The Egyptian Book of the Dead. The Indian Book of the Dead. The Tibetan Book of the Dead

There are hardly any texts more exciting and intriguing than those meant to accompany a person on their most mysterious, frightening, and distant journey – the journey beyond the edge of life, through the otherworld. Collections of ritual hymns, incantations, instructions, and words of support for those departing into eternity are the most important part of the world's cultural heritage, an invaluable source of information about the beliefs, hopes, and aspirations of people from the Ancient World, which often turn out to be remarkably close to modern individuals.

This edition includes the Books of the Dead from three great world cultures. The Egyptian Book of the Dead has nourished the hopes for a better world for every pious Egyptian for millennia, every one of whom had to prepare for the judgment of Osiris to gain passage to the realm of eternal bliss.

The Indian Book of the Dead demonstrates a cosmogonic view of man as a vessel of all worlds, all gods, and demons, considering death as a sacrifice and a gift underlying the existence of the world. The Tibetan Book of the Dead teaches the serene acceptance of the challenging process of transitioning to a new rebirth, recognizing one’s own “self,” and freeing oneself from fear and regrets.

Having a perishable body, one must strive to achieve eternal results. Those who, having received a human body that offers the chance to reach heaven and ultimate liberation, do not attain either, constantly deceive themselves.