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

[JKirkpatrick]

Publisher?

JK
_________________


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)
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