Peaceful Death, Joyful Rebirth: A Tibetan Buddhist Guidebook [Paperback]

Judy Lief

Author of Making Friends with Death; A Buddhist Guide to Encountering Mortality

The Tibetan understanding of the cycle of life and death is encapsulated in the image of the Wheel of Life, traditionally displayed outside the entrances to meditation halls as a reminder of the preciousness of life, the reality of impermanence, and the powerful force of karma. According to these teachings, our present state of mind and the way in which we lead our lives have direct bearing on our future circumstances in this life and in subsequent lives. Tulku Thondup's book is a particularly clear exposition of this teaching on life, death, and rebirth

In particular, Tulku Thondup, a renowned Tibetan Buddhist scholar, translator and spiritual guide, clarifies the interplay between karma, the six realms of existence, and the many pure lands described in traditional Buddhist texts. He carefully elucidates how the karma created by ones mental state and moral actions can propel one into either desirable or horrific states of existence. Tulku Thondrop encourages us to take responsibility for our life and cultivate healthy states of mind. Whether you believe in rebirth or not, it is easy to observe how our mental habits, which all too often seems to be shifty and out of our control, shape our perception of the world-for better or for worse. By pointing out how this works, Tulku offers the reader a way to unravel these habitual patterns and loosen the forces that propel one to painful realms of existence. In short, he offers many methods to cultivate wholesome states of mind and let go of harmful patterns that entrap us.

Of particular interest are the many stories Tulku has assembled about delogs. In Tibet there are many accounts of people who died and in that state traveled to other realms of existence and other realities, communicating with the dead and receiving teachings, before being sent back as messengers for the living. Unlike accounts of near-death experiences of short duration, it was not uncommon for delogs to return to life after a period of many days. While some of their descriptions may seem frightening or harsh-certainly no nonsense-at the same time, each delog in his or her own way reminds the living of the preciousness of life, the power of the mind, and the possibility of living with awareness, kindness, and openness. The message that what we think and do makes a difference is an empowering one, filled with inspiration and hope.

In a series of helpful appendices, Tulku Thondup has gathered a series of Buddhist rituals for the dying and for those seeking to take birth in the blissful pure land. For those interested in the Tibetan vajrayana rituals, these appendices are an invaluable resource. At the same time, Tulku repeatedly points out that anyone can benefit from Buddhist teachings on life, death and the intermediate state. No matter our tradition or background, each of us can benefit from contemplating the reality of death and the brevity of life; each of us can benefit from letting go of harmful mental states and habitual actions that cause us needless suffering; each of us can benefit from extending ourselves to one another with kindness and love.

Tulku Thondup speaks about the most subtle and crucial factors in the process dying and what comes after death. Remarkably, his audience is neither the scholar, the dilettante nor even the serious spiritual seeker. Rather he speaks directly and personally to each of us in that we ourselves will have to go through this passage. His message is that the attitude we bring to death is all important and it is a major mistake to hide from, ignore or fail to prepare for our own death. In spite of this, the tone of the book is completely positive, healing and comforting. Tulku Thondup's language and references are contemporary and up-to-date, but his sources of authority and training are steeped in the highest traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. This work also contains a brilliant survey of the biographies of delugs, Tibetans who "died" for many days and came back to reveal their experiences in the bardo. Thoroughly scholarly, yet completely accessible, this work is a breakthrough which expands the dimensions of self-help literature beyond the obsession with health while providing new material for scholars of all religions.

If you'd like to better understand the Tibetan Buddhist insights into the process of dying this book is unique. The content is accessible to anyone who genuinely wants to prepare for this inevitable passage or to aid the dying. The book is unique in that Tulku Thondup presents about a dozen stories of "delugs" people who died for several days and returned from the dead to talk about it. These stories are deeply moving and Tulku Thondup does a wonderful job of providing a clear context for better understanding them.

While the book thoroughly reviews the traditional Tibetan Buddhist view of death as well as the Buddhist practices created to help the dying and recently deceased, his view is distinctly non-dogmatic and he clearly outlines these teachings relevance and applicability to people of any faith.