The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: Revised and Updated

First published 25 years ago, THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYING continues to touch both Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. An acclaimed spiritual masterpiece, its sacred inspiration comes from the heart of the Tibetan tradition. Known for his ability to interpret the ancient teachings for contemporary Western readers, Sogyal Rinpoche offers a lucid introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, to compassionate love and care for the dying, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path. Read by millions around the globe, this jewel of Tibetan wisdom is the definitive spiritual classic for our times. [Back Cover] Preface to the 25th Anniversary Edition ix Foreword, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama xi Introduction xiii Prologue xvii PART ONE: LIVING 1. In the Mirror of Death 3 2. Impermanence 15 3. Reflection and Change 28 4. The Nature of Mind 42 5. Bringing the Mind Home 57 6. Evolution, Karma, and Rebirth 86 7. Bardos and Other Realities 106 8. This Life: The Natural Bardo 115 9. The Spiritual Path 131 10. The Innermost Essence 154 PART TWO: DYING 11. Heart Advice on Helping the Dying 177 12. Compassion: The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel 191 13. Spiritual Help for the Dying 213 14. The Practices for Dying 227 15. The Process of Dying 248 PART THREE: DEATH AND REBIRTH 16. The Ground 263 17. Intrinsic Radiance 278 18. The Bardo of Becoming 291 19. Helping After Death 303 20. The Near-Death Experience: A Staircase to Heaven?” 323 PART FOUR: CONCLUSION 21. The Universal Process 343 22. Servants of Peace 360 Appendix 1: My Teachers 371 Appendix 2: Questions About Death 378 Appendix 3: Two Stories 385 Appendix 4: Two Mantras 393 Notes 399 Selected Bibliography 415 Acknowledgments 421 Index 427 Resources 439 PHILOSOPHY. Written by the Buddhist meditation master and popular international speaker Sogyal Rinpoche, this highly acclaimed book clarifies the majestic vision of life and death that underlies the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It includes not only a lucid, inspiring and complete introduction to the practice of meditation, but also advice on how to care for the dying with love and compassion, and how to bring them help of a spiritual kind. But there is much more besides in this classic work, which was written to inspire all who read it to begin the journey to enlightenment and so become 'servants of peace' Written by the Buddhist meditation master and popular international speaker, this book clarifies the majestic vision of life and death that underlies the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It includes a complete introduction to the practice of meditation, as well as advice on how to care for the dying with love and compassion. A discussion of the age-old techniques on which the classic "Tibetan Book of the Dead" is based examines the possibility for healing that can be released when people begin to view death as another chapter of life.