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Yen you are you, they are u and you are them. We are one. A million pieces fragments of you. This is only my point of view. Community Reviews· 27,486 ratings · 855 reviews Start your review of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
I read this book after my 11year old son was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I needed to find some spiritual form of understanding as to what was happening. The
first section of the book deals with how to live well while the second part of the book deals with how to die well. We all acknowledge that it is important to have guidelines as to how to live our life as a compassionate and caring being. Very rarely do we consider that it is equally important to know how to deal with death, be it our own The first section of the book deals with how to live well while the second part of the book deals with how to die well. We all acknowledge that it is important to have guidelines as to how to live our life as a compassionate and caring being. Very rarely do we consider that it is equally important to know how to deal with death, be it our own or someone close to us. I cannot say that this was an easy read as it is quite spiritual and me
being a westener, found the wording quite hard work at times, especially when I was so so tired and scared. I remember sitting by my son's bed reading the dying part of this book while he slept. Looking back now, that was 2006, I am not sure how I actually managed to read it, but I can say, that I learned a lot from it and yes, it did comfort me. It taught me the hard lesson of impermanence. Nothing lasts forever, and one of the best things we can do for the dying is to support them in their
death and not fly in the face of it. Most of us wish to rail against our gods when someone so young is dying, especially if that young person is our child but Sogyal Rinpoche's words helped me to accept my son's approaching death calmy and in the final days encourage him to go on his way with my blessings and love. When sitting down to write a Eulogy for my son's funeral, I took several quotes from this book to help the congregation through their shock and grief. I would
highly reccomend this book to anyone going through this major transition from life to death. However, I was quite used to reading spiritual books prior to acquiring this one but for a newcomer to such esoterism and intense spirituality it may prove to much but hopefully perseverance will prevail.
I have been reading this book since I got it in 2002. I read, put it down and pick it up again in 3-6 months. It puts into words the most difficult concepts, yet it is so deep in meanings that it takes awhile for me to digest. I started this book while in a job that I dealt with patients who were living yet quickly dying - it helped me deal with my questions of death. And with dealing with those questions I learned about life. I am now 3/4 done. It's ironic that when I pick it up to read, there I have been reading this book since I got it in 2002. I read, put it down and pick it up again in 3-6 months. It puts into words the most difficult concepts, yet it is so deep in meanings that it takes awhile for me to digest. I started this book while in a job that I dealt with patients who were living yet quickly dying - it helped me deal with my questions of death. And with dealing with those questions I learned about life. I am now 3/4 done. It's ironic that when I pick it up to read, there is an insight to something that's been going on in my life. Am i Buddhist? No, yet this book has brought me closer to my own religious and spiritual beliefs - because God is bigger than one religion. ...more
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is a manual on how to deal with death, but I would argue it has far more to do with life and the living. It is about understanding death and how it will, ultimately, come for all of us. We have one life so we should live it as fully as possible, being mindful in every single situation. It’s not just about how to deal with the consequences of loss, but it’s about understanding how to deal with life. This book gave me the kick I needed and helped propel me out The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is a manual on how to deal with death, but I would argue it has far more to do with life and the living. It is about understanding death and how it will, ultimately, come for all of us. We have one life so we should live it as fully as possible, being mindful in every single situation. It’s not just about how to deal with the consequences of loss, but it’s about understanding how to deal with life. This book gave me the kick I needed and helped propel me out of bad mind-state. I couldn’t have asked for more. ...more
First, this is not a direct translation of the Bardo Thodol, commonly known in the West as the 'Tibetan Book of Living & Dying.' Rather it is a broad introduction to Tibetan Buddhist beliefs including the author's interpretation of the teachings contained in the Bardo Thodol. The validity of Sogyal's teachings are generally accepted within the Tibetan Buddhist community. Sogyal Rinpoche received
teachings from an early age by highly respected teachers such as Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, and D First, this is not a direct translation of the Bardo Thodol, commonly known in the West as the 'Tibetan Book of Living & Dying.' Rather it is a broad introduction to Tibetan Buddhist beliefs including the author's interpretation of the teachings contained in the Bardo Thodol. The validity of Sogyal's teachings are generally accepted within the
Tibetan Buddhist community. Sogyal Rinpoche received teachings from an early age by highly respected teachers such as Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He liberally quotes his teachers throughout, a strong point of this book. 'The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying,' has a new-age syncretic tone, and has the feel of being written to especially appeal to Western readers unfamiliar with Eastern spiritual traditions. Sogyal quotes such diverse figures as Mother Teresa,
Shakespeare, and William Blake imbuing the book with a poetic but sometimes convoluted style. This is unsurprising considering Sogyal received a Western education from an early age culminating in a Comparative Religions degree from Cambridge. Sogyal makes the spiritual path seem so alluring and beautiful, which at first drew me into the book. However as I got further into the text something didn't sit right with me. Bliss and beauty are certainly part of a committed spiritual practice but so are
sobering, repetitive hard work, and painful sacrifices. I decided to do some research into the history of the author before investing more energy in the book. Potential readers should be aware that in 1994 10 women filed a civil lawsuit of $10 million against Sogyal accusing him of 'coercing' them into sexual acts. His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave his blessings to the lawsuit, which was settled out of court. Sogyal also removed his school Rigpa from the tutelage of Dudjom Rinpoche, his
late master of whom he writes so reverently in this book, when Dudjom Rinpoche suggested he quit teaching for awhile after news of the allegations against Sogyal reached him. Does this call into question Sogyal's qualifications as a good teacher? Not necessarily. As a practicing master? One can come to their own conclusions. The Dalai Lama has said, "The fact that the teacher may have done many other good things should not keep us silent." and, "the best thing is whenever exploitation, sexual
abuse or money abuse happen, make them public." So as a general introduction to Tibetan Buddhism this is a good book with some major caveats. Sogyal's strengths are as a consummate scholar and his research and selection of quotes are strong and full of wisdom. However I would recommend seeking other sources for those who have already embarked on a path and want to strengthen and deepen their spiritual practice.
I'll admit I haven't finsihed it yet...it's one of those books you read a little in, ponder it, leave the book on the bedside and then read some more in later. I'll admit I haven't finsihed it yet...it's one of those books you read a little in, ponder it, leave the book on the bedside and then read some more in later. ...more
I'm on page 134.... reading slowly. Every time I read a paragraph in this book, I can feel my pulse slow, & my heart open. I drop back into myself and remember why I'm here. I remember to be a human being & not just a human doing. This slowing has happened enough that now even just looking at the book across the room has a similar effect. My mother loaned me her copy -- not sure she's gonna
get it back soon as it is such a powerful reminder for me. Every time I read a paragraph in this book, I can feel my pulse slow, & my heart open. I drop back into myself and remember why I'm here. I remember to be a human being & not just a human doing. This slowing has happened enough that now even just looking at the book across the room has a similar effect. My mother loaned me her copy --
not sure she's gonna get it back soon as it is such a powerful reminder for me.
I love this book with a passion. The Essential Phowa practice has sustained me through so much loss and I have practiced it countless times over many years.
I read this book and took from it what I needed and left the weird stuff for others. What I took was significant and very helpful, and I keep this book around to re-read those passages. I believe anyone can find something in this book useful to them personally, but probably not all of it. Prepare to be frightened when you come across the writing that speaks to you, most likely at the start. If you are broken and
as spiritually wounded as I was when I began this book, also prepare to be overwhelm I read this book and took from it what I needed and left the weird stuff for others. What I took was significant and very helpful, and I keep this book around to re-read those passages. I believe anyone can find something in this book useful to them personally, but probably not all of it. Prepare to be frightened when you come across the writing that speaks to you,
most likely at the start. If you are broken and as spiritually wounded as I was when I began this book, also prepare to be overwhelmed. But it is very possible you will find peace, solace, and maybe even change some of your life and thinking habits for the better. It holds very healing advice. From a text book point of view, if your interest is restricted wholly to understanding the concept of Buddhism, this book is well written, very clear, and aimed specifically to the Western reader with
all things laid out for the purpose of our being able to understand the religion. I can't imagine anyone not gleaning something useful from "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying."
Oct 20, 2020 Ellery rated it did not like it When I started reading, I was unaware of the numerous abuse
allegations against Sogyal Rinpoche, extensively documented and largely substantiated in the independent investigatory report conducted on behalf of his own Rigpa charity in 2018: https://www.rigpa.org/independent-inv.... Obviously, this news greatly saddens and disturbs me. I had hoped to find some measure of wisdom and solace in the book (especially when confronting the fear of death
in pandemic times), but that hope is gone now. I do Obviously,
this news greatly saddens and disturbs me. I had hoped to find some measure of wisdom and solace in the book (especially when confronting the fear of death in pandemic times), but that hope is gone now. I don't plan on reading this book any further, and I will remember with wariness the potential monstrosity of so-called "holy men" in the future...there is good and wisdom in this world, but it's not to be found here.
The author, Sogyal Rinpoche, is a prolific Buddhist Teacher as well as the founder of many Buddhist Centers worldwide, including Lerab Ling in the South of France, which I think is his best-known retreat center. Anyway, to quote wikipedia: "In 1983, Rinpoche participated in the ‘New Dimensions in Death and Dying’ conference in California. This brought Rinpoche in touch with the work of Dr. Elisabeth
Kübler-Ross and Professor Kenneth Ring in the fields of hospice care and near-death research." Conse Anyway, to quote wikipedia: "In 1983, Rinpoche participated in the ‘New Dimensions in Death and Dying’ conference in
California. This brought Rinpoche in touch with the work of Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and Professor Kenneth Ring in the fields of hospice care and near-death research." Consequently, the contents of this book are borne out of his experience in the field of hospice care and the dying. This was actually my primary text of sorts at the beginning of 2000. I spent about 3 months studying this text and it greatly helped to transform the way I viewed death and convinced me of the absolute
need to not only accept death, but to--in a sense--embrace it by making it your friend, your constant companion, your ultimate destination. Because ... well ... because frankly, it is. For anyone dealing with death, grief or even an ingrown toenail, I recommend this book ;^) No, really, it's a must-read. If I could only keep two or three books, this one would definitely be one of them.
Anyway, to get back to the book, the first few chapters especially are a grand meditation on death. Rinpoche very gently and simply points out where we’re going wrong in our Western materialism, and you can’t really argue with what he says. Very occasionally you
come across a book that puts into words what nobody else seems to say but what has been blindingly obvious to you for as long as you can remember: ‘Yes! That’s it, exactly!’ you feel like shouting. ‘Where have you been all my life?’ Well, this is one of those books. As I say, the first few chapters about attitudes to death in the West and where we are going wrong are fascinating, although the later chapters on yoga and meditation did not really take my fancy. I find the Bible and the Book
of Common Prayer fascinating reading as well, but when they start saying things such as you have to go to church to be saved and all the rest of it I tend to switch off. You have to devote your life to something like yoga, and there’s not much chance of me finding a ‘master’, so I’m happy, with Samuel Beckett, to be left alone with my books to make of them what I can, without the organisational superstructure. I don’t like groups. And Buddhism does make a great deal of sense. I can well
imagine, for example, that the soul on death becomes surrounded by objectifications of the person’s actions and desires when alive, so that what you do in life comes back at you like a boomerang when you die. I watched a documentary once about an explorer who lived with some remote tribe in the Amazon rain forest, and was allowed to take part in some dangerous ceremony in which he was spiritually ‘purified’ by taking a natural drug as a part of the ceremonies. Later, he described how it felt:
all things are connected, and he felt every bad thing he had ever done as the person on the receiving end of it had felt. He planned to find everyone he’d ever harmed in word or deed and apologise to them, to put things right. This is justice that feels right: it is absolutely fair that the good are rewarded and the bad get their comeuppance – and that it is what you yourself have done that recoils on you rather than that you are punished by some higher being. When you think you’re hurting
others you’re just hurting yourself. This ties in with the teaching of other religions and with modern psychology: you create your own heaven and your own hell. If God is love, He doesn’t want us to harm ourselves like this. Put your hand in the fire and it’s going to hurt. As far as I’m concerned, the spiritual experience is like a diamond, and the various religious approaches are its facets. They all talk essentially about the same thing, but the human urge for separation and conflict
has roughened the edges of each somewhat so that they don’t fit together as harmoniously as they should, to the point where they often seem more like competing businesses than reflections of the same divine truth. This book doesn’t tell you that you should become a Buddhist and that this is the only way to attain salvation and avoid hell. The ‘you’re either with us or against us’ point of view is wholly alien to it. It is almost scientific in its impartiality, simply pointing out what the case is. It all makes perfect sense, wherever you’re coming from: we have to get back to incorporating death into our everyday lives, because just not thinking about it is the most unhealthy approach of all. ...more
This book will change your life. This acclaimed spiritual masterpiece is widely regarded as one of the most complete and authoritative presentations of the
Tibetan Buddhist teachings ever written. A manual for life and death and a magnificent source of sacred inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, to compassionate love and care This book will change your life. This acclaimed spiritual masterpiece is widely regarded as one of the most
complete and authoritative presentations of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings ever written. A manual for life and death and a magnificent source of sacred inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying provides a lucid and inspiring 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. Sogyal Rinpoche was born in Tibet and
raised by one of the most revered spiritual masters of this century, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö. With the Chinese occupation of Tibet, he went into exile with his master, who died in 1959 in Sikkim in the Himalayas. After university studies in Delhi and Cambridge, England, he acted as translator and aide to several leading Tibetan masters, and began teaching in the West in 1974. Rinpoche sees his life's task in transplanting the wisdom of Buddha to the West by offering training in the vision
set out in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. This training can enable those who follow it to understand, embody, and integrate Buddhist teachings into their everyday lives. Rinpoche's reputation as an authority on the teachings associated with The Tibetan Book of the Dead and his dialogue with leading figures in the fields of psychology, science, and healing make him a sought-after speaker at international conferences and lectures. He travels extensively, teaching in Europe, North
America, Australia, and Asia, and is the founder and spiritual director of Rigpa, a network of Buddhist centers and groups around the world.
Though I am finished with this book, it is not going back on its shelf. I'm placing it right next to my meditation spot and intend to put its words to use in my practice. And when the time comes that I or a loved one has
the opportunity to prepare for death, I again expect to keep this book close at hand. I read this book right after walking away from a serious car accident with only bruises. My years of yoga training served me well during the accident and its aftermath, but I knew that it was ti I read this book right after walking away from a serious car accident with only bruises. My years of yoga training served me well during the accident and its aftermath, but I knew that it was time to open this book and dig more deeply into the process and meaning of life and death while I still had the chance. Within, I found practical,
down-to-earth advice on how to live, why we live, and how to die. Sogyal Rinpoche covers every conceivable situation a person could encounter and stresses the importance of preparation through meditation at every stage. He also tells inspiring stories and helps the reader to approach these big, often scary topics with a relaxed, open mind. I am grateful for having had the chance to read this book, and I hope to ensure in my own life that its wisdom was not passed along in vain. Thank you,
Sogyal Rinpoche, for helping me to see more clearly the purpose of my own life and to be less afraid of both living and dying.
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is a beautiful book, full of truth and wisdom. I have been reading it off and on for the past couple of years and finally finished it. What I really love about this book is that it puts the ancient teachings of Buddha in a modern context and addresses many alarming problems with modern society that are leading our world toward destruction. One of these problems is that Western society has dismissed spirituality in favor of a "see to believe" attitude based on The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is a beautiful book, full of truth and wisdom. I have been reading it off and on for the past couple of years and finally finished it. What I really love about this book is that it puts the ancient teachings of Buddha in a modern context and addresses many alarming problems with modern society that are leading our world toward destruction. One of these problems is that Western society has dismissed spirituality in favor of a "see to believe" attitude based on empiricism, the senses, and on the limited perspectives of humans. This can especially be seen in the attitudes toward medicine, death and dying. This book is eye-opening and I think everyone should read it. Now that I have finally finished reading and understood the many messages of this book, I will be looking for more books on Buddhism and eventually plan to find a teacher or temple. I would also like to visit Asia again, this time with more knowledge and appreciation for Eastern philosophy. ...more
Couldnt finish it, what a droll read, no offence placid buddhist dudes, but you are boring as batshit.
As a Westerner, I find Eastern philosophy at once simple and complex: the basic tenets of Buddhism and Eastern religion appear to be very simple (consideration for
all living things, consciousness of all our actions and the knowledge that every action affects others, and a "forsaking" of the permanence of material things), but for those of us who've built our lives and measured our success by the acquisition of these very things, it's a hard sell. The main message I've been getting from the book The main message I've been getting from the book (which a good friend and bandmate gave me to help me with the impending death of my mother) is that the
greatest gift we can give to a dying person is a "good death." We do this by comforting them, reassuring them that they are loved and valued and that their life has made a great impact. (At least that's what I've been doing!) I find that the book tends to bang us over the head with dozens of metaphors on a single page ("think of a babbling stream..." then, two sentences later, "think of a frozen iceberg," etc.), but the messages of spirituality and reflection are very refreshing and
welcome in our grasping world.
I cannot recommend the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying highly enough. I believe it is one of the most important books for anyone in the modern world to read. The premise as I see it is: 1) throughout the modern world, our fear,
avoidance, or shrugging off of death and dying is an enormous cause of our personal and collective spiritual suffering, as well as social injustices and environmental unraveling; 2) the possibility of understanding death clearly, using our lives to prepare for death, and The premise as
I see it is: 1) throughout the modern world, our fear, avoidance, or shrugging off of death and dying is an enormous cause of our personal and collective spiritual suffering, as well as social injustices and environmental unraveling; 2) the possibility of understanding death clearly, using our lives to prepare for death, and wholeheartedly living our lives free of suffering is available to us in every single moment; and 3) there is a path by which to practice the integration and embrace of death
& dying into our lives. Besides illuminating insights into some of the most persistent questions of what it means to be a human being, it's written in extremely conversational and accessible language. Read it now!! You can actually download it for free
here:
well now i must say this book is really meking me want to return to my ow religion not in the form that i used to know! in fact by reading this book i find some unfathomable parts of my religion
exolained (not that my religion is hard...in the contrary its really easy but there is no one who can explain it well) so every page and chapter i read makes me want to read more and understand more! (though there are some things in the book that i just can`t accept ( the concept od rebirth for example w well now i must say this book is really meking me want to return to my ow religion not in the form that i used to know! in fact by reading this
book i find some unfathomable parts of my religion exolained (not that my religion is hard...in the contrary its really easy but there is no one who can explain it well) so every page and chapter i read makes me want to read more and understand more! (though there are some things in the book that i just can`t accept ( the concept od rebirth for example which is copletely beside the point) but these do not interfere with the base and essence of the book which i know now for a fact is shared in
all religions. now the fever is past....and really i heared and read some unpleseant things about the author so for the past few months i have been contemplating whether to keep on reading or not...i mean the book on itself is really amazing and beautiful like it solved many of my problems but the author...
Sigh, I'm not so keen on this whole belief in literal reincarnation business (even with the
nuances he throws in). ---- I eventually gave up on reading this book around chapter 17 or so. It just drove me batty, the luminous this and extraordinary that. Sorry if I'm just being close-minded. (I will say that chapter 11 of this book is actually really really good, with the exception of a couple of crystal-radiant paragraphs, it showed a genuine compassion for the dying, very touching, offering the dy ---- I eventually gave up on reading this book around chapter 17 or so. It just drove me batty, the luminous this and extraordinary that. Sorry if I'm just being close-minded. (I will say that chapter 11 of this book is actually really really good, with the exception of a couple of crystal-radiant paragraphs, it showed a genuine compassion for the dying, very touching, offering the dying what they need
rather than what you want). Otherwise, I don't see why people hold this in such esteem. Why do we want things to be so amazing and mindblowing?
I am appalled by the sexual abuse this author Sogyal Rinpoche did and was proven. Truly disturbing the mental manipulation, physical abuse and beatings and the horrific sexual abuse. Not to
mention the use of donation money to fund his lifestyle while being praised as having a “modest lifestyle” by other teachers that knew him. If you really look into detail what sort of things he did it is truly sickening. All of these allegations started to come out in the 90s but were pushed down until 2017. All of these allegations started to come out in the 90s but were pushed down until 2017. But before that many high up leaders knew of these allegations but decided to not mention it until it couldn’t be hidden anymore
until 2017. That’s when the Dalai Lama finally mentioned it and denounced Sogyals actions even though he new of the claims before. Sogyal was said to have an inner circle of people close to him who were also spiritual Buddhist teachers who knew of his actions but did not say anything. As usual a cover up in these religions in the higher ups. What he did to his victims was complete cult mentality. Truly disturbing and sickening, I hope all his victims got the healing they need. The
Book Also there was a lot of mysticism in these stories and just over dramatics like I was watching a Hollywood film with these spiritual teachers who are all knowing who spread their teachings, like Yoda. I also hate that in some of these religions it always seems like there’s some secret knowledge or practices that us mere mortals don’t have. It just gives me a weird feeling. That they preach that we are all equal but you can clearly see hierarchy’s in their religion. What I’ve learnt Don’t take this as me denouncing Buddhism I still believe there are many great Buddhist books out there and a lot of good Buddhist teachings for example I always go back to the book “The Buddhist Guide for Teens” as it’s a book I really connect with and there is no wishy washy nonsense but gets straight to the practices and what you can do and when I read that book and did some of the practices i did actually feel I was becoming a better person (saying that my practice went down hill when I was really busy with school work years ago lol but I always know I will go back to it). Just be cautious about what you read and the people you follow. These people are not higher than you and don’t let people condescend to you. ...more
The Tibetan book of Living and Dying is actually the interpretation or briefing of the sacred ancient Tibetan Buddhist text widely known in the west as The Tibetan Book of the Dead said to be written by great Indian Buddhist master Padmasambhava who brought Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th century. An excellent book which doesn't have anything to do with religion Buddhism but everything with compassion
and humanity with which it shows how can we transform ourselves and this world while living our lif An excellent book which doesn't have anything to do
with religion Buddhism but everything with compassion and humanity with which it shows how can we transform ourselves and this world while living our life and even after that. People of eastern origin will not find much difficulty in comprehending the ideology of this book because they have the inherent virtue of coexisting in this world. But the author made this book such a way that anyone can understand this sacred things without embedding themselves into Buddhism. Am very much
afraid to comment on the contents of this book because only a learned person who have decades of education from his master can grasp at least what it really meant, let alone practice it of his own. This book is all about death, dead and dying. Buddhism doesn't see death as unfortunate or mysterious or painful but an opportunity. Opportunity for achieving a higher metaphysical realm. And all their life they are preparing themselves for this. Whatever happiness and comfortableness we
see in this life is nothing compared to the 'state' if we able to achieve after our death. According to Buddhist philosophy whatever we do in this life is to achieve liberation of our mind (I couldn't find the word salvation anywhere in this book) which is a all free formless, mediumless state; Bodhisattva or Buddha. If at all we fail to attain that then at least try for a rebirth in a better realm, say human. Again try the same for the liberation of our soul or mind to attain
Buddhahood and it is an endless cycle of life and rebirth called samsara. But the attainment depends on how we live our life in this world. The quality of our karma decide not only the quality of our death but the 'effects' of our death too. The rebirth and reincarnation are our chance or possibility for the liberation and which is not our aim but actually is a punishment because we have to again go through an entire lifetime. So according to Buddhism it's not only what 'life' itself is important
but release or free from this life and from every rebirth is more important and that's what we have to try for. In short nirvana or to become Buddha is the ultimate goal. We may have to go through endless life cycle to reach that level. The implication is its not Buddha going to help the world but the way of attaining Bodhisattva is having the power to change every person in his life and this world. Try to read the book without any concerns of religion. Author himself a renowned Tibetan
Buddhist master who moreorless successfully able to explain the ancient traditional texts without much mystical or supernatural elements. Finally only one thing will remain in your mind ; compassion. Being compassionate is the foremost thing in this life.
An extremely important (and relevant) carry-along during my half-year trip to North India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Rinpoche writes largely to a
Western audience, so it doesn't surprise me that much of his content seems simplistic and applicable to the ordinary observer. Really, TBLD is just another book that explains the "intermediate" or "transitional" states of life and death, which are otherwise known as "bardos." I don't mean to suggest that Rinpoche totally sold out (as some refugees have suggest I don't mean to suggest that Rinpoche totally sold out (as some refugees have suggested, for whatever reason), wrote about a topic of Tibetan Buddhism,
and articulated it in such a way that Western audiences groveled for more insight. Rather, he's a very thoughtful writer who has done a very good job in conveying Buddhism to a particular group of people. I actually found myself delighted reading his account of Tibetan Buddhism.
After finding out about his sexual assaults , every row in this book feels like a fraud.
Parts of this book are interesting, but overall it kind of starts to drag in the middle. I appreciated
a look at life, death, and justice from a completely different perspective. It also does represent a considerably more balanced perspective on life and death than most of American culture has at present. However, I cannot understand anyone looking at the world and coming away believing that there aren't truly evil people. And it's too much of a stretch to think about colored humors attached to Parts of this book are interesting, but overall it kind
of starts to drag in the middle. I appreciated a look at life, death, and justice from a completely different perspective. It also does represent a considerably more balanced perspective on life and death than most of American culture has at present. However, I cannot understand anyone looking at the world and coming away believing that there aren't truly evil people. And it's too much of a stretch to think about colored humors attached to my senses providing my life essence. My Western-ness is
showing. The discussion of science and religion at the end should not have been attempted. It distracts from his actual point and is poorly accomplished. Science is a Western formulation; its constructs simply have nothing to do with Eastern ones. In general, the pursuit of science ignores religion. In the rare cases they overlap, we do require them to agree. But Sogyal Rinpoche cannot do the mathematics required to understand the physics on which he is commenting. Therefore, he cannot
understand it, and cannot hope to meaningfully discuss how it might relate to his beliefs. Furthermore, he ignores the importance of Kant to both physics and philosophy, and the devotion of countless Orthodox Jews to physics, while musing on the possible contributions of a devoted genius scientist-theologian. His discussion of unity also misses the point of any serious intellectual considering unification; Camus detailed the intellectual struggle against the impossibility of unification in "The
Myth of Sisyphus." Sogyal Rinpoche's approach, similar to that of the decried French existentialists and Husserl, he deemed intellectual suicide.
Scientists recently discovered what happens to the body, and in what order, as its dies. Their discovery replicated what Buddhism has said for millenia as outlined in this book.
This is one of the three books I consider should be mandatory to read by all. The other two are "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan, and "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. This is one of the three books I consider should be mandatory to read by all. The other two are "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan, and "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. ...more
I don't know what I expected, but this was the longest exercise of tolerance towards nonsense that I've faced since my deconversion from Christianity. I don't know what I expected, but this was the longest exercise of tolerance towards nonsense that I've faced since my deconversion from Christianity. ...more
Probably a great book for someone spiritual and who is interested in exploring buddhism. Definitely a big no for Agnostic people like me. Although the teachings might seem different but Definitely a big no for Agnostic people like me. Although the teachings might seem different but to me they seem to be the same version of other religions. Probably it's my own
bias. But anyway, staying away from Buddhism because of this introduction. Probably I am being too harsh on the book. But oh well, it is what it is.
Sogyal Rinpoche fled from the Chinese when they invaded Tibet, a modern tragedy of a magnitude not generally acknowledged in the West. He writes of the invasion, "Over 1 million people out of a population of 6 million have died at the
hands of the Chinese; Tibet's vast forests, as indispensable as those of the Amazon to the ecology of the world, have been cut down; its wildlife has been almost totally massacred; its plateaus and rivers have been polluted with nuclear waste; the vast majority of Sogyal Rinpoche fled from the Chinese when they invaded Tibet, a modern tragedy of a magnitude not generally acknowledged in the West. He writes of the invasion, "Over 1 million people
out of a population of 6 million have died at the hands of the Chinese; Tibet's vast forests, as indispensable as those of the Amazon to the ecology of the world, have been cut down; its wildlife has been almost totally massacred; its plateaus and rivers have been polluted with nuclear waste; the vast majority of its six-and-a half thousand monasteries lie gutted or destroyed; the Tibetan people face extinction, and the glory of their own culture in their homeland has been almost entirely
obliterated." Tibetan Buddhism is the fastest growing religion in the United States, and the expatriate community of Tibetan spiritual teachers spans the globe, laying down deep roots in the hearts and souls of countless individuals. Sogyal Rinpoche is one of the teachers at the forefront of this movement. emonstrating a remarkable resilience to personal tragedy and to the trials his community and religion have been forced to endure, Sogyal has managed to make deeply realized loving contributions to the development of Buddhism in the West. He is a founder of Rigpa, a global network of over a hundred Buddhist centers. These days he travels from one to another, giving talks to thousands of people annually. His website, www.rigpa.org, informs us that he was [born in Kham in Eastern Tibet, [and] was recognized as the incarnation of Lerab Lingpa Tertรถn Sogyal, a teacher to the thirteenth Dalai Lama, by Jamyang Khyentse Chรถkyi Lodrรถ, one of the most outstanding spiritual masters of the twentieth century. Jamyang Khyentse supervised Rinpoche's training and raised him like his own son. Sogyal's
greatest gift is his ability to explain complex, esoteric teachings to Westerners. A master of the English language, he is able guide a reader from a state of curiosity to a state of profound understanding. Reading his books can produce within the reader a The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is one for the ages. A hundred years from now it will still be a classic. It has been translated into over thirty languages and has sold more than two million copies. Used extensively by hospice professionals, by psychologists and counselors, by doctors and other health care professionals, it is probably the best book about dying ever written. Few books are as comprehensive as this; you can literally begin reading the book with no knowledge of Buddhism at all, and by the time you are finished with it you will have a deep, personal understanding of Buddhist teachings and how they relate to the way we live and the way we die. As Sogyal explains in his introduction, it is impossible to understand the The Tibetan Book of the Dead outside of the culture and spiritual tradition that produced it. This book provides that context, giving the reader a full introduction as well as a complete elucidation of the these ancient Tibetan teachings. Moreover, it explains death only in the context of life, showing how the concepts of karma and of compassion impact the individual's experience of the "bardos of the inbetween" as well as how an individual's actions affect the cosmos in general. Of all Buddhist concepts, that of karma is the one most often bandied about. "Instant karma" is a catch phrase meaning immediate retribution for something we've done -- good or bad -- and that gets to the essence of what karma is. But the full explanation is far more illuminating: Karma, then, is not fatalistic or predetermined. Karma means our ability to create and to change. It is creative because we can determine how and why we act. We can change. The future is in our hands, and in the hands of our heart. Buddha said: ...more
Sogyal Rinpoche imparts his Tibetan Buddhist tradition with the best of his ability - “what is I hope from this book? To inspire
a quiet revolution in the whole way we look at health and care for the dying, and the whole way we look at life and care for the living.” In that he successful imparted his knowledge of the care the dying deserve. How to really be there for them as a compassionate presence, without ego and armed with forgiveness and love, as they transition into the most vulnerable sta Sogyal Rinpoche imparts his Tibetan Buddhist tradition with the best of his
ability - “what is I hope from this book? To inspire a quiet revolution in the whole way we look at health and care for the dying, and the whole way we look at life and care for the living.” In that he successful imparted his knowledge of the care the dying deserve. How to really be there for them as a compassionate presence, without ego and armed with forgiveness and love, as they transition into the most vulnerable state of their life. And to embody that same compassionate, kind heart in this
life. Life is IMPERMANENT. That alone was worth reading this book. Other thoughts: At times I was lost in the dogma (bardos, Buddhist realms, Phowa practice and all of ch.17 “intrinsic radiance”). This didn’t detract from the overall message though. It was helpful to read about meditation from an Eastern religion point of view rather than a Western “quick fix” or self-centered style meditation that I am more familiar with. Ch 5 “Bringing Home the Mind” dove in to some great basic
meditation methods. I really liked the first 5 chapters. Sogyal Rinpoche (Tibetan: བསོད་རྒྱལ་, Wylie: Bsod-rgyal) was born in the Tibetan Fire Pig year
(1947-8) and raised by one of the most revered spiritual masters of this century, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, who recognized him as the incarnation of Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa (1856-1926). With the Chinese occupation of Tibet, he went into exile with his master, who died in 1959 in Sikkim in the Him
Sogyal Rinpoche (Tibetan: བསོད་རྒྱལ་, Wylie: Bsod-rgyal) was born in the Tibetan Fire Pig year (1947-8) and raised by one of the most revered spiritual masters of this century, Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Lodrö, who recognized him as the incarnation of Tertön Sogyal Lerab Lingpa
(1856-1926). With the Chinese occupation of Tibet, he went into exile with his master, who died in 1959 in Sikkim in the Himalayas. After university studies in Delhi, India, and Cambridge, England, he acted as translator and aide to several leading Tibetan masters and began teaching in the West in 1974. Rinpoche sees his life's task in transplanting the wisdom of Buddha to the West by offering training in the vision set out in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. This training can enable
those who follow it to understand, embody, and integrate Buddhist teachings into their everyday lives. Rinpoche's reputation as an authority on the teachings associated with The Tibetan Book of the Dead and his dialogue with leading figures in the fields of psychology, science, and healing make him a sought-after speaker at
international conferences and lectures. He travels extensively, teaching in Europe, North America, Australia, and Asia, and is the founder and spiritual director of Rigpa, a network of Buddhist centers and groups around the world. News & InterviewsNeed another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day. To create our... “Perhaps the deepest reason why we are afraid of death is because we do not know who we are. We believe in a personal, unique, and separate identity — but if we dare to examine it, we find that this identity depends entirely on an endless collection of things to prop it up: our name, our "biography," our partners, family, home, job,
friends, credit cards… It is on their fragile and transient support that we rely for our security. So when they are all taken away, will we have any idea of who we really are? Without our familiar props, we are faced with just ourselves, a person we do not know, an unnerving stranger with whom we have been living all the time but we never really wanted to meet. Isn't that why we have tried to fill every moment of time with noise and activity, however boring or trivial, to ensure that we are
never left in silence with this stranger on our own?” “We are fragmented into so many different aspects. We don´t know who we really are, or what aspects of ourselves we should identify with or believe in. So many contradictory voices, dictates, and feelings fight for control over our inner
lives that we find ourselves scattered everywhere, in all directions, leaving nobody at home. Meditation, then, is bringing the mind home.” Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. |
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying epub
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