The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
by Sogyal Rinpoche

Paperback - 425 pages (May 1994)
Harper San Francisco; ISBN: 0062508342

Reviews:

This is good book for believers, but I'm a skeptic.

July 1, 1998

Reviewer: A reader from Newport Beach, California

There's a lot of very interesting material in this book. I found descriptions of the human condition and basic tenets of Buddhism to be intelligently written, and to be inspiring at times. However, I'd like to issue a warning to skeptical people like me who have little interest in unproven or unprovable opinions and expressions of "faith" in their Buddhism. This book spends a lot of time on Tibetan ritual. It cites numerous examples of things the author has seen that seem to prove reincarnation, the possibility and power of enlightenment, karma, near death experiences, etc. When enlightened monks die, did you know that their bodies often don't rot? Or that their bodies disappear into thin air, or that rainbows appear thousands of miles away? That dead monks bodies stay warm for weeks? These things may or may not be true, but I'm just skeptical enough to not want to take the author's word for them. If you tackle this book, brace yourself to read about a lot of belief topics, and then prepare to be accused of being too cynical and capitive of your own ego for doubting it. I would categorize this book as religious Buddhism, as opposed to philosophical Buddhism. An aside: the author's reverence and love for his teachers and his faith is truly touching. His knowledge is great, his love is great, but I'm not sure that makes him the best possible reporter for those who are seeking truth instead of opinion.

December 3, 1997

Reviewer: AniaM@hestia.pl from GdaÒsk, Poland

I come from Poland (a quite big country in Eastern Europe). I have to admit that I was waiting for Polish version of Sogial Rinpoche's book about two years (because I new that it was published in Western Europe, but - as you can see -I don't write and speek English very well, so I prefered Polish text). Finaly I found it. My opinion? This is the best contemporary text regarding this subject, which I have read till now. I have to add, that I am a student and subject of my master phesis is: " The eshatology in the Tibetan buddhism's litterature on the example of "Bar-do T'os-grol cz'en-mo" (The Tibbetan book of Death). If you have some suggestion or information about books regarding this topic, please write to me.

If I could only have one book...

March 10, 2000

Reviewer: Anora from KPC, Poolesville, Maryland

This is the book I would want. If you're considering getting it, don't wait another minute, learn how to make the most of your precious life. Don't miss the audio cassettes Tibetan Wisdom for Living and Dying, an oral presentation of this material.

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This is good book for believers, but I'm a skeptic.	July 1, 1998
Reviewer: A reader from Newport Beach, California
There's a lot of very interesting material in this book. I found descriptions of the human condition and basic tenets of Buddhism to be intelligently written, and to be inspiring at times. However, I'd like to issue a warning to skeptical people like me who have little interest in unproven or unprovable opinions and expressions of "faith" in their Buddhism. This book spends a lot of time on Tibetan ritual. It cites numerous examples of things the author has seen that seem to prove reincarnation, the possibility and power of enlightenment, karma, near death experiences, etc. When enlightened monks die, did you know that their bodies often don't rot? Or that their bodies disappear into thin air, or that rainbows appear thousands of miles away? That dead monks bodies stay warm for weeks? These things may or may not be true, but I'm just skeptical enough to not want to take the author's word for them. If you tackle this book, brace yourself to read about a lot of belief topics, and then prepare to be accused of being too cynical and capitive of your own ego for doubting it. I would categorize this book as religious Buddhism, as opposed to philosophical Buddhism. An aside: the author's reverence and love for his teachers and his faith is truly touching. His knowledge is great, his love is great, but I'm not sure that makes him the best possible reporter for those who are seeking truth instead of opinion.

If I could only have one book...	March 10, 2000
Reviewer: Anora from KPC, Poolesville, Maryland
This is the book I would want. If you're considering getting it, don't wait another minute, learn how to make the most of your precious life. Don't miss the audio cassettes Tibetan Wisdom for Living and Dying, an oral presentation of this material.