Author: W Y Evans-Wentz
Publisher: New Age Books
Year: 2004
Language: English
Pages: 248
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8178222515
Description
The Tibetan Book of the 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. The book is pre-eminent insight into interpretations of higher lamaic teachings and of the subtle esotericism underlying the Bardo Thodol.
In this oriental ideas have been put forward in a form which is intelligible to the European mind. The Occidental parallels of various mystic or occult doctrines current in Orient are frequently referred in this book, because author's personal experience gathered during years of wanderings chiefly in the high Himalayas and on the Tibetan frontiers of Kashmir, Garhwal, and Sikkim.
It also contains a detailed introduction that serves as necessary commentary tot eh translation. The annotations to the text record are based on author's research especially in relation to Northern or Mahayana Buddhism.
This book is a valuable contribution to ever expanding quest for Buddhist knowledge and serve as one more spiritual stand in an unbreakable bond of goodwill and universal peace, binding East and West together in mutual respect and understanding.
Contents
PREFACE
ILLUSTRATIONS
FOREWORD
The Science of Death, by Sir John Woodroffe
INTRODUCTION
The Importance of the Bardo Thodol
The Symbolism
The Esoteric Significance of the Forty-Nine Days of the Bardo
The Esoteric Significance of the Five Elements
The Wisdom Teachings
The Death Ceremonies
The Bardo, or After-Death state
The Psychology of the Bardo Visions
The Judgment
The Rebirth Doctrine
The Cosmography
The Fundamental Teachings Summarized
The Manuscript
The Origin of the Bardo Thodol
The Translating and the Editing
BOOK I: THE CHIKHAI BARDO AND THE CHONYID BARDO
THE OBEISANCES
THE INTRODUCTION
PART I
THE BARDO OF THE MOMENTS OF DEATH
Instructions on the symptoms of Death, or the first stage of the chikhai bardo: The Primary Clear Light Seen at the Moment of Death
Instructions Concerning the Second Stage of the Chikhai Bardo: The Secondary Clear Light seen Immediately after Death
PART II
THE BARDO OF THE EXPERIENCING OF REALITY
Introductory Instructions Concerning the Experiencing of Reality During the Third Stage of the Bardo, called the Chonyid Bardo, When the Karmic Apparitions Appear
The Dawning of the peaceful Deities, from The first to the Seventh Day
The Dawning of the Wrathful Deities, from the Eight to the Fourteenth Day
The Conclusion, Showing the Fundamental Importance of the Bardo Teachings
BOOK II
THE SIDPA BARDO
The Obeisances
Introductory Verses
PART I
THE AFTER-DEATH WORLD
The Bardo Body: Its Birth and Its Super-Normal Faculties
Characteristics of Existence in the Inter Mediate State
The Judgement
The All-Determining Influence of Thought
The Dawning of the Lights of the six Lokas
PART II
THE PROCESS OF REBIRTH
The Closing of the Door of the Womb
The Choosing of the Womb-Door
The alternative Choosing: Supernormal Birth; or womb-Birth
The General Conclusion
THE APPENDIX
The Invocation of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
The Path of Good Wishes for Saving from the dangerous narrow passage-way of the Bardo.
The Root Verses of the six Bardos
The Path of Good Wishes Which Protecteth from fear in the Bardo
The Colophon
ADDENDA
Yoga
Tantricism
Mantras, or Words of Power
The Guru and Shishya (or Chela) and Initiations
Reality
Northern and Southern Buddhism and Christianity
The Medieval Christian Judgment
Index