibetans and Tibetan civilization? Thurman details his research prior to his translation work. (2) Thurman provides a running commentary of sorts, a parallel breakdown of every single prayer, verse, appeal, poem, and daily instruction. You don't realize the value of his hard work until later on, when the verses become redundant and the prayer descriptions become increasingly abstract. It can be difficult to follow, reading the translation as is; fortunately, Thurman takes the time to provide his interpretation of the material as well.
The book is not without some areas of question. Thurman's apparent disdain for Darwinian, evolutionary psychology, and natural selection was handled rather funnily; a backhanded complement to theories that "need some revision," he says. I additionally wish he did more to tie together his incredible writings on nothingness and voidness to his translation work; his understanding of these concepts is expansive and his writings bring tremendous clarity, but he doesn't reference back to them as often as would have been most helpful. Lastly, as much as I loved his work on the role of death/dying in Buddhist culture through the centuries, I always wish there was more (not that it was particularly necessary . . . it's just what I think he does best).
Thurman's articulation (and sometimes analysis) of the art of death preparation through Tibetan Buddhism is patiently layered. His writing is accessible, if complex, and his translation work, though wordy and abstract, is still digestible given range of abstraction he must have waded through.
THE TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD chronicles the steps necessary to authentically aid an individual's encounters with the many between states of existence. There are two critical facets of this book that make it a dynamic text for Buddhism research.
(1) Thurman contextualizes and prefaces his translation of Padma Sambhava's treasure texts with an exquisite historical observation of the cultural importance/ fascination/ understanding of "the phenomena of dying," as the Dalai Lama states in the foreward. What is the role of dying/death among Tibetans and Tibetan civilization? Thurman details his research prior to his translation work. (2) Thurman provides a running commentary of sorts, a parallel breakdown of every single prayer, verse, appeal, poem, and daily instruction. You don't realize the value of his hard work until later on, when the verses become redundant and the prayer descriptions become increasingly abstract. It can be difficult to follow, reading the translation as is; fortunately, Thurman takes the time to provide his interpretation of the material as well.
The book is not without some areas of question. Thurman's apparent disdain for Darwinian, evolutionary psychology, and natural selection was handled rather funnily; a backhanded complement to theories that "need some revision," he says. I additionally wish he did more to tie together his incredible writings on nothingness and voidness to his translation work; his understanding of these concepts is expansive and his writings bring tremendous clarity, but he doesn't reference back to them as often as would have been most helpful. Lastly, as much as I loved his work on the role of death/dying in Buddhist culture through the centuries, I always wish there was more (not that it was particularly necessary . . . it's just what I think he does best).
January 27, 2020
Sound advice on how to avoid selecting a womb, or, if you must, how to choose the right one--which involves watching your prospective parents conceive you.
July 17, 2007
This is a good translation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, by Uma Thurman's dad.
I found it very interesting to read from a cultural and ethnic standpoint but I did not find it particularly spiritual.
It is like a bed time story that you read to someone who is dying. Which is, in my opinion an interesting religious tradition.
I found it very interesting to read from a cultural and ethnic standpoint but I did not find it particularly spiritual.
It is like a bed time story that you read to someone who is dying. Which is, in my opinion an interesting religious tradition.
February 16, 2016
Similar to the Bible in importance. Possibly suitable for others like myself, who for some reason got blocked from understanding the teachers in the native or home culture. Definitely an advanced teaching that explains dying as a moment of ultimate freedom, similar to falling asleep in experience and similar to progressing from childhood to adulthood in helping the soul to grow out of the material reality.
December 26, 2014
I'm finding Chapter One, An Outline of Tibetan History and Buddhism in Summary, very helpful. I began practicing meditation and reading Buddhist-based self-help books five years ago, but have lacked a clear broad picture of where I'm located in relation to the history of the practice; and I've lacked an understanding of how the evolution of the practice allowed it to reach me. Not that it's been needed for me to know the scope of Buddhist teachings or Tibetan history to benefit from studying the Dharma and from sitting. I have benefited without a full course of study. Nor have I felt the need to identify outwardly as a Buddhist in any way that would require a more thorough knowledge than I have. Nevertheless, Thurman's writing is very clear and precise and thorough, and I now know about Shakyamuni Buddha, the main principles of the practice, how it differs from world religions, and I'm especially glad to have a clear picture of the events leading to China's occupation of Tibet.
I haven't even begun the main body of the historical text. I'm sure Thurman's intro to it will prepare me well for understanding it.
The quality of the introduction is not diminished by my sitting near Mr. Thurman at a vocal concert by a Tibetan singer in which he was acknowledged in the audience by the performer, a friend or acquaintance of his, yet muttered rudely throughout the show and also munched loudly on snacks.
I haven't even begun the main body of the historical text. I'm sure Thurman's intro to it will prepare me well for understanding it.
The quality of the introduction is not diminished by my sitting near Mr. Thurman at a vocal concert by a Tibetan singer in which he was acknowledged in the audience by the performer, a friend or acquaintance of his, yet muttered rudely throughout the show and also munched loudly on snacks.
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January 21, 2019I made it to 40%, and very uncharacteristically, decided to give up. It is very esoteric. I’m not gaining anything from it. At this point I am just forcing myself to read it. Considering I started it in early October of last year I suppose I should have read the writing on the wall. Transitioning from the ‘theory’ to the actual prayers themselves and their explanations was the final straw, so to speak. I simply can’t comprehend it.
December 3, 2014
A very interesting read about the Tibetan way of mentally and spiritually preparing for death. It took a lot of concentration to get through the intricacies of part 1, and I admittedly skipped the second part once seeing it was almost all prayers. Still, I enjoyed the "spiritual science" aspect of the text.
June 25, 2016
I have a few quibbles with a few of Thurman's decisions regarding translation. (e.g. he translates "karma" as "evolution") but his commentary throughout is hugely helpful, particularly for those who know little about Tibetan culture and mythology.
The glossary is extremely valuable as well. This is a book to read all the way through and then to use over and over again as a reference work.
The glossary is extremely valuable as well. This is a book to read all the way through and then to use over and over again as a reference work.
December 28, 2007
I started reading this book out of a desire to get ok with death, and I have to say... it's helpful. I've been told that there is an older translation that is more on par with the original Tibetan, but I think this still gets it across.
August 18, 2007
Boring, hard to make sense of. I hated this book. I had to force myself to finish it.
April 8, 2009
I never finished it. It was written to be about as interesting as watching paint dry, and was a bit too weird for my taste. A view into a whole new world for me.
May 6, 2009
Amazing book! Really put into perspective what matters and what is not so important in life and death. If only I could remember its teachings every moment of each day.
Currently reading
May 22, 2012For years I have wanted to read this. Finally at this point in my life it makes complete sense that I need to be reading this.
September 30, 2015
One of the treasures of human literature - the book; And one of the treasures of American (world) intellectuals - Robert Thurman.
August 11, 2019
Remarkable scholar... His works come from such depth of knowledge, wisdom and understand of the topics he presents...
April 20, 2024
My previous attempts to read the Tibetan Book of the Dead failed; perhaps a third time (and a different translation) is a charm. Success more has to do with the heroic efforts of the translator of this medieval Buddhist (specifically Vajrayana Buddhist) text, an American university professor who professes and practices Vajrayana Buddhism himself. The translator Thurman's accumulated comments, appendices, and an especially long and complete explanatory Introduction, easily exceed in words the medieval text itself. The difficulty of reading the Book of the Dead, at least to me, lies in its vast novel vocabulary and obscure theological references. The book is essentially a self-help manual for Buddhists to handle their reincarnation, but it's not "Reincarnation for Dummies"; the audience is expected to be well-versed in that vocabulary and those references, which are thus not at all novel or obscure. Thurman does an admirable (though unfortunately non-scholarly) job of explaining the cosmological and metaphysical terms, concepts, and rationales that underpin the text. The text itself is mostly prayers interspersed with explanatory and exhortatory statements (which are themselves interspersed with Thurman's comments in this translation. This interruption of the flow of the text can be annoying.). The translated text can be repetitive and tedious. Perhaps this is unavoidable in a book of prayer. Perhaps reciting the prayers out loud in Tibetan is beautiful, I cannot tell. Thurman makes no assertion that the prayers are poetic, and indeed discusses the literary aspects of the text not at all. The lack of either a poetic or a philosophical dimension to the text threatens to diminish a non-Buddhist's interest, but the text is undoubtedly an interesting window into a way of thinking about one's own existence that is completely novel to those who do not believe in reincarnation. The prayers are meant to be read by the living to the recently deceased, whose soul is able to hear and understand the instructions thus spoken. The advice is essentially how to game the system. For each stage in the reincarnation process (and it is a long and non-trivial process) there are mental tools that the soul can use to short-circuit the process and straightaway achieve nirvana, escaping the doom cycle of birth-death-rebirth. Failing all those multiple opportunities, a soul can even guide themselves to a desired body for reincarnation. So though not poetic or philosophical, this book is definitely practical. Om Ah Hum.
September 18, 2025
'The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Liberation Through Understanding the Between', originally written by Padmasambhava, translated & edited by Robert A.F. Thurman
I've had this paperback copy for several years, re-reading multiple times as the spirit moves me and now reading again as I contemplate existence, not only my own but on a universal scale, which can be mind-boggling! And educational!
This is an on-going life process, which includes training for navigating those changes as we encounter them, for myself and other Tibetan Buddhists as well as other sentient beings who have various (and sometimes conflicting) POVs of the meanings of life and death and those possibilities of what happens to each of us as we navigate through those changes in between those worlds. In Buddhism those in-between spaces are called Bardos.
"Death isn’t just something that happens at the end," teaches Pema [Chödrön]. "Life is continually arising, dwelling, ceasing, and arising. It’s a cycle that goes on every day, and continues to go on forever."
There's a couple of new translations available and I'm curious to see how they differ from this one and others I've read, as well as in-person teachings.
I'm very Blessed in that I have been able to avail myself of many amazing teachers, not only in Buddhism but in many walks of life, including my Native American heritage. I don't limit myself to only one viewpoint of life/existence as it's all fascinating to me!
Will post more later...
"Tashi Delek" (May All Be Auspicious)
I've had this paperback copy for several years, re-reading multiple times as the spirit moves me and now reading again as I contemplate existence, not only my own but on a universal scale, which can be mind-boggling! And educational!
This is an on-going life process, which includes training for navigating those changes as we encounter them, for myself and other Tibetan Buddhists as well as other sentient beings who have various (and sometimes conflicting) POVs of the meanings of life and death and those possibilities of what happens to each of us as we navigate through those changes in between those worlds. In Buddhism those in-between spaces are called Bardos.
"Death isn’t just something that happens at the end," teaches Pema [Chödrön]. "Life is continually arising, dwelling, ceasing, and arising. It’s a cycle that goes on every day, and continues to go on forever."
There's a couple of new translations available and I'm curious to see how they differ from this one and others I've read, as well as in-person teachings.
I'm very Blessed in that I have been able to avail myself of many amazing teachers, not only in Buddhism but in many walks of life, including my Native American heritage. I don't limit myself to only one viewpoint of life/existence as it's all fascinating to me!
Will post more later...
"Tashi Delek" (May All Be Auspicious)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2022
Renowned as a classic text of Buddhist wisdom from the 8th century, it took me over 2 years to finish reading it, often putting it down for months and coming back to it.
The book is intended as a guide to preparing for the rituals and transformation of the afterworld - the place in between, preparing you for rebirth wherever you decide to be reborn. There are 3 bardots and the book provides detailed advice on how one can be liberated after death. It provides a profound message that dying has an art to it and carried the same importance as the art of living.
The yin and the yang evident in so much of our universe is apparent in death, as our minds conjure up terrifying and comforting scenarios and images that may distract us from being liberated or enable us to recognise the pure light (different colours are different stages) and enable us to be liberated. It is a process that can last more than a month (according to time as we know it), with various tests along the way towards enlightenment and liberation.
A fascinating piece of work.
The book is intended as a guide to preparing for the rituals and transformation of the afterworld - the place in between, preparing you for rebirth wherever you decide to be reborn. There are 3 bardots and the book provides detailed advice on how one can be liberated after death. It provides a profound message that dying has an art to it and carried the same importance as the art of living.
The yin and the yang evident in so much of our universe is apparent in death, as our minds conjure up terrifying and comforting scenarios and images that may distract us from being liberated or enable us to recognise the pure light (different colours are different stages) and enable us to be liberated. It is a process that can last more than a month (according to time as we know it), with various tests along the way towards enlightenment and liberation.
A fascinating piece of work.
November 6, 2022
Part 1 was the most interesting as it was giving background information on Tibetian monks. Part 2 is directed more towards people who are interested in a list of prayers to say in their spiritual practice. Part 3 was interesting at times with the information it presented about spirituality, but other times it also presented a few prayers for the reader to repeat. Overall, solid spiritual book, just not for me. They do make an effort to be inclusive to all spiritual backgrounds so you may still gain something from this book even if you aren't buddist.
July 31, 2022
Did not love it. It has good wisdom but the format is disjointed.
Read
September 18, 2022Super interesting. The Bardo is a rich topic for thinking about psychology, if you are figurative about it, or for understanding Tibetan Buddhism if you're literal about it.
January 30, 2023
Truly liberating lessons.
May all sentient beings be free from pain and suffering.
May all sentient beings be free from pain and suffering.
March 11, 2023
Gloriously confirms the reports of astral projectors and NDE'ers of the modern age.
April 15, 2023
Everyone should read this book at least once.
November 24, 2021
Stopped reading in the between of the book. Enlightening peer into the Budhaverse.
August 22, 2015
This is a newer translation of a book which has been popularly known as "The Tibetan Book of the Dead" in the West for the better part of a century now. The translator/editor takes great pains to explain the inaccuracy of this title and other parts of older translations, based mostly on the misunderstandings of well-meaning Western scholars. Also included is a summary of Tibetan history and culture as it relates to Buddhism, as well as numerous background notes on Buddhist terms and principles.
In short, the true name of this "teaching" or "protocol" (not really a book in the traditional sense, but it's the best we can do with English) is the Book of Natural Liberation Through Understanding in the Between. Essentially, it is an instruction manual for the living on what to do when someone dies, so that the deceased might pass on either to a good rebirth/reincarnation, or even escape the cycle of death/rebirth entirely. The "Between" is the psychic/spiritual interval that comes after physical death and prior to rebirth or escape.
It is important to note here that this work is reflective of the Tibetan school of Buddhism, which is merely one type of Buddhism among many. Tibetan Buddhism has risen considerably in the non-Buddhist public conscience thanks to several factors, like the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the eloquence of the Dalai Lama, but it by no means encompasses what all Buddhists believe.
A quick synopsis of what happens upon death: When you die, your spirit/essence/soul does not immediately depart this world. It enters the Between, where it will stay for anywhere from a few days to 49 days, depending on the level of enlightenment you had while alive. Thus a lama might stay in the Between for a very brief period of time, but a lay person with no spiritual training might be there much longer. Fortunately, this manual is designed to guide deceased persons of any level through into the next life. Basically, you, the reader, act as a kind of psychopomp.
The text is meant to be read in the presence of the dead person's former body. It is believed that upon death, your spirit continues to hover about, confused and bewildered about what just happened to it. It is aware of its surroundings, but in the same way you might be aware of what is happening in a dream--some things are highly distorted and magnified, while others are remarkably clear and lucid. You might see and hear the lamentations of your loved ones, but not understand that you cannot interact with them, for instance. This can lead to suffering and more confusion for the spirit, which is why mourning is not allowed in the presence of the body.
As the days go by, the text changes and assumes different points on the spirit's journey through the Between. At this point things become highly symbolic and mystical, and there is much debate on what precisely is going on, and what Tibetan practitioners believe it represents. I read that Jung took great interest in this book as a kind of proto-psychology, with the different stages of the journey representing emotional states of mind. Encountering "hellish" deities or realms during the journey represent your own guilt, shame, or unreleased hatreds, for example. Successfully navigating these stages is akin to letting go of such negative concepts. Indeed, there are places in the text where this appears to be acknowledged, since the reader urges the dead to remember that all of these terrifying visions exist only in your mind.
At the same time, this translation cautions the Western reader not to sway too far in either direction when it comes to these interpretations. Trying to fully spiritualize or rationalize the Between is not something the text really allows, and trying to do so is probably more a reflection of yourself and your background than on what any of this "really" means. Thurman makes a helpful point when he states that "in your mind" means something very different to a Tibetan Buddhist than it does to many of us. I am reminded of that line in the Deathly Hallows where Dumbledore is speaking to Harry: "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry. But why on earth should that mean it is not real?"
In short, the true name of this "teaching" or "protocol" (not really a book in the traditional sense, but it's the best we can do with English) is the Book of Natural Liberation Through Understanding in the Between. Essentially, it is an instruction manual for the living on what to do when someone dies, so that the deceased might pass on either to a good rebirth/reincarnation, or even escape the cycle of death/rebirth entirely. The "Between" is the psychic/spiritual interval that comes after physical death and prior to rebirth or escape.
It is important to note here that this work is reflective of the Tibetan school of Buddhism, which is merely one type of Buddhism among many. Tibetan Buddhism has risen considerably in the non-Buddhist public conscience thanks to several factors, like the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the eloquence of the Dalai Lama, but it by no means encompasses what all Buddhists believe.
A quick synopsis of what happens upon death: When you die, your spirit/essence/soul does not immediately depart this world. It enters the Between, where it will stay for anywhere from a few days to 49 days, depending on the level of enlightenment you had while alive. Thus a lama might stay in the Between for a very brief period of time, but a lay person with no spiritual training might be there much longer. Fortunately, this manual is designed to guide deceased persons of any level through into the next life. Basically, you, the reader, act as a kind of psychopomp.
The text is meant to be read in the presence of the dead person's former body. It is believed that upon death, your spirit continues to hover about, confused and bewildered about what just happened to it. It is aware of its surroundings, but in the same way you might be aware of what is happening in a dream--some things are highly distorted and magnified, while others are remarkably clear and lucid. You might see and hear the lamentations of your loved ones, but not understand that you cannot interact with them, for instance. This can lead to suffering and more confusion for the spirit, which is why mourning is not allowed in the presence of the body.
As the days go by, the text changes and assumes different points on the spirit's journey through the Between. At this point things become highly symbolic and mystical, and there is much debate on what precisely is going on, and what Tibetan practitioners believe it represents. I read that Jung took great interest in this book as a kind of proto-psychology, with the different stages of the journey representing emotional states of mind. Encountering "hellish" deities or realms during the journey represent your own guilt, shame, or unreleased hatreds, for example. Successfully navigating these stages is akin to letting go of such negative concepts. Indeed, there are places in the text where this appears to be acknowledged, since the reader urges the dead to remember that all of these terrifying visions exist only in your mind.
At the same time, this translation cautions the Western reader not to sway too far in either direction when it comes to these interpretations. Trying to fully spiritualize or rationalize the Between is not something the text really allows, and trying to do so is probably more a reflection of yourself and your background than on what any of this "really" means. Thurman makes a helpful point when he states that "in your mind" means something very different to a Tibetan Buddhist than it does to many of us. I am reminded of that line in the Deathly Hallows where Dumbledore is speaking to Harry: "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry. But why on earth should that mean it is not real?"
October 1, 2013
The Tibetan Book of the Dead has been well known for centuries as a Buddhist guide for wisdom and religious thought. This book is popularly known in Tibet as the Great Book of Natural Liberation Through Understanding in the between. It was originally composed by Padma Sambhave and discovered by Karma Lingpa. Robert A. F. Thurman translated this version of the classic Buddhist book. The translation of this book allows for an in depth understanding into the Buddhist ways concerning life, death, and after life. This translation was well written and the message about the art of living is clear and simple to understand if you don’t have a lot of background knowledge about the Buddhist religion. The introduction provided in the book, which is written by Huston Smith, gives the basic foundation of the traditional Buddhist view about life and death.
You don’t need to be a practicing Buddhist to read and understand this book. The book speaks to any religious person or non-religious person about the importance of living a fulfilled life so that any person can be prepared for their death by attaining a state of enlightenment. Robert Thurman does a good job at translating the original message of living a balanced life without greed so any of the readers of this book can self reflect on their own life and their own ways of living. The practices of the spiritual traditions discussed in The Book of The Dead put emphasis on being aware of your own state of being along with the people around you. Keeping your surroundings in perspective will help you learn to live a balanced life. The translation of this book by Thurman allows people of our modern day to be able to relate the overall messages to their daily lives. Every bit of content in the book is cited with the original text by Padma Sambhava to show the euthenics of all the traditions and spiritual practices written in this version of The Book of the Dead.
After finishing the book, I had a better understanding of the Tibetan Buddhism spiritual traditions. Robert Thurman does an exceptionally good job at organizing the content covered in this book. He begins with an outline of the Tibetan history so that if a reader isn’t familiar with Tibetan history they can become familiar with it. He then goes into the connection of Tibet and Buddhism and how they became related. After, he gives a summary of The Buddhist religion and the traditions practiced. Thurman gives all the background knowledge needed in order to understand all the reasoning behind the messages of the Tibetan Book of the Dead so he can continue on to how the art of living is equally important to the art of dying. The last section of the book analysis all the prayers contained in the original Book of the Death written by Padma. The analysis’s given along with the prayers allows for a complete interpretation of the spiritual traditions of Buddhism. Overall this book gives the reader a thorough understanding of Buddhism practices and how they can help anyone live their life to the fullest and have no regrets when their death comes.
You don’t need to be a practicing Buddhist to read and understand this book. The book speaks to any religious person or non-religious person about the importance of living a fulfilled life so that any person can be prepared for their death by attaining a state of enlightenment. Robert Thurman does a good job at translating the original message of living a balanced life without greed so any of the readers of this book can self reflect on their own life and their own ways of living. The practices of the spiritual traditions discussed in The Book of The Dead put emphasis on being aware of your own state of being along with the people around you. Keeping your surroundings in perspective will help you learn to live a balanced life. The translation of this book by Thurman allows people of our modern day to be able to relate the overall messages to their daily lives. Every bit of content in the book is cited with the original text by Padma Sambhava to show the euthenics of all the traditions and spiritual practices written in this version of The Book of the Dead.
After finishing the book, I had a better understanding of the Tibetan Buddhism spiritual traditions. Robert Thurman does an exceptionally good job at organizing the content covered in this book. He begins with an outline of the Tibetan history so that if a reader isn’t familiar with Tibetan history they can become familiar with it. He then goes into the connection of Tibet and Buddhism and how they became related. After, he gives a summary of The Buddhist religion and the traditions practiced. Thurman gives all the background knowledge needed in order to understand all the reasoning behind the messages of the Tibetan Book of the Dead so he can continue on to how the art of living is equally important to the art of dying. The last section of the book analysis all the prayers contained in the original Book of the Death written by Padma. The analysis’s given along with the prayers allows for a complete interpretation of the spiritual traditions of Buddhism. Overall this book gives the reader a thorough understanding of Buddhism practices and how they can help anyone live their life to the fullest and have no regrets when their death comes.
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