The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic & International Bestseller―30th Anniversary Edition―The Ultimate Guide to Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Book of living and dying. I have been reading various philosophy books some I liked some I read but it wasn't for me. This book is great adding it to my library collection. Definitely highly recommended

Awesome book and information!

Having a stone Buddha in your garden does not make one a Buddhist anymore than wearing orange or refusing to step on spiders does. Having been raised in a mainstream religion, certain aspects of other faiths and belief systems have nonetheless always been fascinating. I was academically introduced to Buddhist philosophy while taking a graduate course on death and dying, and while this book was not assigned, I found it when looking for additional resource material. This book is not to be confused with the more ancient Tibetan Book of the Dead, which I must confess was the book I thought I was buying. I am glad I made the mistake.Besides chanting and displaying compassionate regard for all sentient beings, Buddhists primarily think and spend a lot of time preparing to die. Not in a morbid or neurotic way, mind you, but through meditation and calm preparation, they experience a rehearsal of the dying process and lose their fear of it. Dying becomes an integral part of living - an idea that most people choose to push back into their subconscious.Sogyal Rinpoche offers an accessible narrative and is explicit that his goal is not to convert his readers to Buddhism. Instead his book, written explicitly for western readers, encourages us to consider the wisdom that others - mainly doctors, nurses, palliative and hospice care professionals have adopted and found so valuable inside the pages of this book: how to help people have peaceful deaths. Moreover, it is a life guide to building the confidence for those who feel helpless or scared around a dying person. Individual contact, quiet tenderness and preventing anxiety and panic and promoting laughter and positive thoughts are the greatest gifts we can give a dying person to help them die well. Whatever your belief system is or isn't, Sogyal's advice can be applied alongside any faith system. You don't have to believe in bardo, karma or reincarnation to see the common sense solutions he offers as a way to wipe away the terror of death. His lessons are unthreatening. He speaks to wisdom without borders of territory or tenet. This is a beautiful book in every sense of the word and a thoughtful gift and guide for anyone who is going through a difficult time will personal illness or facing the impending death of a loved one.

I was told about this book by a dear friend who suggested that I read it to help me with the puzzle of helping another beloved friend who was, at that time, dying. I was baffled by her death and afraid that I would not have the ability or wisdom to support her through her death. I had told her that I would be with her every step of the way and yet I, as a Westerner, had no skills and at the crucial moment when she told me she was afraid, very few and seemingly weak words of comfort and that made me very sad and useless as a friend. To be in a trusted and caring position for someone who is dying is an honor and a privilege and I did not feel that I was up to the task. I felt ashamed even of this lack of preparedness. This beautiful, gentle and enthralling book gave me everything that I needed to be with my friend in a way that I felt was useful to both of us. Her death was quite beautiful and extraordinarily peaceful, surrounded by the sweet love of her parents, children and friends. I am transformed, as were many of our group by her passing. She was a spiritual force, a luminous dancing spirit and her release from her body and her physical suffering caused a profound change in many of us in her circle of friends. But this book has given me more than that wonderful experience. It has confirmed and verbalized feelings of the divine and sacred that until now, I had been unable to express. It has given me courage and a firm sense of commitment to the spiritual path that I am on and the happy knowledge that every small kind act,every decision to have compassion instead of separateness and cruelty is important, not just to me and those immediately close, but also the whole of humanity and this beautiful planet. Thank you Sogyal Rinpoche and God or whatever it may be :) Bless you!

It's a great book and a fascinating read but there is a production issue with my softbound 20th anniversary edition.This book is intended for everyone -- 18 to 98 but it could be especially important for people in their later years. I am among them. I'm fortunate in that my near vision has always been and still is very good, but many seniors aren't so blessed. The ink isn't very dark and even I have trouble reading it to the extent that it slows me down. Had I read it when I was 20 I know I would have felt the same way.So, please read this book. It's very insightful. But you may want to purchase other than the softbound 20th anniversary edition, even if you have to pay the few extra bucks.

So much food for thought and so many good ideologies to incorporate into everyday life, for more peace of mind. I feel serene just reading! I have sent a copy to my sister and want to send one to all my mystic friends.

Best book you’ll ever read in living and dying. I’ve had numerous copies and read it yearly.

This book is a very good opportunity to get into the Tibetan tradition. I understand that it does not encompass it all (I got a different idea from the book The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep), but it explains patiently and in detail several death-related subjects, such as its significance in a huge rebirth scheme, the Tibetan ways of confronting it, and the practices and exercises around it.