Monday, 25. July 2005
The Tibetan Book of the Dead

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In Tibet it is commonly held that death is not something that awaits us in some distant future, but something we bring into the world with us at the very moment we are conceived. Our lives run up against death at every step. However, even the seeming finality of death need not be strictly negative; rather, in the religious traditions of Tibet, death is said to provide a unique opportunity for spiritual growth. In fact, the ultimate aim of Tibetan religious practice is the transformation of death into an immortal state of benefit to others. Among Tibet's many and varied religious traditions are found certain esoteric teachings that address the art and science of compassionate death. To these traditions belong the wisdom of the Tibetan Books of the Dead. In many respects, these popular texts are manuals of practical instructions for the dying, who are immediately facing death; for those who have died, who are wandering in the intermediate state between lives; and for the living, who are left behind to continue without their loved ones.
I am delighted that some of the great treasures of Tibetan sacred literature and ritual art relating to death and dying have been assembled for display. In this first exhibition of its kind at the University of Virginia Library, there are examples of many significant items, both literary and artistic, from the wealth of its Tibetan collection as well as through the generosity of institutional and private lenders. It is my hope that this exhibition will help to encourage more widespread interest in the valuable culture of Tibet so that the world might one day see it flourish again.

P. Jeffrey Hopkins, Professor, Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia

The Tibetan Book of the Dead (English)

This book is the first English language translation of the famous Tibetan death text, The Great Liberation upon Hearing in the Intermediate State. Also known as the Bardo Thodol which means "liberation by hearing on the after death plane" (Bardo: after death plane, Thodol or Thotrol: liberation by hearing), it was originally written in the Tibetan language and is meant to be a guide for those who have died as they transition from their former life to a new destination.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead - or the After-Death Experiences on the Bardo Plane - E-book by Summum (English)

Der Bardo Thödol, bekannter unter dem Titel "Das tibetische Buch der Toten" ist dazu der Grundlagentext, der sich in erster Linie an den Laien richtet, d.h. an Menschen die nur wenig Zeit für ihre spirituelle Weiterentwicklung aufwenden können und über eher negatives Karma verfügen. Es legt einen Leitfaden in die Hand, wie man mit den Phänomenen, die während des Todes und des Zwischenzustandes auftreten, umgehen sollte, um trotz schlechter Voraussetzungen Befreiung aus dem bedingtem Dasein zu erlangen. Ferner ist es eine Hilfe auch im Umgang mit dem Tod von Freunden, Verwandten und Bekannten, und kann eine wichtige Unterstützung zu richtigem Verhalten im Umgang mit Verstorbenen und zur Trauerarbeit sein.

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Padmasambhava / Guru Rinpoche


Das Tibetische Totenbuch - Bardo Thödol (German)
Category: Incarnation & Death |


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