AllMovie

The first in a two part series, this remarkable documentary was shot over a four month period in Europe and northern India. The film documents the history of The Tibetan Book of the Dead and its traditional applications. According to Tibetan Buddhist belief, after a person dies, they are in a state of "bardo," on a different plane for 49 days until the next rebirth. The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a guide for the period between death and the rebirth to come. The film uses extraordinary footage of the rites performed on a recently deceased Ladakhi elder and an interview with the Dalai Lama, who shares his views of the meaning and importance of the book.