The Tibetan book of the dead, as popularly known in the West : known in Tibet as The great book of natural liberation through understanding in the between

The most accessible and informative version of the Buddhist classic available in English, with instruction in meditation, illuminating commentary, and guidance in the practical use of the prayers The so-called “Tibetan Book of the Dead” has been renowned for centuries as a cornerstone of Buddhist wisdom and religious thought. More recently, it has become highly influential in the Western world for its psychological insights into the processes of death and dying—and what they can teach us about the ways we live our lives. It has also been found to be helpful in the grieving process by people who have recently lost their loved ones. Composed in the eighth century C.E., it is intended to prepare the soul for the trials and transformations of the afterworld. Its profound message is that the art of dying is as important as the art of living. Drawing on Tibetan spiritual traditions, it shows us the workings of the mind in its various manifestations—terrifying and comforting, wrathful and beautiful—which appear more clearly after death in the consciousness of the deceased. By recognizing these manifestations, we can attain a state of enlightenment, both in this existence and in the existence to come. This authoritative translation preserves the form and spirit of the original and was prepared especially for Western readers by Robert A. F. Thurman, one of the most prominent Tibetan scholars in America and a close associate of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s. A Classic Of Buddhist Wisdom, This Book Was Composed In The Eighth Century To Prepare Souls For The Afterworld, It Has Become Influential In The West For Its Psychological Insights Into The Processes Of Death And Dying, And Also Of Grieving. Preparations For The Journey -- An Outline Of Tibetan History -- Tibet: A Spiritual Civilization -- Tibet's Present Plight -- Buddhism In Summary -- Tibetan Ideas About Death -- The Tibetan Science Of Death -- What Is Death? -- The Six Realms -- The Three Buddha Bodies -- The Body-mind Complex -- Stages Of Death -- The Reality Of Liberation -- The Tibetan Art Of Dying -- Ordinary Preparations For Death -- Extraordinary Preparations -- The Natural Liberation Literature -- The Guidebook For The Journey: The Great Book Of Natural Liberation Through Understanding In The Between -- The Between Prayers -- The Prayer Of The Three Body Mentor Yoga -- The Prayer For Help From The Buddhas And Bodhisattvas -- The Prayer For Deliverance From The Straits Of The Between -- The Prayer For Refuge From All Terrors Of The Between -- The Root Verses Of The Six Betweens -- The Guidebook To The Betweens -- The Prayer Of The Reality Between -- The Mild Deity Reality Between -- The Fierce Deity Reality Between -- Orientation To The Existence Between -- Supplementary Translations -- The Dharma Practice, Natural Liberation Of The Instincts -- The Ten Branches Of Accumulating Merit -- Enlightening, Protecting, And Purifying -- Vajrasattva Purification -- The Actual Visualization -- Self-creation -- The Mild Deity Interior Mandala -- The Scientist Deity Interior Mandala -- The Fierce Deity Interior Mandala -- The Natural Liberation Through Naked Vision, Identifying The Intelligence -- Glossary. Composed By Padma Sambhava ; Discovered By Karma Lingpa ; Translated By Robert A.f. Thurman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [277]-278). The most prominent expert on Tibetan Buddhism in the West offers a translation of this essential book of Tibetan philosophy that captures the true spirit and poetry of the original work--a profound book that reveals the nature of the mind and its manifestations and offers pure enlightenment. It was difficult to get through the first chapter in this book, it's hard to follow the history of Tibet. I will endeavor to finish it.