From Publishers Weekly
"Death is our greatest opportunity" for enlightenment, claims Nairn, a student of Jungian psychology and international teacher of Buddhism. Drawing parallels between the "unseen psychological forces" operating in the human mind and the teachings in the Tibetan Book of the Dead, Nairn outlines six distinct consciousness-states, called bardos, that humans encounter—three in life and three in death. By appropriately training one's mind in the life bardos—gaining skill in lucid dreaming and mindfulness, for example—one can "die skillfully" and (after dying) recognize and exploit the unique opportunities the death bardos offer for enlightenment. Having laid this foundation, Nairn then addresses such topics as overcoming fear and habitual tendencies, cultivating compassion, helping the dying and assisting the dead—by, for example, reading to the corpse to encourage the person (now in the death bardos) to "merge with the bright light." Nairn often blends disciplines, as when he sets traditional Buddhist teachings on attachment within the psychological concept of projection. At times Nairn's discussions, particularly his descriptions of the death bardos, are vivid and engaging, but at other times he writes in terms so broad that his meaning is obscured rather than elucidated. Dedicated students, however, may find that Nairn's unique psychology-oriented approach provides a "workable angle" into the esoteric teachings of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Living, Dreaming, Dying: Wisdom for Everyday Life from the Tibetan Book of the Dead FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
"Death is our greatest opportunity" for enlightenment, claims Nairn, a student of Jungian psychology and international teacher of Buddhism. Drawing parallels between the "unseen psychological forces" operating in the human mind and the teachings in the Tibetan Book of the Dead, Nairn outlines six distinct consciousness-states, called bardos, that humans encounter-three in life and three in death. By appropriately training one's mind in the life bardos-gaining skill in lucid dreaming and mindfulness, for example-one can "die skillfully" and (after dying) recognize and exploit the unique opportunities the death bardos offer for enlightenment. Having laid this foundation, Nairn then addresses such topics as overcoming fear and habitual tendencies, cultivating compassion, helping the dying and assisting the dead-by, for example, reading to the corpse to encourage the person (now in the death bardos) to "merge with the bright light." Nairn often blends disciplines, as when he sets traditional Buddhist teachings on attachment within the psychological concept of projection. At times Nairn's discussions, particularly his descriptions of the death bardos, are vivid and engaging, but at other times he writes in terms so broad that his meaning is obscured rather than elucidated. Dedicated students, however, may find that Nairn's unique psychology-oriented approach provides a "workable angle" into the esoteric teachings of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. (July) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
Trained in Jungian psychology and a teacher of Buddhist meditation, Nairn unites those two worldviews in this introduction to the Tibetan Book of the Dead (the Bardo Thodol). The Bardo guides the dying, telling them what to expect and what to do in the realms between death and rebirth. Nairn instructs readers on how to act in this life in view of the coming afterlife. His approach is valid but will concern mainly those who agree with both Jungian and Buddhist psychologies, presumably a narrow audience; readers who don't agree with the doctrines of archetypes and reincarnation will likely be put off. Such a limiting supposition of doctrinal belief is unfortunate, because Nairn's book is filled with reasonable advice for living a thoughtful (mindful) and compassionate life. Appropriate for scholarly readers and others with Buddhist backgrounds and recommended for academic libraries. James F. DeRoche, Alexandria, VA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.