Questions about the translation and style of expression continually came up, and as a result of these questions it was. As a contribution to the science of death and of rebirth, it is unique among the sacred books of the world. Achetez neuf ou doccasion the tibetan book of the dead evans wentz, w. Now, in the form of the everpopular tibetan book of the dead, these teachings are constantly being discovered and rediscovered by western readers of many different backgroundsa phenomenon which began in 1927 with oxfords first edition of dr. Achetez neuf ou doccasion the tibetan book of the dead evanswentz, w. The tibetan book of dead has taken it to be a very free translation of bardo thodol liberation by hearing on the after death plane is among the sacred book of the world. I took the liberty of remastering audiobook for personal use. You may remember that it was the original editor of the english translation of the bardo thadol, as it is actually called in tibetan, which gave it this title of the tibetan book of the dead, the editor being doctor evanswentz, so clearly there was implied there a comparison with the egyptian book of the dead. Now, in the form of the everpopular tibetan book of the dead, these teachings are constantly being discovered and rediscovered by western readers of many different backgroundsa phenomenon which began in 1927 with oxfords. The tibetan book of the dead was first published in 1927 by oxford university press. What is the best translation of the tibetan book of the dead. The tibetan book of the dead w y evanswentz haftad. The texts have been discovered and rediscovered in the west during the course of almost the entire 20th century, starting with oxfords edition by w.
What is the best english translation of the tibetan book of. Yet, for the scholar of the present day, looking back now more than seventy years to the publication of the first volume of the series, the tibetan book of the dead,in 1927, the tibetan tetralogy of w. He spent many years in the high himalaya and commissioned a translation of what he was to title the tibetan book of the dead from a tibetan who taught at a boys school. A fully revised new edition which includes a new forward and afterword. Its mainly a classic because it got translated early by evans wentz, or rather for him and not because it was a central text to many tibetan practitioners. These teachings contained the texts of the now famous great liberation upon hearing in the bardo. They should be read in the following order 1the tibetan book of the dead, 2 tibets great yogi milarepa, 3 tibetan yoga and secret doctrines and 4the tibetan book of the great liberation. The tibetan book of the dead is a most unusual book in the annals of recorded thought. Evanswentz 18781965, formerly of jesus college, oxford, studied occult doctrines extensively in india during the early years of the twentieth century.
Bardo thodol means liberation by hearing on the after death plane, it was originally written in tibetan and is meant to be a guide for those who have died as they. Evanswentz, although a product of our century, seems to have originated in another age. Let us now turn finallyto the tibetan book of the dead itself, proceeding in order through the various prefaces and introductions. As a teenager, he read madame blavatskys isis unveiled and the secret doctrine and became interested in the teachings of theosophy. The tibetan book of the dead is one of the texts that, according to legend. I would say that the evanswentz translation is by far. When wy evanswentzs english translation of the tibetan book of the dead first appeared in 1927 it became an instant classic.
It chronicles the experiences and religious opportunities a person encounters at various stages. Evans wentz, although a product of our century, seems to have originated in another age. The tibetan book of the dead or the afterdeath experiences on the bardo plane, according to lama kazi dawasamdups english rendering compiled and edited by w. In living, dreaming, dying, rob nairn presents the first interpretation of this classic text using a modern western perspective, avoiding arcane religious terminology, keeping his explanations. Evans wentz e book by summum foreword this book is the first english language translation of the famous tibetan death text, the great liberation upon hearing in the intermediate state. During the seminar he used a tibetan text, while the audience followed in the evanswentz edition. The first englishlanguage translation was made by walter evanswentz 1927, who titled the work the tibetan book of the dead because of certain similarities he claimed to detect between it and the egyptian book of the deadfor example, the existence of stages through which the deceased must travel before rebirth. The tibetan book of the dead is one of the bestknown tibetan buddhist texts. By kevin williams the tibetan book of the dead, whose actual title is the great liberation upon hearing in the intermediate state or bardo thodol, is traditionally believed to be the work of the legendary padma sambhava in the 8th century a. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the tibetan book of the dead. Evans wentz, formerly of jesus college, oxford, is also the editor of the tibetan book of the dead gb 39, the tibetan book of the great liberation gb 260, and tibets great yogi, milarepa gb 294.
Lopez traces the whole history of the late evanswentzs three earlier editions of this book, fully considering the work of contributors to previous editions c. Tibetan book of the dead evans wentz tibetan verses of the bardo the invocation tibetan book of the dead houston i tibetan book of the dead houston ii. Full text of the tibetan book of the dead internet archive. Dec 06, 2007 there is a pile of footnotes to help guide you through each page. Armstrong his teachings focused on the incredible human. The tibetan buddhists have the tibetan book of the dead. The tibetan book of the dead and neardeath experiences. During the seminar he used a tibetan text, while the audience followed in the evans wentz edition. They should be read in the following order 1the tibetan book of the dead, 2 tibets great yogi milarepa, 3tibetan yoga and secret doctrines and 4the tibetan book of the great liberation. It is also one of the most difficult texts for westerners to understand. Evanswentz, formerly of jesus college, oxford, is also the editor of the tibetan book of the dead gb 39, the tibetan book of the great liberation gb 260, and tibets great yogi, milarepa gb 294.
The second part, chonyid bardo, deals with the states which supervene immediately after death. It takes time, effort, and a particular frame of mind, to truly get to grips with the text. The bar do thos grol is known in the west as the tibetan book of the dead, a title popularized by walter evanswentz s edition, but as such virtually unknown in tibet. Rinpoche, gave a seminar entitled the tibetan book of the dead, which is included here as a commentary. The paperback and hardcover editions of the book contain extensive notes by evans wentz about the conclusions he drew from the. Tibetan book of the dead the tibetan book of the dead is the tibetan buddhist text that is most well known to the west. The tibetan book of the dead was traditionally used as a mortuary text, read or recited in the presence of a dying or dead person. Or, the afterdeath experiences on the bardo plane, according to lama kazi dawasamdups english rendering 4. If i remember correctly evanswentz just happened to find a copy of it on a market and had it translated by a geluk lama who had never heard of it and had no specific knowledge of the.
The texts have been discovered and rediscovered in the west during the course of almost the entire 20th century, starting with oxfords edition by w y evans. The tibetan book of the dead has its origins in the treasure texts said to have been hidden away by padmasambhava, the lotus guru, in tibet in the 8th century ad so that they could be revealed at an appropriate later time. Such attainment can happen, as shown here, by means of knowing the one mind, the cosmic allconsciousness, without recourse to the postures, breathings. The paperback and hardcover editions of the book contain extensive notes by evanswentz about the conclusions he drew from the. Evans wentz coined the title because of parallels he found with the writings of the egyptian book of the dead. Walter evanswentz 1878 1965 was an american anthropologist who was deeply interested in religion. The first part, called chikhai bardo, describes the moment of death. The tibetan book of the dead was first published in 1927 by oxford university press, london.
Walter yeeling evanswentz february 2, 1878 july 17, 1965 was an american anthropologist and writer who was a pioneer in the study of tibetan buddhism, and in transmission of tibetan buddhism to the western world, most known for publishing an early english translation of the tibetan book of the dead in 1927. Bardo thodol, the tibetan book of the dead, is a guide for the dead and dying. Buy the tibetan book of the dead book online at low prices in. Tibetan book of the dead evanswentz tibetan verses of the bardo the invocation tibetan book of the dead houston i tibetan book of the dead houston ii. Evanswentz with a new foreword and afterword by donald s. The tibetan book of the dead kindle edition by evans wentz, walter, baldock, john, lama kazi dawa samdup. Oct 10, 2019 the tibetan book of the dead or the bardo thodol is the english translation of the famous tibetan death text, the great liberation upon hearing in the intermediate state. The tibetan book of the dead by walter evanswentz, 9781848372375, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Or the afterdeath experiences on the bardo plane, according to lama kazi dawasamdups english rendering w. The tibetan book of the dead or the bardo thodol is the english translation of the famous tibetan death text, the great liberation upon hearing in the intermediate state. I have read the tibetan book of the dead, but i havent. As a side note evans wentz wrote several other books to follow up on this one. There is a pile of footnotes to help guide you through each page. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
If i remember correctly evans wentz just happened to find a copy of it on a market and had it translated by a geluk lama who had never heard of it and had no specific knowledge of the. The buddhist sect responsible for this manuscript holds that with death man passes into what they call the bardo world. Download the tibetan book of the dead free pdf ebook. Later it was a firm favourite of the postwar counterculture. His substantial tetralogy of works on yoga, based on translations from the tibetan, offers an interpretation from within. His tetralogy of works on yoga is a pioneering achievement that contributed to the introduction of tibetan buddhism in the west. Jul 01, 2009 walter evans wentz 1878 1965 was an american anthropologist who was deeply interested in religion. Such attainment can happen, as shown here, by means of knowing the one mind, the cosmic allconsciousness, without recourse to the. The tibetan book of the dead is one of the texts that, according to legend, padmasambhava was compelled to. Jul 22, 2015 the tibetan book of the dead audiobook narrated by richard gere 2008.
Shambhala isbn 039473064x, isbn 1590300599 reissued 2003. Evans wentz, an oxford professor, produced a number of original studies on tibetan buddhism from the 1930s to the 1960s, which went through several editions. In fact, evanswentzs book has been so influential it is surprising to learn that he translated only three chapters of the original work which, it turns out, is not even called the tibetan book of the dead that was his idea. Its mainly a classic because it got translated early by evanswentz, or rather for him and not because it was a central text to many tibetan practitioners. Evanswentz coined the title because of parallels he found with the writings of the egyptian book of the dead. All four books assume the undifferentiated dichotomy of the materialist west and the mystic east, an east that holds the secret to the wests. As i did my third project on the tibetan book of the dead, this documentary offered a real life view into the rituals that i read about. Jul 31, 2009 the tibetan book of the dead by walter evans wentz, 9781848372375, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Oct 21, 2005 when wy evans wentz s english translation of the tibetan book of the dead first appeared in 1927 it became an instant classic. The tibetan book of the dead kindle edition by evanswentz, walter, baldock, john, lama kazi dawa samdup. The great liberation through hearing in the bardo by guru rinpoche according to karma lingpa. At stanford he studied with william james and william butler yeats.
Evans wentz and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Liberation through understanding in the between robert thurman. Evanswentz, edited by jack kornfield this thread is archived. As a side note evanswentz wrote several other books to follow up on this one. Evanswentz, an oxford professor, produced a number of original studies on tibetan buddhism from the 1930s to the 1960s, which went through several editions. The1927 preface to the first edition of the tibetan book of the dead must be read with evanswentzs commitment to theosophyin mind. Tibetan book of the dead article about tibetan book of the. Carl jung wrote a commentary on it, timothy leary redesigned it as a guidebook for an acid trip, and the beatles quoted learys version in their song tomorrow never knows. The tibetan book of the dead, first edition abebooks.
He then studied celtic mythology and folklore at jesus. The most complete edition is the gyurme dorje translation, the tibetan book of the dead, though unless you are taking. The book is preeminent insight into interpretations of higher a. The tibetan book of the dead project gutenberg self. The tibetan book of the dead audiobook narrated by richard gere 2008. You can take from it what you need, or take all of it, and make of it what you will. The tibetan book of the dead or the afterdeath experiences on the bardo plane english translation by lama kazi dawasamdup compiled and edited by w. The tibetan book of the dead kindle edition by evanswentz. Walter yeeling evanswentz february 2, 1878 july 17, 1965 was an american anthropologist and writer who was a pioneer in the study of tibetan buddhism, and in transmission of tibetan buddhism to the western world, most known for publishing an early english translation of the tibetan book of the dead in. His tetralogy of works on yoga is a pioneering achievement that contributed to the introduction of. The tibetan book of the great liberation, which was unknown to the western world until its first publication in 1954, speaks to the quintessence of the supreme path, or mahayana, and fully reveals the yogic method of attaining enlightenment. Most of the accessible englishlanguage translations of the bardo thodol only include chapter 11, the liberation upon hearing. The tibetan book of the dead is the most famous buddhist text in the west, having sold more than a million copies since it was first published in english in 1927.
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