Acknowledgements . . xix

1 Introduction . . 1
Terminology . . 3 
Transliteration . . 4 
Inclusive language . . 4 

2 The sources . . 5
Tibetan material . . 5 
Non-Tibetan material . . 8 
Buddhism outside Tibet . . 10 
Bon . . 11 

3 Before death . . 12

4 Immediately after death . . 15
Spiritual concerns . . 16 
Practical concerns . . 29 
Comments on activities undertaken immediately after death . . 44 

5 Disposal of the body . . 46
Burial (disposal in earth) . . 46 
Immersion (disposal in water) . . 49 
Cremation (disposal in fire) . . 52 
Exposure (disposal in air) . . 59 
Treatment of remains . . 72 
Comments on the disposal of the body . . 77 

6 Special cases . . 80
Holy persons . . 80 
Nobility . . 86 
Children . . 87 
Old people . . 92 
'Bad deaths' . . 93 
Comments on special cases of disposal . . 94 

7 Post-disposal rituals of benefit and protection . . 96
The transition through the intermediate state (bardo) . . 96 
Rituals of benefit . . 100
Rituals of protection . . 116 
The conclusion of the funeral rituals . . 122 
It depends on what you pay . . 123 
Comments on post-disposal rituals of benefit and protection . . 126 

8 Remembering the deceased . . 130

9 Conclusion . . 134

Notes . . 138
Glossary . . 162
Bibliography . . 165
Index . . 177