Peaceful Death, Joyful Rebirth: A Tibetan Buddhist Guidebook

by Tulku Thondup

Buddhist teachings on facing death with openness and insight, from the author of The Healing Power of Mind —now in paperback

Buddhism teaches that death can be a springboard to enlightenment—yet for all but the most advanced meditators, it will be the gateway to countless future lives of suffering in samsara. Tulku Thondup wrote this guide to help us heal our fear and confusion about death and strengthen our practice in anticipation of this transition, and to help us realize the enlightened goal of ultimate peace and joy—not only for death and rebirth, but for this very lifetime. In simple language, he distills a vast range of sources, including scriptures, classic commentaries, oral teachings, and firsthand accounts.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Spirituality

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 24, 2005

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for all Tibetan Buddhist practitioners!

This book not only provides detailed accounts of the death process from a variety of sources - non-meditators to advanced yogis - it also provides a lot more detail around each of the three main bardo stages. I feel better informed and therefore prepared as a result of reading it.

One point of emphasis is that everything that one experiences through the process of death, as in life, is a projection of one's own mind. Whether we perceive heavenly visions or hellish ones depends on where we're at - like our dreams, they are purely a mental projection, although no less real, unless we have trained to be the awareness behind our thoughts.

This is a very precious book I know I will come back to again and again. Thank you, Tulku Thondup, for your important contribution to many peaceful deaths and joyful rebirths!

[Ben]

This is wild stuff. It's a description of the exact experiences you'll have after death—at least, if your mind is conditioned by Tibetan Buddhism—during your 49 days in the bardo until you are conceived into your next birth. (If this timeline is to be believed, when you die you'll be back in the world within a year!)

This is all based on the experiences of "delogs," Tibetan people who have apparently experienced bodily death, spent as much as 5-7 days in the afterdeath realms, and then come back to life and recorded it all.

Far from relieving fear of death, at least in my case, this made death seem like an absolutely terrifying (if short) experience. Seeing your own body as a dead, rotting snake; getting pelted with blood and pus; being judged by a tribunal of Dharma Lords. Sheesh.

At the same time, we are reassured that all of these experiences are just projections of our mind, and if we're capable of realizing that, they will evaporate. And if our karma is good enough, we can be reborn in a Pure Land where we will live blissfully until we attain ultimate liberation. But if our karma is bad, well, woe unto us. The Hell Realms await.

So live right, do dharma practices, and make sure your relatives make offerings on your behalf after you die!

[Patty]

Started a year ago in Maine and ended now as I’m gratefully back at Double Dolphin Way. Insane choice for fragile past me but a compelling thought experiment for present me. Future me is gonna be like why did I drive 100k miles in 3 years

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in how to make the best out of Death and this Life from a Tibetan Buddhist perspective.

[Cherie]

This is def above me...

[Rebecca]

Just starting this one today, 1/17/08!

[Rhoda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent especially if you are interested in pure land Buddhism. many accounts of after death experiences and a CD