(no subject)

[danuv]

Today's peculiar topic of interest is The Tibetan Book of the Dead. Now, I know next to nothing about Buddhism at all, so in looking for information about this, I am also slowly acquiring a basic education about Buddhism, well at least about Tibetan Buddhism. I'm not quite certain yet how Tibetan Buddhism differs from other types.

Comments

[weetanya.livejournal.com]

I've read through a translation of the Book of the Dead and couldn't find much philosophy in it.

Or perhaps I found it somewhat straightforward?

The main gist of the book was: When you die, you'll be faced with a bunch of different enticements to go astray. You'll see orgies, and friends, and riches, and food. All of these things are aspects of Maia, and you need to ignore them. The big white light is too bright and you'll be afraid of it, but you *have* to head toward the light.

And I assume this is chanted during the dying process and after, to give the soul direction.

[danuv.livejournal.com]

That's what I've pretty much learned from the pages I've read, I guess what I am trying to learn today is why it seems so important to so many people. It does seem though, that their way of dealing with death is, well nicer I guess.

[danuv.livejournal.com]

Oh, and thanks for the Wee synopsis. :)