Luminous Emptiness : A Guide to the Tibetan Book of the Dead

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Summary: Luminous Emptiness
Review: Having been a practitioner and student of Buddhism myself for over 36 years, I can honestly say that Luminous Emptiness is the most comprehensive and clear presentation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead that I have ever read. Freemantle explains every topic she addresses clearly, simply, lucidly and thoroughly, without the confusing jargon that so often leaves the reader lost and confused in other similar books. One senses behind her written words the presence of a compassionate, knowledgeable and gentle friend who wants to make sure that you understand everything she is presenting. Luminous Emptiness by Francesca Freemantle is a must-read for anyone interested not only in the Tibetan Book of the Dead, but in Tibetan Buddhism in general and Dzogchen as well -- beginner and advanced students alike.

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Summary: With extensive writings on this profound work
Review: Luminous Emptiness: Understanding The Tibetan Book Of The Dead by Buddhist teacher and practitioner Francesca Fremantle, presents the classic and enduring "Tibetan Book of the Dead" as a sacred scripture for the living to follow in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Extensive writings on the foundations of this profound work combined with a meticulous translation of the work itself, make for an absorbing and strongly recommended addition to Buddhist Studies reading lists and reference collections.

Rating:
Summary: With extensive writings on this profound work
Review: Luminous Emptiness: Understanding The Tibetan Book Of The Dead by Buddhist teacher and practitioner Francesca Fremantle, presents the classic and enduring "Tibetan Book of the Dead" as a sacred scripture for the living to follow in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Extensive writings on the foundations of this profound work combined with a meticulous translation of the work itself, make for an absorbing and strongly recommended addition to Buddhist Studies reading lists and reference collections.

Rating:
Summary: Unpacking Sacred Allegory
Review: This is a book about a very precious book, a guidebook to a guidebook if you will. I feel a deep sense of gratitude to Padmasambhava and Karma Lingpa for giving The Tibetan Book of the Dead to the world, and to Chogyam Trungpa and Francesca Fremantle for opening it up to the average English-speaker. Luminous Emptiness is a great help in digesting Padmasambhava's precious teaching on the in-betweens of being.

You can learn a lot from allegory. Because the text (the TB of the D) is not about what it seems to be, the reader really has to work at identifying what, in his/her own experience, the text might be referring to. Instant introspection. The Tibetan Book of the Dead is really good for that, and Fremantle does a fine job of guiding the reader baffled by innumerable Sanskrit names into a comfortable detente, if not full-on interaction, with the text.

Fremantle lets the reader in on a secret: the TBD is actually about your body, world, and experience right now in very concrete terms. I'll give an example that will also give some experience with the technology given in the TBD. Notice that everything and everyone is color-coded? In his brilliant book Love of Knowledge, Tarthang Tulku gives a practical exercise that gives this significance and immediacy:

"Visualize as intense colors the positive, negative, or neutral feeling that accompanies each sensory experience. Sight is associated with white, hearing with green, smell with yellow, taste with red, and touch with blue. 'Feed' the energy of the feeling into color...With continued practice, feelings may grow fluid, no longer arising in expected ways" (303). You might want to give this a try, and then dig into the book again.

This world is becoming less and less liveable, largely thanks to our lousy attitude about things and beings. (The proto-Fascism of the press, pulpit, and politics of plunder and petroleum ain't helping.) Even though it's becoming more difficult to live, we can at least make dying a gesture of dignity and peace. Being aware of death is an old technique for appreciating life, for making life worth living. May your journey be bright.