Reading the Tibetan Book of the Dead
“Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream” are the opening lyrics to the 1966 Beatles song Tomorrow Never Knows. They come from a book John Lennon read based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead. From hippies to academics, the English speaking world’s fascination with the Tibetan Book of the Dead has continued to grow ever since.
But what IS the Tibetan Book of the Dead and what does it say about life, death and everything in between? Pema Duddul is Associate Professor in Writing, Editing and Publishing at the University of Southern Queensland, as well as the Universities Buddhist Chaplain.
Pema joined 2SER to discuss the history and contents of the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
