The Tibetan Book of the Dead

The Bardo Thödol, in Lāma Kazi Dawa-Samdup's translation edited by W. Y. Evans-Wentz (1927): the teaching read to the dying and the dead over the forty-nine days of the bardo. Here in 170 short readings, one for each day.

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Book I: The Chikhai Bardo and the Chönyid Bardo

Book I: The Chikhai Bardo and the Chönyid Bardo

The Obeisances

The Introduction

The Transference of the Consciousness-Principle

The Reading of this Thödol

The Practical Application of this Thödol by the Officiant

The Bardo of the Moments of Death

Instructions on the Symptoms of Death, or the First Stage of the Chikhai Bardo: The Primary Clear Light Seen at the Moment of Death

  1. Reading 1 of 9
  2. Reading 2 of 9
  3. Reading 3 of 9
  4. Reading 4 of 9
  5. Reading 5 of 9
  6. Reading 6 of 9
  7. Reading 7 of 9
  8. Reading 8 of 9
  9. Reading 9 of 9

Instructions Concerning the Second Stage of the Chikhai Bardo: The Secondary Clear Light Seen Immediately After Death

  1. Reading 1 of 4
  2. Reading 2 of 4
  3. Reading 3 of 4
  4. Reading 4 of 4

The Bardo of the Experiencing of Reality

Introductory Instructions Concerning the Experiencing of Reality During the Third Stage of the Bardo, Called the Chönyid Bardo, when the Karmic Apparitions Appear

  1. Reading 1 of 5
  2. Reading 2 of 5
  3. Reading 3 of 5
  4. Reading 4 of 5
  5. Reading 5 of 5

The Dawning of the Peaceful Deities, from the First to the Seventh Day

The Dawning of the Peaceful Deities, from the First to the Seventh Day

The First Day

  1. Reading 1 of 3
  2. Reading 2 of 3
  3. Reading 3 of 3

The Second Day

  1. Reading 1 of 3
  2. Reading 2 of 3
  3. Reading 3 of 3

The Third Day

  1. Reading 1 of 4
  2. Reading 2 of 4
  3. Reading 3 of 4
  4. Reading 4 of 4

The Fourth Day

  1. Reading 1 of 4
  2. Reading 2 of 4
  3. Reading 3 of 4
  4. Reading 4 of 4

The Fifth Day

  1. Reading 1 of 4
  2. Reading 2 of 4
  3. Reading 3 of 4
  4. Reading 4 of 4

The Sixth Day

  1. Reading 1 of 11
  2. Reading 2 of 11
  3. Reading 3 of 11
  4. Reading 4 of 11
  5. Reading 5 of 11
  6. Reading 6 of 11
  7. Reading 7 of 11
  8. Reading 8 of 11
  9. Reading 9 of 11
  10. Reading 10 of 11
  11. Reading 11 of 11

The Seventh Day

  1. Reading 1 of 6
  2. Reading 2 of 6
  3. Reading 3 of 6
  4. Reading 4 of 6
  5. Reading 5 of 6
  6. Reading 6 of 6

The Dawning of the Wrathful Deities, from the Eighth to the Fourteenth Day

Introduction

  1. Reading 1 of 7
  2. Reading 2 of 7
  3. Reading 3 of 7
  4. Reading 4 of 7
  5. Reading 5 of 7
  6. Reading 6 of 7
  7. Reading 7 of 7

The Eighth Day

  1. Reading 1 of 2
  2. Reading 2 of 2

The Ninth Day

The Tenth Day

The Eleventh Day

The Twelfth Day

  1. Reading 1 of 2
  2. Reading 2 of 2

The Thirteenth Day

  1. Reading 1 of 3
  2. Reading 2 of 3
  3. Reading 3 of 3

The Fourteenth Day

  1. Reading 1 of 11
  2. Reading 2 of 11
  3. Reading 3 of 11
  4. Reading 4 of 11
  5. Reading 5 of 11
  6. Reading 6 of 11
  7. Reading 7 of 11
  8. Reading 8 of 11
  9. Reading 9 of 11
  10. Reading 10 of 11
  11. Reading 11 of 11

The Bardo of the Experiencing of Reality

The Conclusion, Showing the Fundamental Importance of the Bardo Teachings

  1. Reading 1 of 2
  2. Reading 2 of 2

Book II: The Sidpa Bardo

Book II: The Sidpa Bardo

The Obeisances

Introductory Verses

The After-Death World

The After-Death World

The Bardo Body: Its Birth and Its Supernormal Faculties

  1. Reading 1 of 6
  2. Reading 2 of 6
  3. Reading 3 of 6
  4. Reading 4 of 6
  5. Reading 5 of 6
  6. Reading 6 of 6

Characteristics of Existence in the Intermediate State

  1. Reading 1 of 7
  2. Reading 2 of 7
  3. Reading 3 of 7
  4. Reading 4 of 7
  5. Reading 5 of 7
  6. Reading 6 of 7
  7. Reading 7 of 7

The Judgement

  1. Reading 1 of 5
  2. Reading 2 of 5
  3. Reading 3 of 5
  4. Reading 4 of 5
  5. Reading 5 of 5

The All-Determining Influence of Thought

  1. Reading 1 of 6
  2. Reading 2 of 6
  3. Reading 3 of 6
  4. Reading 4 of 6
  5. Reading 5 of 6
  6. Reading 6 of 6

The Dawning of the Lights of the Six Lokas

  1. Reading 1 of 3
  2. Reading 2 of 3
  3. Reading 3 of 3

The Process of Rebirth

The Closing of the Door of the Womb

  1. Reading 1 of 2
  2. Reading 2 of 2

The Closing of the Door of the Womb

Method of Preventing Entry into a Womb

The First Method of Closing the Womb-Door

  1. Reading 1 of 2
  2. Reading 2 of 2

The Second Method of Closing the Womb-Door

The Third Method of Closing the Womb-Door

  1. Reading 1 of 4
  2. Reading 2 of 4
  3. Reading 3 of 4
  4. Reading 4 of 4

The Fourth Method of Closing the Womb-Door

  1. Reading 1 of 2
  2. Reading 2 of 2

The Fifth Method of Closing the Womb-Door

  1. Reading 1 of 2
  2. Reading 2 of 2

The Process of Rebirth

The Choosing of the Womb-Door

The Choosing of the Womb-Door

The Premonitory Visions of the Place of Rebirth

  1. Reading 1 of 3
  2. Reading 2 of 3
  3. Reading 3 of 3

The Protection Against the Tormenting Furies

  1. Reading 1 of 3
  2. Reading 2 of 3
  3. Reading 3 of 3

The Process of Rebirth

The Alternative Choosing: Supernormal Birth; or Womb-Birth

The Alternative Choosing: Supernormal Birth; or Womb-Birth

Supernormal Birth by Transference to a Paradise Realm

Womb-Birth: The Return to the Human World

  1. Reading 1 of 4
  2. Reading 2 of 4
  3. Reading 3 of 4
  4. Reading 4 of 4

The Process of Rebirth

The General Conclusion

  1. Reading 1 of 5
  2. Reading 2 of 5
  3. Reading 3 of 5
  4. Reading 4 of 5
  5. Reading 5 of 5

The Appendix

The Appendix

I: The Invocation of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

  1. Reading 1 of 3
  2. Reading 2 of 3
  3. Reading 3 of 3

II: The Path of Good Wishes for Saving from the Dangerous Narrow Passageway of the Bardo

  1. Verses 1–3
  2. Verses 4–6
  3. Verses 7–9
  4. Verse 10

III: The Root Verses of the Six Bardos

  1. Verses 1–2
  2. Verses 3–4
  3. Verses 5–7

III: The Root Verses of the Six Bardos

Epilogue

The Appendix

IV: The Path of Good Wishes which Protecteth from Fear in the Bardo

  1. Verses 1–4
  2. Verses 5–8
  3. Verses 9–11
  4. Verses 12–14

V: The Colophon