One of the greatest works created by any culture and overwhelmingly 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, 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. 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 the 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.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"This new translation of The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a tremendous accomplishment." -Francesca Fremantle, Buddhadarma magazine
"Profound and unique, it is one of the great treasures of wisdom in the spiritual heritage of humanity." -Sogyal Rinpoche, Author of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
--This text refers to an alternate
Hardcover
edition.
"Profound and unique, it is one of the great treasures of wisdom in the spiritual heritage of humanity." -Sogyal Rinpoche, Author of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Review
Offers the wisdom of the Tibetan ancients to a jaded modern world Sunday Telegraph One of the great scripts of civilization ... a voyage inside the profound imagination of a people Time Out I can't imagine anybody aware of his or her own temporal humanity not wanting to find out what this book says ... this version is by far the most complete and comprehensive to date Independent on Sunday Magnificent ... beautiful verse meditations Guardian This is an event. A new and comprehensive translation of one of the seminal works of Tibetan Buddhism Richard Gere One of the great treasures of wisdom in the spiritual heritage of humanity -- Sogyal Rinpoche, Author Of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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256 of 264 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Tibetan Book of the Dead edited by Graham Coleman, Thupten Jinpa, translated by Gyurme Dorje (Viking) is by far the most popular example of indigenous Tibetan Buddhist treasure literature. An edition was issued in 1927 by Oxford University Press under the general editorship of W. Y. Evans-Wentz. The block-print copy, he used was an abridgment obtained in Nepal and translated by a Tibetan lama. Evans-Wentz was a scholarly Theosophist who imported certain Theosophical preconceptions into his commentary on the work. Carl Jung the prominent analytical psychologist even wrote a psychological commentary on the work prompted by Evans-Wentz. Since the 1970s, beginning with Francesca Fremantle and Chogyam Trungpa's edition of the text and more recently Robert Thurman's translation, corrected versions of the Tibetan Book of the Dead are well represented in English and other European languages. The mistakes and egregious errors of the pioneering edition have been corrected and Tibetan Buddhism now in America and Europe has been flourishing with many translations and commentaries on basic Buddhist practices as well as the indigenous literatures of Tibet.
This new edition by Graham Coleman and Thupten Jinpa uses a fuller edition of the work for translating, adding new chapters and reflecting the interpretation of contemporary masters and lineage holders of this tradition. In many ways this is the first complete The Tibetan Book of the Dead. In many ways this book is both a guide for living as well as a how to consciously move on after death. The book has been extremely popular in Central Asia among Buddhists. The Tibetan Book of the Dead contains especially written guidance and practices related to transforming our experience of daily life, on how to address the process of dying in the after-death states, and on how to help those who are dying. Some of these teachings include: methods for investigating and cultivating our experience of the ultimate nature of mind in our daily practice, guidance on the recognition of the science of impending death and a detailed description of the mental and physical processes of dying, rituals for the avoidance of premature death, the now famous great liberation by hearing that is read to the dying and the dead, special prayers are read at the time of death, and allegorical masque play that lightheartedly dramatizes the journey through the intermediate state, and a translation of the sacred mantras that are attached to the body after death and are said to bring liberation by wearing. The editors have also included two additional texts are not usually included in the first chapter there is a preliminary meditation and practices related to the cycle of teachings, and in chapter 10, instructions on methods of transforming consciousness at the point of death into a enlightened state and are an essential aspect of the practices related to dying.
The editors have gone out of their way to be sure to relate what the actual masters of these traditions mean by these practices. For that reason alone, makes this new edition of The Tibetan Book of the Dead authoritative in ways that previous editions have not been. Needless to say, this book should capture the imagination not only of students of Buddhism, but psychologists, philosophers, spiritual directors, and chaplains as well as anyone who wishes to entertain profound teachings about the survival of consciousness after death as well as ways to encourage the meaning of our own life in the everyday world.
This new edition by Graham Coleman and Thupten Jinpa uses a fuller edition of the work for translating, adding new chapters and reflecting the interpretation of contemporary masters and lineage holders of this tradition. In many ways this is the first complete The Tibetan Book of the Dead. In many ways this book is both a guide for living as well as a how to consciously move on after death. The book has been extremely popular in Central Asia among Buddhists. The Tibetan Book of the Dead contains especially written guidance and practices related to transforming our experience of daily life, on how to address the process of dying in the after-death states, and on how to help those who are dying. Some of these teachings include: methods for investigating and cultivating our experience of the ultimate nature of mind in our daily practice, guidance on the recognition of the science of impending death and a detailed description of the mental and physical processes of dying, rituals for the avoidance of premature death, the now famous great liberation by hearing that is read to the dying and the dead, special prayers are read at the time of death, and allegorical masque play that lightheartedly dramatizes the journey through the intermediate state, and a translation of the sacred mantras that are attached to the body after death and are said to bring liberation by wearing. The editors have also included two additional texts are not usually included in the first chapter there is a preliminary meditation and practices related to the cycle of teachings, and in chapter 10, instructions on methods of transforming consciousness at the point of death into a enlightened state and are an essential aspect of the practices related to dying.
The editors have gone out of their way to be sure to relate what the actual masters of these traditions mean by these practices. For that reason alone, makes this new edition of The Tibetan Book of the Dead authoritative in ways that previous editions have not been. Needless to say, this book should capture the imagination not only of students of Buddhism, but psychologists, philosophers, spiritual directors, and chaplains as well as anyone who wishes to entertain profound teachings about the survival of consciousness after death as well as ways to encourage the meaning of our own life in the everyday world.
163 of 171 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've been through three copies of this book and memorized the essence prayers.. Each night I use this in my meditation.. All my life I have had a fear of death and this book cuts right to the bone.. Padma Sambava tackels the problem head on.. I don't really remember why I started reading it.. I could never make it through the Evans-Wentz translation.. Too much esoteric mumbo jumbo.. Robert A. Thurman's version is for the everyman.. Please get this book..Life is short..
From the Root Verses.. "With mind distracted, never thinking death is coming... To slave away on the pointless buisness of mundane life, and then to come out empty is a tragic error.."
83 of 86 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The remarkable Bob Thurman offers us a new translation of the 'Tibetan Book of the Dead'. It surpasses by far the previous translation by Chogyam Trungpa and Frances Fremantle. As a text for practical use, as a source of spiritual inspiration, and as literature, this book shines. As well as the translation of the text and commentary, Professor Thurman has written an introduction which stands on its own as an introduction to Buddhism and Tibetan spirituality. If you have an interest in Buddhism, Tibet, or a concern about the after-death states, this book is essential.
Pete Folly
Pete Folly
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Gleaning
What I gleaned from this book, was that there are 3 sides to God, or 3 buddha-bodies: Reality, Resource, and Emanation. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kathy Mac
The Bardo Thodol
The Penguin edition of 'The Tibetan Book of the Dead' (Bardo Thodol) is the first complete translation of the 'Natural Liberation' texts since W. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Thivanka Rukshan Perera
Awesome Book!
The Book itself is beautiful! Very detailed and well written, this is the most concise and best written translation I have ever found!
Published 4 months ago by Johnnytexas32
I am very blessed to have this book
Been studying this book for 20 years now. I am very lucky to know the compassion of the Buddha along with absorbing the deity of Christ in his death.
Published 11 months ago by David Vincent
bardo thodol's guide
It's a magnificent book, with the best translation I've found.
It's easy to read and facilitates the understanding of the complexities of tibetan thought.
R.
It's easy to read and facilitates the understanding of the complexities of tibetan thought.
R.
Published 13 months ago by E. Riveri Lopez
Brilliant
As a survivor of death I know the truth "for me that is". Death is simply changing the channel. These words truly speak to my soul, capture my spirit and validate for me what I... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Megan
Great Book and the forward by HHDL is wonderful
The Forward by HHDL is the best more succinct description of Buddhism I have ever read.
Published 21 months ago by Bruce L. Crumley
YES
for the introduction alone it was worth it. gives you a sense or taste of what it takes to be an enlightend person and the amount of work goes into pleasing the universe.
Published 22 months ago by bender1358
A Tough Read,
It was difficult to get through the first chapter in this book, it's hard to follow the history of Tibet.
I will endeavor to finish it.
I will endeavor to finish it.
Published 24 months ago by N. Young
Very Disappointing and useless for anything serious
Anyone who has taken high school English should know there is no gender neutral third person pronoun in English that can be used to apply to people. Read more
Published on May 21, 2010 by Diana Walstrom
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
0, Alas! Alas! Fortunate Child of Buddha Nature, Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
dissonant mental states, crown fontanelle, pristine cognition, fearsome passageway, profound sacred teaching, northern channel branch, southern channel branch, four female gatekeepers, enlightened intention, own meditational deities, red yogini, serpentine water spirits, female wrathful deity, hundredfold homage, negative obscurations, related medical traditions, virtuous past actions, rgya rgya rgya, five enlightened families, experiential cultivation, greatly compassionate ones, natural expressive power, right arms brandish, natural liberation, wrathful conquerors Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Buddha-body of Reality, Buddha-body of Emanation, Those Gone, Karma Lingpa, Ox-headed Raksa, Six-syllable Mantra, Vajra Heruka, Buddha Heruka, Karma Heruka, Naked Perception, Padma Heruka, Ratna Heruka, Acts of Confession, Queens of Yoga, Dense Array, Great Perfection, Greater Vehicle, India Call, Manifest Joy, Queens of the Expanse, Sixty Herukas, May the Great Compassionate One, Mount Gampodar, Renunciation of the Three Poisons, The Joyful New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
0, Alas! Alas! Fortunate Child of Buddha Nature, Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
dissonant mental states, crown fontanelle, pristine cognition, fearsome passageway, profound sacred teaching, northern channel branch, southern channel branch, four female gatekeepers, enlightened intention, own meditational deities, red yogini, serpentine water spirits, female wrathful deity, hundredfold homage, negative obscurations, related medical traditions, virtuous past actions, rgya rgya rgya, five enlightened families, experiential cultivation, greatly compassionate ones, natural expressive power, right arms brandish, natural liberation, wrathful conquerors Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Buddha-body of Reality, Buddha-body of Emanation, Those Gone, Karma Lingpa, Ox-headed Raksa, Six-syllable Mantra, Vajra Heruka, Buddha Heruka, Karma Heruka, Naked Perception, Padma Heruka, Ratna Heruka, Acts of Confession, Queens of Yoga, Dense Array, Great Perfection, Greater Vehicle, India Call, Manifest Joy, Queens of the Expanse, Sixty Herukas, May the Great Compassionate One, Mount Gampodar, Renunciation of the Three Poisons, The Joyful New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
95
books
cite this book:
See all 95 books citing this book
- The Tibetan Book of the Great Liberation: Or the Method of Realizing Nirv=ana through Knowing the Mind by W. Y. Evans-Wentz on 5 pages
- Luminous Emptiness: Understanding the Tibetan Book of the Dead by Francesca Fremantle on 5 pages
- The Hidden History of the Tibetan Book of the Dead by Bryan J. Cuevas on 5 pages
- Luminous Emptiness: Understanding the Tibetan Book of the Dead by Francesca Fremantle on 5 pages
- Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West by Donald S. Lopez Jr. on 4 pages
See all 95 books citing this book
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