Luminous Emptiness A Guide to the Tibetan Book of the Dead [Paperback]

TheTibetan Book of the Dead,a best-seller for three decades, is one of the most widely read texts of Tibetan Buddhism. Over the years, it has been studied and cherished by Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.Luminous Emptinessis a detailed guide to this classic work, elucidating its mysterious concepts, terms, and imagery. Fremantle relates the symbolic world of theTibetan Book of the Deadto the experiences of everyday life, presenting the text not as a scripture for the dying, but as a guide for the living.

According to the Buddhist view, nothing is permanent or fixed. The entire world of our experience is constantly appearing and disappearing at every moment. Using vivid and dramatic imagery, theTibetan Book of the Deadpresents the notion that most of us are living in a dream that will continue from lifetime to lifetime until we truly awaken by becoming enlightened. Here, Fremantle, who worked closely with Chögyam Trungpa on the 1975 translation of theTibetan Book of the Dead(Shambhala), brings the expertise of a lifetime of study to rendering this intriguing classic more accessible and meaningful to the living.

Luminous Emptinessfeatures in-depth explanations of:

   •  The Tibetan Buddhist notions of death and rebirth
   •  The meaning of the five energies and the five elements in Tibetan Buddhism
   •  The mental and physical experience of dying, according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition"A deeply heartfelt guide to spiritual fulfillment through Buddhism,Luminous Emptinessprovides interested seekers with a journey through theTibetan Book of the Dead,and Fremantle is an expert guide."—Los Angeles Times

"A scholar in Sanskrit and Tibetan, Fremantle is more than qualified to write this guide; she collaborated with renowned meditation master and scholar Chögyam Trungpls«