The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic & International Bestseller: 30th Anniversary Edition
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Staff Reviews
A hugely successful treatment of what it means to live and die with dignity and compassion. Full of wonderful stories from Tibet which reveal how the path to death can be opening and uplifting. Based on the teachings of the "Book of the Dead".
Description
OVER 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD • The international bestseller and spiritual masterpiece that presents ancient wisdom for modern healing—A sweeping, contemporary presentation of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings and innate wisdom
"One of the international bestselling Buddhism books of all time." —Book Authority
"This book is an extraordinary blessing: heartfelt, wise, practical, luminous – filled with inspiring stories, skillful teachings, and the great compassionate heart of the Buddha." —Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart
"Sogyal Rinpoche...has delivered the Tibetan equivalent of The Divine Comedy. One could imagine that this is what Dante might have written had he been a Buddhist metaphysician rather than a Christian poet." —New York Times Book Review
"Rinpoche’s teachings have much to offer.... His down-to-earth tone, peppered with songs and poetry from Buddhist sages, takes away much of the intense fear of death and makes it seem like an old friend." — Los Angeles Times
"A clear-eyed and contemporary exploration of the profound insight of The Tibetan Book of the Dead." —Stephen Levine, author of Turning Toward the Mystery
"I have encountered no book on the interplay of life and death that is more comprehensive, practical and wise." —Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions
Buddhist meditation master and international teacher Sogyal Rinpoche brings together the ancient wisdom of Tibet with modern research on death and dying and the nature of the universe to provide 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 unparalleled wisdom of Buddhist beliefs, helping readers accessibly yet empathetically journey across:
· The practice of meditation and living mindfully
· The nature of mind and overcoming fear and trauma
· Karma, rebirth, and reincarnation
· Compassionate love and care for the dying
· And the trials and rewards of the spiritual path and living with divine gratitude
With unprecedented scope, this book clarifies the majestic vision of life and death that underlies the classic sacred text The Tibetan Book of the Dead. Rinpoche presents simple yet powerful practices from the soul of this ancient tradition that anyone—regardless of their religion or background—can do to transform their lives, prepare for death, help the dying, and navigate grief with both grace and courage. An essential, timeless tool for spiritual growth and healing, radical self-discovery, and becoming your most mindful, compassionate, and complete self.
Praise for The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic & International Bestseller: 30th Anniversary Edition
One of the international bestselling Buddhism books of all time - Book Authority
“This book is an extraordinary blessing: heartfelt, wise, practical, luminous — filled with inspiring stories, skillful teachings and the great compassionate heart of Buddha.” - Jack Kornfield. Buddhist teacher and author of "Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart"
“Sogyal Rinpoche...has delivered the Tibetanequivalent of ’The Divine Comedy.’ One could imaginethat this is what Dante might have written had he beena Buddhist metaphysician rather than a Christian poet.” - New York Times Book Review
“Rinpoche’s teachings have much to offer.... His down-to-earth tone, peppered with songs and poetry from Buddhist sages, takes away much of the intense fear of death and makes it seem like an old friend.” - Los Angeles Times
“It is a fine book. A clear-eyed contemporary exploration, expansion of parallel teachings and translation of the high wisdom, lore and profound insight of the Tibetan Book of the Death. Meant originally for monks and pious laity, these teachings have been made considerably more accessible to the growing number of people longing to openheartedly and clear-mindedly investigate life, and therefore death, as a means of becoming more fully alive.” “The author has lived this tradition. Its process is his process. Coming from the Tibetan monastic traditions, he has learned in his many years of teaching in Europe and The United States, how the Western heart hears the Tibetan mind, and offers a potential reculturization of this remarkable master work.” - Stephen Levine
I have encountered no book on the interplay of life and death that is more comprehensive, practical and wise - Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions
“Sogyal Rinpoche...has delivered the Tibetanequivalent of ’The Divine Comedy.’ One could imaginethat this is what Dante might have written had he beena Buddhist metaphysician rather than a Christian poet.” - The San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
“This wonderful book is, in the most profound sense, ‘a metter of life and death’ -- our death, our life.” - Peter Matthiessen
“What Dante might have written had he been a Buddhist metaphysician rather than a Christian poet.” - New York Times Book Review
“Sogyal is of an exciting new generation of Tibetan teachers. Educated in both the East and the West, fluent in English and French, Sogyal’s infectious presentation of the most profound of Buddhist thoughts speaks directly and clearly to the Western mind and heart with humor, joy and great warmth. It’s certainly a breakthrough work.” - Richard Gere, actor
“In ‘The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying,’ Sogyal Rinpoche compassionately shares the benefits of the extraordinary instructions he has received from his masters, helping us to integrate the hightest spiritual practice with the process of dying.” - Ram Dass
“Sogyal Rinpoche’s work is a stunningly lucid presentation of ancient Tibetan teaching. It serves as a vital spiritual beacon in the growing darkness of our age.” - Bruce Joel Rubin, screenwriter of "Ghost" and "Jacob's Ladder"
“If we modern people could absorb one hundredth of what is spoken of in this book, we could begin at one and the same time to bring help to those who we love and allow the finitude of human life to teach us about what is infinite within ourselves.” - Jacob Needleman, author of "Money and the Meaning of Love"
“In ‘The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying,’ Sogyal Rinpoche speaks to us out of one of the greatest traditions of insight, and out of his profound compassion and experience, on the ultimate and inevitable question of existence. He does so with lucidity and patience, and the directness of a real teacher. This epitome of his teaching could help to guide many of us in our living and dying.” - W.S. Merwin, poet
“Sogyal Rinpoche’s book provides a deeply satisfying explanation of living and dying as revealed through the insight of Tibetan Buddhism. It is a masterful spiritual study illustrative of the contemplative work conducted over thousands of years in monasteries throughout Tibet, ad an affirmation of the need to protect this extraordinary cultural and religious legacy.” - Senator Clairborne Pell
“A masterful distillation for the West of the priceless wisdom of the Tibetan Buddhism which gives us practical instruction and spiritual guidance on how to live in light of the greatest teacher of all -- death. We’ve been waiting for this book for some years, and Sogyal Rinpoche has more than fulfilled our hopes; he has authored the definitive book for our times on these indispensible teachings.” - Kenneth Ring, Ph.D, Professor of Psychology and author of "Life and Death" and "Heading Towards Omega"
“This book represents an apex in human wisdom; it is a radient gem transmitting the accumulated insights of centuries of Tibetan Buddhism.” - Larry Dossey, M.D.
“Sogyal Rinpoche belongs to the last generation of Tibetans who grew up among eminent masters of the Buddhist tradition, and subsequently blended skillfully into the Western world. In this book, his capacity for being a bridge between these two worlds chines through vividly. I am particularly moved by his unceasing and intelligent devotion to his tradition and his teachers: read this book and savor the lovingness of this special link.” - Francisco Varela, Ph.D, neurobiologist and author of "The Embodied Mind"
“The Tibetan Book ... is simply the most understandable, helpful and elegant presentation of the perennial wisdom of the spirit.” - Sam Keen
“Destined to become a spiritual classic, this manual for contemplative practice begins the deft, deep intelligence, the companionable humor, and the authority, the challenge of the Tibetan path.” - Joanna Macy, author of "World as Lover, World as Self"
