The Tibetan Book of the Dead is one of the texts that; according to legend; Padma-Sambhava was compelled to hide during his visit to Tibet in the late 8th century. The guru hid his books in stones; lakes; and pillars because the Tibetans of that day and age were somehow unprepared for their teachings. Now; in the form of the ever-popular Tibetan Book of the Dead; these teachings are constantly being discovered and rediscovered by Western readers of many different backgrounds--a phenomenon which began in 1927 with Oxford's first edition of Dr. Evans-Wentz's landmark volume. While it is traditionally used as a mortuary text; to be read or recited in the presence of a dead or dying person; this book--which relates the whole experience of death and rebirth in three intermediate states of being--was originally understood as a guide not only for the dead but also for the living. As a contribution to the science of death and dying--not to mention the belief in life after death; or the belief in rebirth--The Tibetan Book of the Dead is unique among the sacred texts of the world; for its socio-cultural influence in this regard is without comparison.This fourth edition features a new foreword; afterword; and suggested further reading list by Donald S. Lopez; author of Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West. Lopez traces the whole history of the late Evans-Wentz's three earlier editions of this book; fully considering the work of contributors to previous editions (C. G. Jung among them); the sections that were added by Evans-Wentz along the way; the questions surrounding the book's translation; and finally the volume's profound importance in engendering both popular and academic interest in the religion and culture of Tibet. Another key theme that Lopez addresses is the changing nature of this book's audience--from the prewar theosophists to the beat poets to the hippies to contemporary exponents of the hospice movement--and what these audiences have found (or sought) in its very old pages.
#1135819 in Books Charles Kurzman 1998-11-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.00 x 1.20 x 9.80l; 1.35 #File Name: 0195116224340 pagesLiberal Islam A Sourcebook
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. THE work for anyone interested in Liberal Islam and Islamic ...By gld_9THE work for anyone interested in Liberal Islam and Islamic liberalism. Kurzman's intro. is magisterial and the primary sources are wide-ranging.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A good antidote to all the islamist writing out thereBy Anonymous rviewerA nice selection of moderate islamic writers. If only there were some way to know whether their views or the views of Sayyid Qutb hold moremsway.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Islam and modernityBy Ashtar Command"Liberal Islam" is a collection of writings by real or perceived Muslim reformers who argue that Islam is compatible with democracy; secularism; universal human rights and women's emancipation. With the exception of Benazir Bhutto; none of the authors in the collection are widely known in the Western world.The book contains writings from almost all parts of the Muslim world: North Africa; West Africa; the Middle East; South and Southeast Asia. There is also a contribution from Bosnia; and a text written by an African-American Muslim.The most interesting texts are the ones dealing with women's rights; especially Muslim feminist Fatima Mernissi's attempt to deconstruct a popular anti-woman hadith (saying of the Prophet). Benazir Bhutto's arguments for a progressive interpretation of Islam are also interesting. Bhutto; of course; was the prime minister of Pakistan for two terms; becoming the first woman elected to lead a Muslim state. (Unless you count Aisha!) Another interesting contribution is Ali Bulac's analysis of the Medina Constitution.A problem with "Liberal Islam" is that the editor's introductions to each text are very short. This makes the volume difficult to use for people unacquainted with the various authors. For instance; one wishes to learn more about the writer from Bosnia; who quotes both Plato and René Guenon; and sometimes sounds like Leo Strauss! One also wonders have much influence the respective writers really have. For instance; how important is "the reform group" in the Philippines?For rather obvious reasons; I prefer modernist or secularist Islam to traditionalist or fundamentalist versions. Hopefully; ideas such as the ones in this book will one day become the dominant interpretation of this particular world religion!
