These are the introduction by evanswentz himself, the distinguished translatoreditor of four treatises on tibetan mysticism. The tibetan book of the dead has a wonderful story, and in this fascinating and charming little book, donald lopez reveals himself to be a wonderful storyteller. Carl jung wrote a commentary on it, timothy leary redesigned it as a guidebook for an acid trip, and the beatles quoted learys version in their song tomorrow never knows. What is the best english translation of the tibetan book. The tibetan book of the dead kindle edition by evanswentz, walter, baldock, john, lama kazi dawa samdup.
Evanswentzs book has been so influential it is surprising to learn that he translated only three chapters of the original work which, it turns out, is not even. The paperback and hardcover editions of the book contain extensive notes by evans wentz about the conclusions he drew from the. Rinpoche, gave a seminar entitled the tibetan book of the dead, which is included here as a commentary. This version of the tibetan book of the dead aldous huxley. As a contribution to the science of death and of rebirth, it is unique among the sacred books of the world. The first englishlanguage translation was made by walter evanswentz 1927, who titled the work the tibetan book of the dead because of certain similarities he claimed to detect between it and the egyptian book of the deadfor example, the existence of. The tibetan book of the dead is a most unusual book in the annals of recorded thought. Also known as the bardo thodol, this famous tibetan death text was originally written in the tibetan language and is meant to be a guide for those who have died as they transition from their former life to a new destination. Evanswentz, an oxford professor, produced a number of original studies on tibetan buddhism from the 1930s to the 1960s, which went through several editions. Evans wentz, an oxford professor, produced a number of original studies on tibetan buddhism from the 1930s to the 1960s, which went through several editions. The tibetan book of the dead kindle edition by evans.
There are contemporary translations that are said to be better. I took the liberty of remastering audiobook for personal use. To date, the tbd is the most read treatise of tibetan buddhism outside tibet cuevas, 2003. It is through the story of milarepa that we learn more about the tibetan book of the dead.
Tibetan yoga and secret doctrines second edition seven books of wisdom of the great path arranged and edited by w. The tibetan book of the dead, whose actual title is the great liberation upon hearing in the intermediate state or bardo thodol, is traditionally believed to be the work of the legendary padma sambhava in the 8th century a. Walter evanswentz 1878 1965 was an american anthropologist who was deeply interested in religion. In 2007, the history channel released a documentary film, tibetan book of the dead. Download the tibetan book of the dead free pdf ebook holy books. Tibetan book of the dead article about tibetan book of. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Evanswentz, the tibetan book of the dead or the afterdeath experiences on the bardo plane. The tibetan book of the dead, tibets great yogi milarepa, tibetan yoga and secret doctrines,and the tibetan book of the great liberation. Such attainment can happen, as shown here, by means of knowing the one mind, the cosmic allconsciousness, without recourse to the postures, breathings. Evans wentz coined the title because of parallels he found with the writings of the egyptian book of the dead. In recent decades, tibetan buddhism has attracted much interest and many followers in the western world.
Questions about the translation and style of expression continually came up, and as a result of these questions it was. The title tibetan book of the dead was coined by the american editor w. In the subsequent decade, besant had turned the focus of the theosophical society away from buddhism and toward hinduism. In fact, lopez argues, evans wentz s book is much more american than tibetan. Tibetan book of the dead article about tibetan book of the. Evans wentz ebook by summum foreword this book is the. The tibetan book of the dead is a guide for the soul, but also is related to every day life. Evans wentz in imitation of the egyptian book of the dead. Most of the accessible englishlanguage translations of the bardo thodol only include chapter 11, the liberation upon hearing. Or, the afterdeath experiences on the bardo plane, according to lama kazi dawasamdups english rendering galaxy books and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Evanswentz coined the title because of parallels he found with the writings of the egyptian book of the dead.
Evanswentz with a new foreword and afterword by donald s. These are the introduction by evans wentz himself, the distinguished translatoreditor of four treatises on tibetan mysticism. The bardo thodol commonly known in the west as the tibetan book of the dead, is a text from. Presently he is a lecturer in tibetan and sanskrit in the department of religious studies at the university of california, santa barbara. Download the tibetan book of the dead free pdf ebook. The tibetan book of the great liberation or the method of realizing nirvanna through knowing the mind includes. The actual name in tibetan is bardo todrol chenmo, which means the great liberation through hearing in the between. The tibetan buddhists have the tibetan book of the dead. Full text of the tibetan book of the dead internet archive. Many consider evanswentz to have been very passionate about the subject matter, but did not understand it as well as we do now given that his translations came about at a time when the wests relationship with the teachings was still in its infancy. Evanswentz, which had started the misnomer, the tibetan book of the dead.
During the seminar he used a tibetan text, while the audience followed in the evans wentz edition. What is the best translation of the tibetan book of the dead in your eyes. Nov 27, 2019 most of the accessible englishlanguage translations of the bardo thodol only include chapter 11, the liberation upon hearing. The book written by detlef ingo lauf is a necessary addition to the information, presented in the tibetan book of the dead. The tibetan book of the great liberation, which was unknown to the western world until its first publication in 1954, speaks to the quintessence of the supreme path, or mahayana, and fully reveals the yogic method of attaining enlightenment. What is the best translation of the tibetan book of the. The tibetan book of the great liberation or the method of realizing nirvana through knowing the mind. The tibetan book of the great liberation download free pdf. The tibetan book of the dead is the most famous buddhist text in the west, having sold more than a million copies since it was first published in english in 1927. He spent many years in the high himalaya and commissioned a translation of what he was to title the tibetan book of the dead from a tibetan who taught at a boys school. Evanswentz seven authentic tibetan yoga texts, almost unknown to the occidental world until their first publication in english in 1935, are now available in this galaxy book edition. The book acts as a guide for the dead during the state that intervenes between death.
Wes t as the tibetan book of the dead is the product of their collaboration. The tibetan book of the dead its history and controversial. The most complete edition is the gyurme dorje translation, the tibetan book of the dead, though unless you are taking. The texts have been discovered and rediscovered in the west during the course of almost the entire 20th century, starting with oxfords edition by w y evans. A biography this smart, entertaining introduction to the tibetan book of the dead is a real delight. The tibetan book of the dead is one of the texts that, according to legend, padmasambhava was compelled to hide during his visit to tibet in the late 8th century. Tibetan book of the dead, clear light, bardo, delok, neardeath.
The tibetan book of the dead or the afterdeath experiences on the bardo. Jul 01, 2009 walter evans wentz 1878 1965 was an american anthropologist who was deeply interested in religion. In his commentaries, to the tibetan book of the dead evanswentz explains that never centers mentioned in the book mean psychic centers or cakras and the center of wisdom mentioned in the book is located in anahata cakra in the center of the chest. What is the best english translation of the tibetan book of. The buddhist sect responsible for this manuscript holds that with death man passes into what they call the bardo world.
Evanswentz in imitation of the egyptian book of the dead. This version of the tibetan book of the dead aldous. Mar 11, 2011 the tibetan book of the dead has a wonderful story, and in this fascinating and charming little book, donald lopez reveals himself to be a wonderful storyteller. The book is a deep survey of buddhist and prebuddhist relations teachings, which attributed to the buddhist concepts of death and dying. I would say that the evanswentz translation is by far the best. There is a pile of footnotes to help guide you through each page. Interviews with tibetan lamas, american scholars, and practicing buddhists. This interest resulted largely from the publication of the tibetan book of the dead tbd by walter yeeling evanswentz and lama dawa samdup in 1927.
You can take from it what you need, or take all of it, and make of it what you will. The second book in the series is called tibets greatest yogi milarepa and is the story of a great yogi who puts into practice most of what we learn from the tibetan book of the dead. Full text of the tibetan book of the dead see other formats. The tibetan book of the dead topics, sample papers. Book from the archaeological survey of india central archaeological library, new delhi. Request title says it all looking to make an effort in reading this classic and want to get the best experience possible. Bardo thodol means liberation by hearing on the after death plane, it was originally written in tibetan and is meant to be a guide for those who. Sep 24, 2010 the tibetan book of the great liberation by padma sambhava. It takes time, effort, and a particular frame of mind, to truly get to grips with the text. The bardo thodol, which has become known in the west as the tibetan. The tibetan book of dead has taken it to be a very free translation of bardo thodol liberation by hearing on the after death plane is among the sacred book of the world. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the tibetan book of the dead. Apr 04, 2012 the tibetan book of the dead or the bardo thodol is the english translation of the famous tibetan death text, the great liberation upon hearing in the intermediate state. As a side note evanswentz wrote several other books to follow up on this one.
The tibetan book of the dead, was popularized by walter evanswentzs edition, but as such is virtually unknown in tibet the first western version of the tibetan book of the dead was published by oxford university press in 1927 by walter y. Evans wentz seven authentic tibetan yoga texts, almost unknown to the occidental world until their first publication in english in 1935, are now available in this galaxy book edition. Bardo thodol means liberation by hearing on the after death plane, it was originally written in tibetan and is meant to be a guide. During the seminar he used a tibetan text, while the audience followed in the evanswentz edition. The paperback of the the tibetan book of the dead by w. The tibetan book of the dead was first published in 1927 by oxford university press, london. Now, in the form of the everpopular tibetan book of the dead, these teachings are constantly being discovered and rediscovered by western readers of many different backgroundsa phenomenon which began in 1927 with oxfords first edition of dr. They should be read in the following order 1 the tibetan book of the dead, 2 tibets great yogi milarepa, 3 tibetan yoga and secret doctrines and 4 the tibetan book of the great liberation. Evanswentz, served as the text which leary, alpert and myself used as the. The tibetan book of the dead was traditionally used as a mortuary text, read or recited in the presence of a dying or dead person. What is the best translation of the tibetan book of the dead. The tibetan book of the dead kindle edition by evanswentz. I have read the tibetan book of the dead, but i havent.
Pdf the tibetan book of the dead download read online. The tibetan book of the dead or the afterdeath experiences on the bardo plane, according to lama kazi dawasamdups english rendering compiled and edited by w. Like to the north and south in the golden glow of a september twilight we saw the long line of the outer hebrides like the rocky backbone of some submerged continent. Evanswentz 18781965, formerly of jesus college, oxford, studied occult doctrines extensively in india during the early years of the twentieth century. As a side note evans wentz wrote several other books to follow up on this one. In fact, lopez argues, evanswentzs book is much more american than tibetan.
The paperback and hardcover editions of the book contain extensive notes by evanswentz about the conclusions he drew from the. A manual based on the tibetan book of the dead pdf. The tibetan book of the great liberation or, the method of realizing nirvana through knowing the mind is the last of four books in the tibetan series, where the tibetan book of the dead, is the first book of the series which describes buddhist philosophy, psychology and metaphysics. The liberation through hearing during the intermediate state standard tibetan.
The tibetan book of the dead kindle edition by evans wentz, walter, baldock, john, lama kazi dawa samdup. Evans wentz s book has been so influential it is surprising to learn that he translated only three chapters of the original work which, it turns out, is not even. The guru hid his books in stones, lakes, and pillars because the tibetans of that day and age were somehow unprepared for their teachings. The central character in this story is walter evans wentz 18781965, an eccentric scholar and spiritual seeker from trenton, new jersey, who, despite not knowing the tibetan language and never visiting the country, crafted and named the tibetan book of the dead. A companion to the unique tibetan book of the dead gb 39, which the late dr.
The tibetan book of the dead is an important document that has stood the test of time and attempts to provide answers to one of mankinds greatest questions. The tibetan book of the dead audiobook narrated by richard gere 2008. The four books in their old editions are already burdened with numerous prefaces, commentaries, and introductions, causing one to wonder what another preface could possibly add. Dec 06, 2007 there is a pile of footnotes to help guide you through each page. Walter yeeling evans wentz february 2, 1878 july 17, 1965 was an american anthropologist and writer who was a pioneer in the study of tibetan buddhism, and in transmission of tibetan buddhism to the western world, most known for publishing an early english translation of the tibetan book of the dead in 1927. The central character in this story is walter evanswentz 18781965, an eccentric scholar and spiritual seeker from trenton, new jersey, who, despite not knowing the tibetan language and never visiting the country, crafted and named the tibetan book of the dead. The epitome of the great gurus biography or padmas precepts and the last teachings of phadampa sangay these teachings called the knowing of the mind in its selfidentifying, selfrealizing. The tibetan book of the dead has its origins in the treasure texts said to have been hidden away by padmasambhava, the lotus guru, in tibet in the 8th century ad so that they could be revealed at an appropriate later time. The tibetan book of the dead project gutenberg self.
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