[Buddha-l] New Book: Tibetan Rituals of Death

[Margaret Gouin]

I'm pleased to announce the publication of my new book, *TIBETAN RITUALS OF
DEATH*

ISBN: 978-0-415-56636-0 (hardcover)

This book describes and analyses the structure and performance of Tibetan
Buddhist death rituals, and situates that performance within the wider
context of Buddhist death practices generally. Drawing on a detailed and
systematic comparative survey of existing records of Tibetan funerary
practices, including historical travel accounts, anthropological and
ethnographic literature, Tibetan texts and academic studies, it demonstrates
that there is no standard form of funeral in Tibetan Buddhism, although
certain elements are common.

 The structure of the book follows the twin trajectories of benefiting the
deceased and protecting survivors; in the process, it reveals a rich and
complex panoply of activities, some handled by religious professionals and
others by lay persons. This information is examined to identify similarities
and differences in practices, and the degree to which Tibetan Buddhist
funeral practices are consistent with the mortuary rituals of other forms of
Buddhism. A number of elements in these death rites which at first appear to
be unique to Tibetan Buddhism may only be ‘Tibetan’ in their surface
characteristics, while having roots in practices which pre-date the
transmission of Buddhism to Tibet.

 Filling a gap in the existing literature on Tibetan Buddhism, this book
poses research challenges that will engage future scholars in the field of
Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism and Anthropology.

 *Table of Contents
*

**Introduction 2. The Sources 3. Before Death 4. Immediately After Death 5.
Disposal of the Body 6. Special Cases 7. Post-Disposal Rituals of Benefit
and Protection 8. Remembering the Deceased 9. Conclusion

 *Author Biography *

Margaret Gouin received her doctorate in Tibetan Buddhist studies from the
University of Bristol and is now an independent scholar. Her current areas
of interest are dying and death in Buddhist practice, the adaptation and
evolution of Buddhism in the West, and research methodology.

*****************

I hope you will find the work of interest.

Margaret Gouin
Independent Scholar

(Apologies for cross-posting)