The Tibetan Book of the Dead
The Great Liberation by Hearing in the Intermediate States
First Complete Translation
composed by Padmasambhava
revealed by Terton Karma Lingpa
translated by Gyurme Dorje
edited by Graham Coleman and Thuuten Jinpa
with introductory commentary by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
The most graceful English translation of this masterpiece of world literature - prepared with the participation of the Dalai Lama and eminent contemporary masters of this tradition appointed by the Dalai Lama.
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 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.
One of the greatest works created by any culture and one of 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 the entire text has not only been made available in English but in a translation of quite remarkable clarity and beauty.
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Table of Contents
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Introductory Commentary by His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama
Editor’s Introduction
A Brief Literary History of the Tibetan Book of the Dead by Gyurme Dorje
THE TIBETAN BOOK OF THE DEAD
Appendix One: Peaceful and Wrathful Deities and the Tibetan Book of the Dead
Appendix Two: Symbolism of the Mandala of the Peaceful and Wrathful Deities
Notes
Bibliography
Glossary of Key Terms
Thematic Index by Chapter
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Paperback Edition
592 pages. Printed card cover.
ISBN: 9780140455267
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Press, reviews, endorsements
“Extraordinary ... this work will be a source of inspiration and support to many.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
“One of the great scripts of civilisation … a voyage inside the profound imagination of a people.”
Time Out Magazine
“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
“Offers the wisdom of the Tibetan ancients to a jaded modern world.”
The Sunday Telegraph
“Magnificent … beautiful verse meditations.”
The Guardian
“One of the great treasures of wisdom in the spiritual heritage of humanity.”
Sogyal Rinpoche, author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
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About the Translator
Gyurme Dorje is a leading scholar of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, from which the Tibetan Book of the Dead literature derives.
About the Editors
Thuuten Jinpa is the senior translator to the Dalai Lama and President of the Institute of Tibetan Classics.
Graham Coleman is founder of the Orient Foundation for Arts and Culture, a major Tibetan cultural conservancy organisation, and writer-director of the acclaimed feature documentary ‘Tibet: A Buddhist Trilogy’.
