The Tibetan Book of the Dead, or Post-Mortem Experiences on the Bardo Plane

"The Tibetan Book of the Dead, or post-mortem experiences on the Bardo plane" is a unique monument of Tibetan religious-mystical culture, describing the rules of conduct for the soul in a post-mortem state. This book is the first translation into English of the well-known Tibetan text about death "The Great Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State," also known as Bardo Thodol, which means "liberation through hearing on the plane after death" (Bardo – "the plane after death," Thodol, or Totrol, – "liberation through hearing"). The text was originally written in Tibetan and was intended to serve as a guide for transitioning from the previous life to a new incarnation for those who died. The work is traditionally attributed to Padmasambhava, an Indian mystic who is said to have brought the knowledge of Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th century. The text includes prayers and readings that must be studied during life and listened to by reciters in the post-mortem state.