Scarcity of The Tibetan Book of the Dead

Scarcity of The Tibetan Book of the Dead

The Tibetan Book of the Dead (known as the Bardo Thodol in Tibetan) is a key Buddhist text that outlines the process of dying, the intermediate bardo state, and how one can attain enlightenment or favorable rebirth.

Compiled in the 8th century, it is a guide for the dead and dying, detailing the stages of the afterlife and how to navigate the transition from life to death. The text outlines the process of dying, describes the intermediate state of bardo (the period between death and rebirth), and provides instructions for attaining enlightenment or a favorable rebirth.

In the 20th century, the text gained global attention, particularly through the translation efforts of scholars such as Walter Yeeling Evans-Wentz.

Enter The Void (2009), Gaspar Noé

In Gaspar Noé’s 2009 film Enter the Void, the Tibetan Book of the Dead plays a pivotal role.

The film follows Oscar as he navigates the bardo after death, with vivid, hallucinatory visuals that mirror the text’s descriptions of the soul’s journey through the afterlife. This surreal depiction of the bardo aligns with the teachings of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, offering a modern, cinematic interpretation of its ancient wisdom.

Critical Reception

  • IMDB 7.2 / 10
  • Rotten Tomatoes: 73% approval rating, with an average rating of 6.8/10
  • Metacritic: Score of 63 / 100

Awards & Accolades

  • Sitges Film Festival (2009): Special Jury Award and Best Cinematography
  • Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (2010): Best Film

First Editions

The first edition, published in 1927 by Oxford University Press, features green cloth binding with gilt lettering and decorations, with the top edge gilt. It also includes several black-and-white plates and a double-sided frontispiece, adding both artistic and visual significance to the text. A foreword by Sir John Woodroffe, a noted scholar of Hindu Tantra, further emphasizes the text’s connection to Eastern spiritual traditions, making this edition a culturally and historically significant artifact.

Prices for first editions of the Tibetan Book of the Dead range from £748 to £2,339. These rare books, especially well-preserved copies, are highly valued due to their cultural and historical significance. As interest in Buddhism grows, so does the demand for this iconic text, making it a valuable collectible for generations to come.

Explore the first editions of Bardo Thodol in our catalogue.

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