Secret Doctines of the Tibetan Books of the Dead

Detlef Ingo Lauf

Shambala Publications

1975

9780394733517

Death & Re-birth

1 total

The 1977 edition of Secret Doctrines of the Tibetan Books of the Dead, by Detlef Ingo Lauf, is a comprehensive study of the Bardo Thodol (Tibetan Book of the Dead), focusing on the psychological and symbolic aspects of the after-death state. Originally published in German in 1975, the 1977 English translation by Graham Parkes was released by Shambhala Publications. Core Content and Themes Lauf's work serves as a companion volume to traditional translations, providing historical and symbolic context that clarifies the complexities of Tibetan Buddhist beliefs. The Bardos: The text provides an in-depth analysis of the intermediate states between death and rebirth. Deities and Iconography: It examines the 100 peaceful and wrathful deities that appear in the bardo, treating them as archetypal projections of the human mind. Mandala Principle: The book explains the five Buddha families and the sacred geometry of the mandala as it relates to the structure of consciousness. Literary Diversity: Lauf was the first Western scholar to emphasize that the "Tibetan Book of the Dead" is actually a collection of many different books, each with its own symbolic purpose. Comparative and Psychological Approach A defining feature of the 1977 edition is its bridge between Eastern spirituality and Western intellectual traditions. Psychological Commentary: The book interprets ancient iconography through a psychological lens, suggesting these visions represent internal transformations of awareness. Cross-Cultural Analysis: It compares Tibetan perspectives with those of India, Egypt, Persia, Greece, and Rome, highlighting universal human views on death and dying. Illustrations: The volume includes diagrams and illustrations that visually map the Tibetan path through the after-death state to rebirth.