The Tibetan Book of the Dead: 49 Days in the Bardo
This is not a book about death written for the living — it is a set of instructions read aloud to the deceased. Its purpose is to guide them through the state between death and rebirth.
Ezostylia Editorial Team · facts checked in sources · updated 31.10.2026
Origins
The Tibetan title Bardo Thodol means 'Liberation Through Hearing in the Intermediate State'. Tradition attributes the text to the master Padmasambhava of the eighth century, who is said to have concealed it; in the fourteenth century it was rediscovered by Karma Lingpa. In the West it became famous following Walter Evans-Wentz's 1927 translation, which gave it the name 'The Tibetan Book of the Dead'.
What the Bardo Is
The bardo is a transitional state. The text describes three stages after death:
- The bardo of the moment of death: a pure, clear light appears. Whoever recognises it as their true nature is liberated.
- The bardo of reality: visions of peaceful and wrathful deities arise. The text reminds the deceased that these are projections of the mind and need not be feared.
- The bardo of becoming: the mind seeks a new body and is drawn towards the next rebirth.
49 Days of Reading
According to tradition, the entire journey lasts up to 49 days. A lama or close relatives read the text to the deceased, reminding them: do not be afraid, recognise the light. To this day, in the countries of Tibetan Buddhism, the 49th day after death is a significant date of mourning.
Influence on the West
Carl Gustav Jung was fascinated by the Book and wrote a psychological commentary for it. In the 1960s, Timothy Leary adapted it into a guide to psychedelic experiences. Today it is also drawn upon in the care of the dying, as an inspiration for a calm, conscious presence at the moment of death.
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Sources
Frequently asked questions
Why 49 days?
In Tibetan tradition, the journey through the bardo states between death and rebirth lasts up to 49 days, which is why the text is read to the deceased and rituals are performed throughout that period.