The Tibetan Book of the Dead

by John Baldock

Overview

Said to have its origins in the 'treasure texts' that were supposedly hidden away by Padmasambhava, the Lotus Guru, in Tibet in the 8th century, The Tibetan Book of the Dead was traditionally read aloud to the dying or recently deceased as a guide to the afterlife.

It explains how to recognize the true nature of the mind so that after death it will be possible to attain enlightenment and liberation from the suffering associated with the endless cycle of death and rebirth.

For many, reading The Tibetan Book of the Dead has been a revelatory experience on the path to finding a sense of spirituality and self-knowledge.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781782122487
Publisher:	Arcturus Publishing
Publication date:	04/24/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

According to Tibetan tradition, the Tibetan Book of the Dead was composed in the 8th century by Padmasambhava, written down by his primary student, Yeshe Tsogyal, buried in the Gampo hills in central Tibet and subsequently discovered by a Tibetan terton, Karma Lingpa, in the 14th century

The editor, John Baldock, studied art history at the École du Louvre, Paris. His encounter with sacred art led to an exploration of the world's major religious and spiritual traditions. After a period of teaching art and art history in schools in England, during which he continued his spiritual studies, he left teaching to pursue a career as a writer. His books include The Essence of Sufism, The Essence of Rumi and an anthology of Zen wisdom.

Having initially trained as a painter and art teacher John spent several years in France, during which time he studied the history of art at the École du Louvre in Paris. An interest in the symbolism of medieval religious art led to a curiosity about sacred art as an expression of an underlying spiritual dimension. On his return to England John taught art history, eventually leaving teaching to complete a book exploring the spiritual aspect of religious symbolism. His experience as a freelance editor and editorial consultant for a mind, body and spirit publisher has given John the opportunity to pursue his interest in the spiritual core of mainstream religions including Judaeo-Christian-Islamic teachings. He has given talks throughout Europe and the USA on this and related subjects. He has also studied the world's various religious traditions in some depth. A firm believer in the value of personal exploration of the spiritual dimension of our lives, John continues to question the literal interpretation of spiritual teachings as he undertakes his own journey.