Customer Reviews

Peaceful Death, Joyful Rebirth: A Tibetan Buddhist Guidebook

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Judy Lief
Author of Making Friends with Death; A Buddhist Guide to Encountering Mortality

The Tibetan understanding of the cycle of life and death is encapsulated in the image of the Wheel of Life, traditionally displayed outside the entrances to meditation halls as a reminder of the preciousness of life, the reality of impermanence, and the powerful force of karma. According to these teachings, our present state of mind and the way in which we lead our lives have direct bearing on our future circumstances in this life and in subsequent lives. Tulku Thondup's book is a particularly clear exposition of this teaching on life, death, and rebirth

In particular, Tulku Thondup, a renowned Tibetan Buddhist scholar, translator and spiritual guide, clarifies the interplay between karma, the six realms of existence, and the many pure lands described in traditional Buddhist texts. He carefully elucidates how the karma created by ones mental state and moral actions can propel one into either desirable or horrific states of existence. Tulku Thondrop encourages us to take responsibility for our life and cultivate healthy states of mind. Whether you believe in rebirth or not, it is easy to observe how our mental habits, which all too often seems to be shifty and out of our control, shape our perception of the world-for better or for worse. By pointing out how this works, Tulku offers the reader a way to unravel these habitual patterns and loosen the forces that propel one to painful realms of existence. In short, he offers many methods to cultivate wholesome states of mind and let go of harmful patterns that entrap us.

Of particular interest are the many stories Tulku has assembled about delogs. In Tibet there are many accounts of people who died and in that state traveled to other realms of existence and other realities, communicating with the dead and receiving teachings, before being sent back as messengers for the living. Unlike accounts of near-death experiences of short duration, it was not uncommon for delogs to return to life after a period of many days. While some of their descriptions may seem frightening or harsh-certainly no nonsense-at the same time, each delog in his or her own way reminds the living of the preciousness of life, the power of the mind, and the possibility of living with awareness, kindness, and openness. The message that what we think and do makes a difference is an empowering one, filled with inspiration and hope.

In a series of helpful appendices, Tulku Thondup has gathered a series of Buddhist rituals for the dying and for those seeking to take birth in the blissful pure land. For those interested in the Tibetan vajrayana rituals, these appendices are an invaluable resource. At the same time, Tulku repeatedly points out that anyone can benefit from Buddhist teachings on life, death and the intermediate state. No matter our tradition or background, each of us can benefit from contemplating the reality of death and the brevity of life; each of us can benefit from letting go of harmful mental states and habitual actions that cause us needless suffering; each of us can benefit from extending ourselves to one another with kindness and love.

Tulku Thondup speaks about the most subtle and crucial factors in the process dying and what comes after death. Remarkably, his audience is neither the scholar, the dilettante nor even the serious spiritual seeker. Rather he speaks directly and personally to each of us in that we ourselves will have to go through this passage. His message is that the attitude we bring to death is all important and it is a major mistake to hide from, ignore or fail to prepare for our own death. In spite of this, the tone of the book is completely positive, healing and comforting. Tulku Thondup's language and references are contemporary and up-to-date, but his sources of authority and training are steeped in the highest traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. This work also contains a brilliant survey of the biographies of delugs, Tibetans who "died" for many days and came back to reveal their experiences in the bardo. Thoroughly scholarly, yet completely accessible, this work is a breakthrough which expands the dimensions of self-help literature beyond the obsession with health while providing new material for scholars of all religions.

If you'd like to better understand the Tibetan Buddhist insights into the process of dying this book is unique. The content is accessible to anyone who genuinely wants to prepare for this inevitable passage or to aid the dying. The book is unique in that Tulku Thondup presents about a dozen stories of "delugs" people who died for several days and returned from the dead to talk about it. These stories are deeply moving and Tulku Thondup does a wonderful job of providing a clear context for better understanding them.

While the book thoroughly reviews the traditional Tibetan Buddhist view of death as well as the Buddhist practices created to help the dying and recently deceased, his view is distinctly non-dogmatic and he clearly outlines these teachings relevance and applicability to people of any faith.

I had been recommended this book by a fellow Buddhist practicitioner who does much work with terminally ill patients. Our Buddhist Practice group (Sangha) seemed to have many death and dying issues coming up recently.

If you are looking for a book on the death and dying process from a Vajrayana Buddhist perspective, in my opinion, this is the book to buy.

Tulku Thondup is highly recognized as a Nyingma Master as well as being University Professor and excellent writer.

If you want to acquire an exhastive academic book on the "The Great Liberation upon Hearing in the Intermediate State" (commonly known as the Tibetan Book of the Dead here in the West) I would suggest also buying Graham Coleman's version.

However, for practice purposes and general understanding, Tulku Thondup's "Peace Death, Joyful Rebirth" is unmatched. He not only covers the essence of this text but also recounts wonderful information as only taught by a Tibetan Nyingma Master.

Tulku Thondup provides an accessible introduction to the Pure Land tradition as it relates to Tibetan Buddhist views of death and dying - which relate, in turn, to the importance of working with the mind in present life to assure a positive death experience and rebirth. There is plenty here, however, for anyone open to Buddhist views without his or her having to embrace Buddhism formally. The author also discusses the importance of conducting rituals for the spiritual benefit of the dying and the dead, offering a suggested practice for non-Buddhists as well as detailed instructions for experienced Buddhist meditators. The emphasis throughout is on the practicality of the teachings, supplemented by vivid accounts of Tibetan near-death experiences.

The CD contains an extensive and lengthy guided meditation centered on visualizing Amitabha and his Pure Land in the West. This is a substantial practice for anyone wanting to establish a meditative connection with the Buddha of Infinite Light. Open-minded readers not so inclined might still find it worthwhile to follow along at least once in order to experience the Pure Land perspective in practical application as a way to work with the mind in THIS life.

PLEASE NOTE: I RATE THIS THREE STARS, BUT AM UNABLE TO CORRECT THE SCALE WHICH INCORRECTLY SHOWS ONLY ONE STAR. THANK YOU:
Tulku Thondup's Peaceful Death, Joyful Rebirth is unique among Tibetan books. It concentrates on our experience after we die and is a guidebook that outlines what to expect when we pass from mortal life to post-life experiences. For example it provides stories of experiences during a time of judgment in the Bardo state.

Thondup gives us vivid details and sample experiences of practitioner's passing sensations during their time of death. It also offers a sense of the wide range of worlds our consciousness may experience after mortal death, everything from hellish chimaeras to celestial, peaceful visions.

His book places heavy emphasis on karma and the belief that deeds determine our experience in a life after this one. It stresses that a consious, kindly life leads to a positive afterlife while a self-centered life leads to more hellish worlds.

With its unique and detailed picture of the relms of consciouness after death, Peaceful Death, Joyful Rebirth is a worthy addition to the body of literature on the subject of dying and the afterlife.

The author, now living in Cambridge, Mass. and teaching at Harvard, is an intellectual, and teaches the reader about his beliefs in an accessible manner. His index helps de-mystify the terms we aren't familiar with. The book is a useful guide for those ignorant but interested in the subject of the afterlife as belief in Tibetan Buddhism.

Written in a very straightforward and understandable style, Tulku Thondup describes the dying process and the rituals performed in the Tibetan tradition during and after death. If you've read the "Tibetan Book of the Dead" or Sogyal Rinpoche's "Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" you'll appreciate this accessible and informative version.

The Tibetans have for centuries been the scientific experts on dying and rebirth (rebirth was a tenet even of Christianity until Nicea). Their Book of the Dead was deliberately written in such a way as to keep its practices secret.

In this age of spiritual poverty and moral cowardice, even formerly esoteric teachings are out there for anyone to find, yet there is no "gold rush" for real teachers or their teachings: the concomitant suffering that following one's conscience inevitably produces "turns off" so many people that the really popular teachings produce only "highs", and no real transformation whatsoever.

Here is a reincarnated Tibetan lama, Western-educated, speaking to us in the West about what is necessary to attain to a better rebirth. With his instructions, all the obstacles to actually "doing" this-----are in us.

I like the portion of the book where the author tells us how to be helpful to the dying person. However, I don't like the portion where he describes the "hell realms".
I have great respect for the author on his other book, Boundless Healing which I love.