[Buddha-l] The process of death

[Vicente Gonzalez]

Mike Austin wrote:


MA> There are several texts in the Tibetan tradition(s) that describe the
MA> process of death. Are there any other references - particularly earlier
MA> ones?


A main work is the Shalistamba Sutra, which was very influential in
many people as Candrakirti, Shantideva, Yashomitra and Kamalasila.
It is devoted to explain the rebirth process according dependent
origination. There are English translations from Sanskrit and Tibetan
"The Salistamba Sutra and its Indian commentaries"(Schoening) is the
best. If I'm right, there is another English translation (Ross-Neat).
Both are available in Indian publishers as Motilal Barnasidass so not
problem to get it. The interest point in this Sutra is the combined
explanation of dependent origination in two ways: causal and
conditional. Despite it is a mahayana text, however, De la Valle
Pousin strangely wrote that this work was not properly of the Great
Vehicle, without more arguments.(?)

Another work is the Bhavansankranti Sutra
(aryabhavansankrantinamahayanasutra). It is devoted to explain 
the process of rebirth  in a short way. There are two versions, one
of them atributed to Nagarjuna. This attribution it's not clear but
probably was an attempt to conciliate madhyamaka and rebirth.
This Sutra arises by the question of knowing how the actions performed
when we are alive they can appear in the moment of death. I have an
Spanish translation but I don't know if there are English ones.

Both Sutras are explanations of rebirth avoiding a permanent self
so they are very interesting.



br,