The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thödol)
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Tibetan Buddhist guide to death and afterlife describing stages of dying, intermediate state (bardo), and rebirth. Attributed to Padmasambhava, founder of Tibetan Buddhism. Describes visions and experiences encountered after death and techniques for achieving liberation through these stages. Text traditionally read to dying or deceased person to guide consciousness through bardos. Emphasizes that reality is mind-created and that liberation comes through recognizing nature of consciousness.
Also known asBardo Thödol · Great Liberation upon Hearing · Liberation in the Intermediate State
This edition1927
EditionW.Y. Evans-Wentz edition with commentary, 1927
Tibetan BuddhismTantric BuddhismmeditationDzogchen traditionDzogchenDeath and rebirthBuddhist philosophy of mindEasternVisualizationGuidance for the deceasedNyingma schoolKarma & MindfulnessBuddhismEastern philosophyreincarnationConsciousness after death
Contents23 chapters
- 01Book I: Introductory Sections
- 02Book I INTRODUCTORY SECTIONS
- 03Part I: The Bardo of the Moments of Death
- 04Part I: The Death Process
- 05Part I THESSYMPTOMS OF DEATH
- 06Part I BARDO OF KARMIC ILLUSIONS
- 07Part I DAWNING OF VAJRA-SATTVA
- 08Part II DAWNING OF RATNA-SAMBHAVA
- 09Part II DAWNING OF AMITABHA
- 10Part I DAWNING OF AMOGHA-SIDDHI
- 11Part I LIBERATION BY AMOGHA-SIDDHI
- 12Part III AZANDALA OF PEACEFUL DEITIES
- 13Part II WISDOM RADIANCES
- 14Part II: The Wrathful Deities
- 15Part II DAWNING OF KARMIC ORDER
- 16Part I VISIONS OF BIRTHELRACE
- 17Part I NATURE OF THE VOIDNESS
- 18Part I THE INITIATORY NAME
- 19Part I PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE
- 20Part II SIGNS OF BIRTHPLACE
- 21Part II BARDO-BOUND SPIRITS
- 22Part II ART OF CHOOSING A WOMB
- 23Part II FATHS TO LIBERATION
Contributors
W. Y. Evans-Wentzeditor
Various translatorstranslator
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