Synopsis Traditionally read in the presence of a dead or dying person, the Tibetan Book of the Dead has had a profound influence on Western culture-it is arguably the most influential and best known of Tibetan Buddhist writings. The text instructs the recently deceased on how to negotiate the forty-nine day period after death-and before rebirth-a time filled with visions of both serene and terrifying deities. During this "bardo" period, individuals must recognize that these visions are nothing more than the inventions of their own minds. By awakening to this realization, fear can be vanquished. But it is not just a book for the dead; it is also an instruction manual on how to live, and is as relevant today as whenit was written in the eighth century. This edition is lushly illustrated with Buddhist art and images that bring the work dramatically to life. Library Journal Evans-Wentz, an Oxford professor, produced a number of original studies on Tibetan Buddhism from the 1930s to the 1960s, which went through several editions. Oxford here resurrects four of these works, which now include new forewords and afterwords by scholar Donald S. Lopez who also analyzes the earlier editions. More for academic collections. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information. Biography W. Y. Evans-Wentz (1878-1965), formerly of Jesus College, Oxford, studied occult doctrines extensively in India during the early years of the twentieth century. His tetralogy of works on yoga is a pioneering achievement that contributed to the introduction of Tibetan Buddhism in the West. Gregory Hillis received his Ph.D. in Tibetan Studies from the University of Virginia, where he co-curated an exhibition on the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Presently he is a lecturer in Tibetan and Sanskrit in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. A former Fulbright Fellow, he has lived and studied extensively with traditional scholars in Asia. - from Amzon