Bibliography
The Afterlife
Corpses, Coffins, and Crypts - A History of Burial by Penny Colman (Holt & Co., 1997) Written for a junior high audience, Colman's book offers an account of "death and burial across cultures and societies". There are chapters on "What Happens to Corpses," "Urns, Coffins, Crypts, and Mausoleums," "Rituals for People Who Have Died" with illustrative photographs and drawings on most every page. Throughout there are explanations about what people believe about death and what happens after life.Why Do We Celebrate That? by Jane Wilcox (Franklin Watts, 1996) A colorful picture-book for children full of information about why we celebrate everything from the seasons, "Birthdays", "Weddings" to the "New Year" and "Being Born." "Dying," a two-page spread includes short explanations of beliefs and customs regarding death of the ancient Romans, Aztecs, Parsees, Hindus, Jews, Sikhs, Irish and Chinese families.
Mummy by James Putnam with photos by Peter Hayman (Knopf, 1992) A truly amazing book (written for children but interesting to adults) full of beautiful color photographs, that explores "the eternal secrets of mummies - from the embalmed dead of ancient Egypt to bodies preserved in bogs, sand, and ice." Along with descriptions of the process of mummification, explanations of the amulets and charms found with the mummies, and numerous examples of the mummifier's art (human, feline, even reptile) this book includes a spread on "The Egyptian Book of the Dead" that explains the ancient Egyptian expectations of the afterlife.
How Different Religions View Death and Afterlife, edited by Christopher Jay Johnson and Marsha G. McGee (Charles Press, 2nd Edition 1998) An acclaimed collection of short essays by persons outlining the teachings and beliefs regarding death and the afterlife of nineteen traditions including Jewish, Islamic, Baha'i, Buddhist, Hindu, Zoroastrian, and a number of Christian denominations. The final chapter, "Questions and Answers about Death and Afterlife," takes the form of comparative answers to twelve related questions, thus bringing the variety of traditions and beliefs into high contrast.
Concepts of Transmigration: Perspectives on Reincarnation, edited by Steven J. Kaplan (E. Mellen Press, 1996) This Vol. 6 in a series of Studies in Comparative Religion, includes seven essays on the idea of reincarnation in a variety of traditions, including Western Philosophy, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, and Theosophism. Sound & Spirit found Gershon Winkler's "Judaic Perspectives on Reincarnation" particularly interesting and enlightening.
The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Reading Aloud by Jean-Claude van Itallie (North Atlantic Books, 1998) Playwright Jean-Claude van Itallie's "poetic adaptation" of some passages from the Tibetan classic "used to aid and comfort at the the time of death." His poetry is accompanied by vivid photographs of a production of his play and of traditional Tibetan Art.
The Tibetan Book of the Dead - Liberation through Understanding in the Between, translated with commentary by Robert A. F. Thurman (Bantam, 1994) Traditionally written by Padmasambhava (the great adept who is said to have brought Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th cent. C.E.) this book gives detailed descriptions, explanations and instructions for persons experiencing the bardo, the 49-day "in-between" period or "intermediate state" of existence encountered after death and before rebirth. This book is used in three ways, for reading and meditation during one's life in preparation for one's death, for chanting to the deceased to encourage and guide them once they have died, and in very special circumstances as the "itinerary" for a special practice where one is "walled up in a cave in total darkness for 49 days and by means of various meditational visualizations enters into the bardo experience while still alive." Through proper understanding of the experience it is possible to be "liberated" and escape rebirth. Thurman's translation and commentary in light of his own Buddhist study and practice offers an engaging and accessible introduction to this spiritual classic.
The World of Tibetan Buddhism by Tenzin Gyatso, translated, edited and annotated by Geshe Thupten Jinpa (Wisdom Pub., 1995) The 14th Dalai Lama offers his personal survey of Tibetan Buddhism hoping that it "may prove helpful in deepening your understanding and practice." Among other things he explains the way in which a Buddhist practitioner maintains appropriate awareness of the process of death and dying so as to not be overwhelmed by it.
The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen, translated by Michael H. Kohn (Shambhala, 1991) Very readable reference; the short articles about most any Buddhist topic are linked to related topics making this book an invaluable tool when one is seeking to understand Buddhism in all its divergent, multifacetted forms. It was used to help understand the Tibetan Buddhist concept of bardo or "in-between," the 49-day intermediate state after death and before rebirth.
Death and Eternal Life, by John Hick (Harper & Row, 1976) For anyone interested in delving deeper into the mystery surrounding what happens when we die, this exploration of the major Christian, Hindu and Buddhist traditions and beliefs regarding the individual's afterlife might be just the ticket. Hick, a respected philosophical theologian, offers a scholarly comparison and contrasting of these approaches, helping the reader understand where they disagree and where they might share common ground.
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