Alex Wilding

It would be impossible to touch on this subject without saying a few words about the book, which has now become famous, known as the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Once again, this is something that has been hijacked by New Age wannabes.

But people who are serious about their Buddhism should know that it is a highly specialized text of most interest to long-term practitioners of one or two particular traditions. It was not particularly widespread in Tibet. Its real name means something like liberation through hearing in the intermediate state. But commercialization and marketing go back a long way.

But people who are serious about their Buddhism should know that it is a highly specialized text of most interest to long-term practitioners of one or two particular traditions. It was not particularly widespread in Tibet. Its real name means something like liberation through hearing in the intermediate state. But commercialization and marketing go back a long way.

In the late 19th century, Egypt was an object of fascination in Western society. Decoration based on Egyptian originals was not uncommon and is often still to be seen. As witness, for example, Cleopatra's needle on the embankment in London and the various sphinx-like statuary that can be found around the city itself.

In the late 19th century, Egypt was an object of fascination in Western society. Decoration based on Egyptian originals was not uncommon and is often still to be seen. As witness, for example, Cleopatra's needle on the embankment in London and the various sphinx-like statuary that can be found around the city itself.

There is an interesting article on Egyptomania in the United States on Wikipedia. As part of this Egyptomania, semi-occult circles became interested in what was known as the Egyptian Book of the Dead. That gave this title a degree of cachet. At that point, the title Egyptian Book of the Dead wasn't so far off the mark.

There is an interesting article on Egyptomania in the United States on Wikipedia. As part of this Egyptomania, semi-occult circles became interested in what was known as the Egyptian Book of the Dead. That gave this title a degree of cachet. At that point, the title Egyptian Book of the Dead wasn't so far off the mark.

So when Evans Wentz, who lived in California and had long had an interest in semi-occult matters, published his edition of a translation of this Tibetan text, it was a natural marketing move to try to cash in on that familiar title by calling his work the Tibetan Book of the Dead. And this was not an unsuccessful bit of marketing, it must be said.

So when Evans Wentz, who lived in California and had long had an interest in semi-occult matters, published his edition of a translation of this Tibetan text, it was a natural marketing move to try to cash in on that familiar title by calling his work the Tibetan Book of the Dead. And this was not an unsuccessful bit of marketing, it must be said.

There are a couple of other Tibetan traditions that it could pay you to be aware of at some future time if you're around Tibetans where there has been a death. Firstly, great effort is made to dispose quickly of the personal possessions of the deceased. These are things that the deceased spirit is held to be maybe attracted to and which might make it more difficult for that spirit to move on.

There are a couple of other Tibetan traditions that it could pay you to be aware of at some future time if you're around Tibetans where there has been a death. Firstly, great effort is made to dispose quickly of the personal possessions of the deceased. These are things that the deceased spirit is held to be maybe attracted to and which might make it more difficult for that spirit to move on.

Some of these things will be given away, some will be burnt. For a similar reason, Tibetans will generally avoid ever saying the name of the deceased person. I do recall Alethea, the wife of the sadly recently deceased Atto Rinpoche, explaining how, after he had been visiting family in Tibet, he came back saying, My uncle died.

Some of these things will be given away, some will be burnt. For a similar reason, Tibetans will generally avoid ever saying the name of the deceased person. I do recall Alethea, the wife of the sadly recently deceased Atto Rinpoche, explaining how, after he had been visiting family in Tibet, he came back saying, My uncle died.

She asked which one, but he didn't know because nobody had said his name. So believe me, they do take these matters seriously. When it comes to the deaths of revered religious figures, there are a number of things that sometimes happen that you might not expect. Perhaps I might talk about some of these in more detail in future episodes, but today I'll just give them a brief mention.

She asked which one, but he didn't know because nobody had said his name. So believe me, they do take these matters seriously. When it comes to the deaths of revered religious figures, there are a number of things that sometimes happen that you might not expect. Perhaps I might talk about some of these in more detail in future episodes, but today I'll just give them a brief mention.

First is a word you may come across, Tugdam. When a person with this high status, or at least a revered person, dies, it is held that they may well enter a state of extremely profound meditation in which their body has essentially stopped functioning, but without quite having come to a complete halt.

First is a word you may come across, Tugdam. When a person with this high status, or at least a revered person, dies, it is held that they may well enter a state of extremely profound meditation in which their body has essentially stopped functioning, but without quite having come to a complete halt.

The body will remain, often with the legs locked in a meditation posture, and without collapsing for hours or even days, without showing the usual signs of rigor mortis or indeed of collapsing. The tradition then is to leave the body as undisturbed as possible until that point comes when death is complete and the body does collapse.

The body will remain, often with the legs locked in a meditation posture, and without collapsing for hours or even days, without showing the usual signs of rigor mortis or indeed of collapsing. The tradition then is to leave the body as undisturbed as possible until that point comes when death is complete and the body does collapse.

The longer this period of tukdam lasts, the more impressive it is. If the person was of high status, their body may well be kept. One technique is for it to be packed in salt and kept in a box for weeks or months to become desiccated, after which it may well then be gilded, dressed and kept in an appropriate place. It's a technique calling for quite a bit of skill and experience.