Having Once Died And Returned To Life, Tibetan Biographies Of The Journey Beyond Death, Page 1
The de-lok (Īdas log) is a figure in the
literature of Tibetan popular religion
who Īdiesā (Īdas), enters the
intermediate bardo state, tours the
netherworld, and Īreturnsā (log) to
report his or her afterlife experiences
and to convey messages about the
importance of moral conduct and
religious commitment. Biographies of
these individuals generally emphasize
three points: the Buddhist principles of
suffering and impermanence, the
fluctuations of karma, and the means by
which suffering can be eliminated. As
such, the de-lok accounts are in accord
with the basic teachings of Buddhism.
Unlike the more formal texts included in
the genres of Tibetan death literature,
such as the Tibetan Book of the Dead,
which are meant to be used primarily as
guides for the deceased, recitations and
readings of the de-lok biographies are
aimed exclusively at a living lay
audience. While parallels can be found
between these popular texts and those of
a more technical nature, the de-lok
biographies rarely contain all of the
details described in the advanced
theoretical works. In addition, it is
interesting to note that recent
comparative and cross-cultural studies
have demonstrated that the death-related
events recounted in these Tibetan
biographies are remarkably similar to
the personal accounts of near-death
experience (NDE) reported in the United
States and Europe.
The After-Death Visions of
Lama Jampa Delek
Tibetan: bLa ma byams pa bde legs
kyis bar do dang bskal baāi gzigs snang
dang chos kyi rgyal po phrin bsur rnams
Compiler: Don Īgrub rdo rje
In Three ĪDas log Stories. Delhi: Don
Īgrub rdo rje, 1977. I-Tib-1742; 78-
900961.
Lama Jampa Delek's story begins in 1596
when, during meditative retreat, he is
struck unexpectedly with a bizarre
sickness. Feeling weak and emaciated,
Lama Jampa loses the warmth in his body
and begins to spit bloody phlegm. The
doctors are called to administer
medicine and perform the various
curative rites, but to no avail. Several
days later, we are told, Lama Jampa
dies. It is here that the text begins to
relate the many physical sensations and
visonary experiences of the dying
process in great detail. For example, as
his body is deteriorating Lama Jampa
grows increasingly sluggish and
confused. Anxious and afraid, he
withdraws into complete depression and
cries out, "Please lift me up!," at
which point he perceives a faint
shimmering light like a translucent haze
of heat rising from the earth. Later, he
is met by a charismatic female figure
who takes him on a tour of the bardo
realm and convinces him to mend his
sinful ways and to help others do the
same.
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