The Tibetan Book of the Dead || Introduction by H.H. The Dalai Lama

The Tibetan Book of the Dead: Liberation Through Understanding in the Between || Popularly Known in the West as The Tibetan Book of the Dead || Known in Tibet as The Great Book of Natural Liberation Through Understanding in the Between by Karma-gliṅ-pa & Padma Sambhava || Translated by Robert A.F. Thurman || Introduction by H.H. The Dalai Lama

The Tibetan Book of the Dead - Also known as the Bardo Thodol, is a Buddhist text that describes the experiences of the mind after death. It is a funerary text that is recited to ease the consciousness of a recently deceased person through death and assist it into a rebirth. The book discusses the importance of following the Buddhist teachings and practicing mindfulness to bring revelation to one's life.
The Tibetan Book of the Dead is significant because it offers a unique perspective on death and the afterlife, providing guidance on how to navigate the bardo, the intermediate state between death and rebirth. It is still coveted by scholars in Religion, Theology, and Philosophical Studies because it offers insights into Tibetan Buddhism, the philosophy of death and rebirth, and the **human experience of consciousness.

According to Tibetan tradition, it was created in the 8th century (around 750 CE) by Padmasambhava, a mystic and prophet from Oddiyana. The full book presents teachings on how to achieve liberation at various stages of life and death.

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.

It encourages one to "do something about" death by engaging in the process of dying, even if one does not accept or believe in the afterlife.