In 1919 the distinguished scholar walter evans wentz visited an indian monastery, where he encountered the source of this famous volume. I would say that the evans wentz translation is by far the best. He is most famous for his 1927 publication of the tibetan book of the dead and other pioneering works that transmitted tibetan buddhism to the west. Questions about the translation and style of expression continually came up, and as a result of these questions it was. Jul 31, 2009 the tibetan book of the dead by walter evanswentz, 9781848372375, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. You can take from it what you need, or take all of it, and make of it what you will. The search for extraterrestrial life has come up empty so far, but the publishing industryperhaps compensating for its own sense of mortalityseems intent on finding new forms of sentience right here on earth.
Derived from a buddhist funerary text, it offers instructions for preparing for death and moving through the various stages of rebirth. The tibetan book of the dead, first edition abebooks. The tibetan book of the dead and neardeath experiences. The tibetan book of the dead, tibets great yogi milarepa, tibetan yoga and secret doctrines,and the tibetan book of the great liberation. As a side note evans wentz wrote several other books to follow up on this one. Evans wentz in imitation of the egyptian book of the dead. The central character in this story is walter evanswentz. About the author walter evanswentz 1878 1965 was an american anthropologist who was deeply interested in religion. It takes time, effort, and a particular frame of mind, to truly get to grips with the text. 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. 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. They should be read in the following order 1 the tibetan book of the dead, 2 tibets great yogi milarepa, 3 tibetan yoga and secret doctrines and 4 the tibetan book of the great liberation. The title tibetan book of the dead was coined by the american editor w.
What is the best translation of the tibetan book of the dead in your eyes. Evanswentz coined the title because of parallels he found with the writings of the egyptian book of the dead. 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. 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. Evanswentz, who literally sat at the feet of a tibetan lama for years in order to acquire his wisdom. Full text of the tibetan book of the dead internet archive. Jul 22, 2015 the tibetan book of the dead audiobook narrated by richard gere 2008. 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. The guru hid his books in stones, lakes, and pillars because the tibetans of that day and age were somehow unprepared for their teachings. The tibetan book of the dead or the afterdeath experiences on the bardo. What is the best translation of the tibetan book of the dead.
There are contemporary translations that are said to be better. In 1927, the tibetan book of the dead was published by oxford university press. Walter yeeling evanswentz february 2, 1878 july 17, 1965 was an american anthropologist, a scholar of tibetan religions, and a theosophist long associated with the point loma community in san diego. The four books in their old editions are already burdened with numerous prefaces, commentaries, and introductions, causing one to wonder what another preface could possibly add. The paperback of the the tibetan book of the dead by w. Find the tibetan book of the dead by evanswentz, w y at biblio. 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. The tibetan book of the dead project gutenberg self. 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. The actual name in tibetan is bardo todrol chenmo, which means the great liberation through hearing in the between. Evans wentz s 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. The central character in this story is walter evanswentz 18781965, an eccentric scholar and spiritual seeker from trenton, new jersey, who, despite not knowing the tibetan language and never visiting the country, crafted and named the tibetan book of the dead. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the tibetan book of the dead. The tibetan book of the dead princeton university press.
I have read the tibetan book of the dead, but i havent. The tibetan book of the dead is one of the texts that, according to legend, padmasambhava was compelled to hide during his visit to tibet in the late 8th century. The tibetan book of the dead by walter evans wentz, 9781848372375, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Evanswentz coined the title because of parallels he found with the. 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.
While it is traditionally used as a mortuary text, to be read or recited in the presence of a dead or dying person, this bookwhich relates the whole experience of death and rebirth in three intermediate states of. Or the afterdeath experiences on the bardo plane, according to lama kazi dawasamdups english rendering karmaglinpa, w. Armstrong his teachings focused on the incredible human. The paperback and hardcover editions of the book contain extensive notes by evanswentz about the conclusions he drew from the.
Walter yeeling with foreword by sir john woodroffe. What is the difference between the egyptian and tibetan book. 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. What is the best translation of the tibetan book of the. The tibetan book of the dead kindle edition by evanswentz, walter, baldock, john, lama kazi dawa samdup. What is the best english translation of the tibetan book of. 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. The buddhist sect responsible for this manuscript holds that with death man passes into what they call the bardo world. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers.
The tibetan book of the dead is the most famous buddhist text in the west, having. Walter yeeling evanswentz february 2, 1878 july 17, 1965 was an. Evans wentz published by oxford university press, usa 1960. The tibetan book of the dead, published in 1927, a translation of a. Evanswentzs research, the results were published by the. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Many consider evans wentz to have been very passionate about the subject matter, but did not understand it as well as we do now given that his translations came about at a time when the wests relationship with the teachings was still in its infancy. The tibetan book of the dead is a most unusual book in the annals of recorded thought. Or, the afterdeath experiences on the bardo plane, according to lama kazi dawasamdups english rendering galaxy books w.
The tibetan book of the dead is one of the texts that, according to legend. Walter took an early interest in the books on spiritu alism in his fathers library. 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. The tibetan book of the dead kindle edition by evans.
Jul 01, 2009 walter evanswentz 1878 1965 was an american anthropologist who was deeply interested in religion. Mar 11, 2011 the tibetan book of the dead has a wonderful story, and in this fascinating and charming little book, donald lopez reveals himself to be a wonderful storyteller. Evanswentz chose this title because of the parallels he found with the egyptian book of the dead. The tibetan book of the dead was first published in 1927 by oxford university press. 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. Dec 03, 2007 evans wentz then explains the nature of the book and gives a rough breakdown of what we will find in the bardo thodol and how it is used to help the dead find their way to nirvana during the afterdeath ceremonies like an irish wake but also how the book can be used as a guide for the living, which is its true intended purpose. The hidden history of the tibetan book of the dead by bryan j. A biography this smart, entertaining introduction to the tibetan book of the dead is a real delight.
In fact, lopez argues, evanswentzs book is much more american than tibetan. The bar do thos grol is known in the west as the tibetan book of the dead, a title popularized by walter evanswentzs edition, but as such virtually unknown in tibet. Dec 06, 2007 there is a pile of footnotes to help guide you through each page. 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. 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. Rinpoche, gave a seminar entitled the tibetan book of the dead, which is included here as a commentary. 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. Request title says it all looking to make an effort in reading this classic and want to get the best experience possible. The tibetan book of the dead was first published in 1927 by oxford university press, london. During the seminar he used a tibetan text, while the audience followed in the evans wentz edition. I took the liberty of remastering audiobook for personal use. The tibetan book of the dead was first translated and published in english in 1927, has since gone through numerous reprints and translations into most major european languages, and continues to inspire many new translations from the original tibetan texts.