Padmasambhava

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 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. 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. 'Extraordinary ... this work will be a source of inspiration and support to many' His Holiness the Dalai Lama About the authors: Commentary by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Thupten 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 organization, and writer-director of the acclaimed feature documentary Tibet: A Buddhist Trilogy. Gyurme Dorje is a leading scholar of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, from which the Tibetan Book of the Dead literature derives.… (mere)

What in the world did I just read? This was really weird. I hate to sound insulting, but coming from an atheistic point of view, this read like someone was on a drug trip rather than dying. I should point out that this is a manual for Buddhist when they are going to die, when they are dead, and when they are reborn. I wouldn't read this unless you've read a few things about Buddhism. However, regardless of faith you are going to be thinking of death, keep that in mind before reading Tibetan Book of the Dead.

My grandmother died earlier this month. I needed something to read that was related to death or some that would help calm me down. I wasn't sure when I wanted to read this because of the subject matter, but thought this was a good time. While it did help me calm down with the poetry, it made me think of the after life. Is there an afterlife? I decided I don't believe in one anymore. I use to think I'd go to one, but it just causes me to have anxiety if I think I'm going somewhere after this life. If we die, I think, we just die. Nothing more.

Looking at some of these reviews not many of them talk about the poetry of this book. It gives us some great inspiration for fantasy stories. Most of the time it read like Dante or Revelation to me. Someone's interpretation of the afterlife set in sections and weird god-like beings. The next time someone argues with me whether or not Buddhism is a religion I'm going to ask them if they ever read this book. It's clear Buddhism is a religion more than a philosophy.

Although I don't believe any of this, I will take away some points and ideas from this book. This isn't a book you just read and forget about within a week. This will say with you. Also, I found this edition extremely helpful. It has a ton of notes, a glossary, and background information that will help you understand the text. Plus, it has some cool art of the deities as well.… (mere)

This read was primarily done for research purposes but the content was interesting enough to make it a pleasure. My favorite part was actually the preface to the version I read which was written by Carl Jung and gave a depth to things I would have missed otherwise. The content of the book itself was difficult to comprehend on its own, but there are a number of outside resources that helped with that, including trusty old Wikipedia. If you are a student of comparative religion, interested in the Bardo, or looking for some fresh ideas for the Sacred nature in your own writing, then please read this book.… (mere)

This final, public section of The Light of Wisdom, Volume III, Teachings on the Secret Empowerment, is once again a compilation of three texts: (1) Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo (The Gradual Path of the Wisdom Essence), a terma root text recorded by Yeshe Tsogyal and revealed in unison by Chokgyur Lingpa and Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo; (2) The Light of Wisdom, a commentary on the Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo by Jamgon Kongtrul the Great; (3) Entering the Path of Wisdom, notes on these teachings collected by Jokyab Rinpoche. These teachings on tsa lung practice, channels, wind-energies, and essences (bindus) is kept secret like the name of the empowerment itself that authorizes the practitioner to engage in these trainings. After reviewing the material and discussing with one of my teachers, both of us fully aware of the constraints, I felt it best to share this volume with sincere Western practitioners who will need and benefit from these teachings. (Padmasambhava book)

About the Author
Padmasambhava ― the miraculous great master who brought Vajrayana to Tibet in the eight century. He is also referred to as Guru Rinpoche, the precious teacher. For his biography, please read The Lotus-Born.… (mere)