The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1992

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Preface-Part 1, Chapter 4

Part 1, Chapters 5-10

Part 2, Chapters 11-15

Part 3, Chapters 16-20

Part 4, Chapters 21-22

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

How does The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying reinterpret the concept of death as a means to deepen one’s understanding of life? How can this perspective alter modern Western views on mortality?

Analyze the concept of the bardo states as explained by Rinpoche. How do these transitional states offer a framework for understanding the continuity of consciousness beyond death?

Discuss the role of the master-disciple relationship in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition as described by Rinpoche. How does this relationship help the spiritual seeker? What could be the problematic elements of this relationship in the Western world?