What is the Tibetan Book of the Dead?

The Tibetan Book of the Dead, or the Bardo Thodol, is arguably the most popular Buddhist text in Europe and the United States. Carl Jung loved it. So did John Lennon. But why? What is this text all about?

Sources:
Lopez, Donald S. Jr. The Tibetan Book of the Dead: A Biography. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2011.

Coleman, Graham, and Thupten Jinpa, eds. The Tibetan Book of the Dead: First Complete Translation. Translated by Gyurme Dorje. New York: Penguin Random House, 2005.

[hankinaz]

When I first read this book, I was confused by it's imagery (i.e. demons drinking blood from skulls??!!) However, a friend recommended also reading The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche as a way to provide graspable context. In a nutshell, what I took away was the practical learning that when confronted with someone who is dying (i.e. in a hospice or coming upon a very traumatic accident), you should try to put them at ease and let them know it is okay for them to move on ... the mindset with which they leave this world (i.e guilt, fear, calm, etc.) is the mindset with which they will enter the new world (kind of like how waking from a scary or peaceful dream can shape your state of mind for that day.) Just a thought ...

[seadawg]

Excellent. Another American/western aspect of the “Tibetan Book of the Dead, ” is the idea that it is for anyone or everyone. While some modern teachers would accept that, the traditional view is that this is a text specifically for vajrayana practitioners who have received the specific teachings while alive.
I have specifically been warned against using it for non-initiated people, because things like the descriptions of the wrathful deities would be very upsetting. There are other funerary practices, such as phowa, Shitro or Chang Chod.
John Reynolds has a large section in his book “self liberation through seeing with naked awareness” (from the same cycle as the bardo thodrol) describing how deeply wrong Wentz’s and Jung’s understanding of Tibetan Buddhism were.

[danielx]

My teacher’s teacher once told him: “when you die, look straight ahead. Do not be distracted by left or right. Or you will be sucked right back to this place.” After you die, things that scares you, disturbs you, attracts you, attached to you, turns you on the most will appear, if you don’t look straight ahead, you will be sucked back and become someone’s child. You will become the child of parents that embodies the qualities that stimulates/disturbs you the most. The only way to not be reborn, is to let go of everything and look straight ahead.

[SudoSkitz]

Dude, your channel is awesome. You're always so succinct and on point. Keep these up. To me, your channel sets the standard for anyone speaking on religion.

[marykayryan]

You never cease to amaze me. Such high quality videos. Succinct. Clear. Accurate. Accessible. Respectful. Just fantastic. Thank you.

[justinspicyrhino]

I take the Tibeten book of the Dead literally. There are a lot of parallels to people with near death experiences. I try to prepare my mind for death as often as possible.

[Yourmomsassstinks]

No way, this is freaking scary.

I was literally looking this up LAST NIGHT and I was like “damn I wish RFB had a video about this, I know he would explain better. All well, I’m sure he’d do it eventually”

[iguanajoe]

I read the Bardo Thodol as a teenager because I was fascinated by eastern "mysticism", but little did I know how much it carried on with me. I partake in psychedellic use, and DMT once brought me to a place of pure blackness, and in it, I forgot everything that made me, "me". I instantly felt terror, because I could not fathom the idea of "me" disappearing, but deep in the blackness I remembered some of the lines, and I was able to let go of everything as it pleased. That was the only way I could achieve peace of mind deep where I was, and I inmediately understood that everything is connected. This book is severely underrated and everyone should get to know it.

[driphella]

I never knew the Tibetan Book of the Dead was such a small part of such a large tradition, though it makes sense in hindsight

Your commentary on the relationship between Western spiritualism and Eastern religions is highly insightful, especially so in this video

I'm always happy I subscribed every time you show up in my feed. Always high quality stuff.

[NullStaticVoid]

I started my journey into Buddhism with some books on Japanese Zen (Chan) Buddhism.
Later when I was in college I realized that everything I read on Buddhism was written by European intellectuals. So I'd basically learned European existentialism with Buddhist window dressing.
I moved on to Tibetan Buddhism, but again I messed up and read the "Book of the Dead" and a few other such texts which came to the west from European orientalists, who were were putting quite a lot of their own philosophy into their interpretation of Buddhism.
Eventually I found a few books written by Tibetans with help from westerners. These were less sullied by the imposition of dualistic frameworks and philosophical baggage of Plato and the enlightenment (irony no?). The Dalai Lama has a few really good books on mindfulness meditation. And his discursive style is easy to follow.
More recently I've been studying Theravada through the translations of Bhikku Bodhi. Though I got there strangely through Thích Nhất Hạnh. After I read a few of his books I mistakenly assumed he was Theravadan, though he is actually from the Vietnamese branch of Chan/Zen. Nevertheless I find Theravada more straightforward and less reliant on supernaturalism and deity worship.
It's been pointed out that I am not the first westerner to find a home in Theravada for these reasons. A western preference for the secular I suppose?

[SunsetHoney]

It is also a remarkable commentary on the modern idea of near death experiences. The parallels are remarkable indicating a rich tradition within Tibetan history of discussing the NDE experience.

[robertpenny]

Thank you. I appreciate the time you spend on these videos.

I've also heard the translation as "Oh child of noble family." It's interesting how a few words makes a huge difference.

[mindgame]

Tibetan book of the Dead is one of the most profound book I ever read. It’s almost like it’s referring to everyday life on one level while simultaneously referring to a actual physical death process. Great read. Then check out the “ American Book of the Dead”

[freemanacount]

If you want to read about Tibetan religious views on death and rebirth that's very accessible to a western audience, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying is a great modern read written by a Tibetan.

[LangThoughts]

I'm a linguistics student studying Tibetan, and in the Modern Language "Bardo" is pronounced "Pardo" The full name "Bardo Thodol" is pronounced something like "Pardo Toejoel"

[PaulHaesler]

As far as I know, John Lennon only had access to Timothy Leary's "The Psychedelic Experience" which was loosely based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead - not the Bardo Thodol itself.

(Certainly the opening line "Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream" is a quote from Leary's book)

[lethemyrsmith]

This is one of the best series on Buddhism on the internet! Keep it up! Very few popular videos on Buddhism portray the religion like it really is because of how many misconceptions there are.

I’m excited for the Zen video you teased in another comment.

[mldouglasjr]

Profoundly interesting. I just happen to be in a seminar that's discussing Westernization, Orientalism, and Buddhism this week. Thanks!

[vkact]

I m. Student of Sogyal Rinpoche. Thank you for this video.

[stevenvaleriojr]

I've really been enjoying this series on Buddhism.
Are you planning to do one on the Zen sects (or have you done one and I somwhow missed it)? As a Zen (well, technically Soen, it's a Korean lineage) teacher and amateur scholar, I'm very interested to hear your take on it.