The Practical Shaman – The Tibetan Book of the Dead Online Introduction

The book is not about the dead or for the dead in the way of its Egyptian equivalent. It is about living. It is an ancient book. It was written in 8th century century Tibet. Before that, it was an oral tradition passed down by shaman which its heritage stems. but its heritage and information go much further back and are based on shamanic knowledge. It became part of the Bon faith which is still practised today. When Buddhism entered Tibet Bon, and the Tibetan Book of the Dead it became part of that discipline helping to make Tibetan Buddhism unique.

Soon after the Buddha’s passing it was recognized that we experience different states of existence each day of our lives, and after, when we die. These s an intermediate, transitional, or liminal states are called Bardos. Our waking life is a Bardo state, our dreaming at night is a Bardo state, if/when we meditate, that is a Bardo state.

In the Tibetan world view, there is no destructive death at the end as is in the west. Instead, there is reincarnation, rebirth, a transition into a new life. What we do in this life, the good and bad deeds, or Karma influence the rebirth of our soul and how it will continue to seek enlightenment.