Product Description

The first complete translation of the classic Buddhist text.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama, who has written the Introductory Commentary,
notes:
"Carrying out the first complete translation of this cycle of teachings has
been an extraordinary accomplishment undertaken with great care over many
years. I hope that the profound insights contained in this work will be a
source of inspiration and support to many interested people around the
world."

One of the greatest works created by any culture and overwhelmingly the
most significant of all Tibetan Buddhist texts in the West, The Tibetan
Book of the Dead has had a number of distinguished but partial
translations. Now the entire text has not only been made available in
English but also in a translation of remarkable clarity and beauty.
Translated with the close support of leading contemporary masters and with
an Introductory Commentary by HH The Dalai Lama, this complete edition
faithfully presents the insights and intentions of the original work. It
includes one of the most detailed and compelling descriptions of the
after-death state in world literature, practices that can transform our
experience of daily life, guidance on helping those who are dying, and an
inspirational perspective on coping with bereavement.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35035 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-07
• Binding: Paperback
• 592 pages

The Guardian
Magnificent...beautiful verse meditations.

Sogyal Rinpoche
Profound and unique, it is one of the great treasures of wisdom in
the spiritual heritage of humanity.

Bryan J. Cuevas, Tricycle
The most celebrated work of Tibetan literature outside Tibet . . . now in
its finest form in this excellent English translation.

Customer Reviews

Beautiful Book
I bought this book when it was first published, out of impulse actually, because of the binding, and I am glad I did because it is a beautiful book to read. Someone once told me you cant read the TBOD without a Master's interpretation or guidance, but this is incorrect; if you are, like myself, interested in a general read to explore an esoteric work yourself, then the the various introductory chapters are more than enough to prepare the reader for the main text.

Fascinating spiritual classic
This is indeed a very important book, with some pleasant illustrations. As an object it is wonderfully presented, the binding, cutting and whatever processes the book goes through have clearly been undertaken with great care or expensive machinery. Few books are as attractive or durable these days. What's really important, however, is the contents. If you believe in the words, they could prepare you for death and what lies beyond it (there are descriptions of the dying process which, if committed to memory, could be extremely comforting when the time comes). If you remain sceptical or follow another faith, relish the spectacular imagery and often beautiful verse in which many passages are expressed.
If I *had* to gripe, it'd be about the review above (below?) which, like many others on Amazon, is opinionated and enthusiastic but rather pointless. "I haven't read it but I bet it's ace" is hardly likely to encourage someone to part with nearly £20 to try a book, is it?

Immense.
Having just recieved this book, I wonder if I will ever have time to read it. It is a stunning piece of work that has been hidden away for centuries. A must have for any buddhist library.