Robert A.F. Thurman leads a prayer for those who died in the Nepal earthquakes from The Tibetan Book of the Dead.

In the Tibetan view of the dying process, death is a gateway into a journey through a dream-like landscape (the bardo), that can take up to 49 days, and sometimes much longer, if the person has strong amount of unfinished business from the previous life. They are said to be aware of what the people formerly connected are thinking and saying, though they cannot communicate with them. So reading a prayer of or giving re-assurance and instructions is considered very valuable for the between state traveler.

This prayer can be similarly used for anybody who has passed away, whether by natural disaster or otherwise at any time, ideally within 49 days of the passing.

Recorded May 2015 in Woodstock, New York.

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The song ‘Dancing Ling’ by Tenzin Choegyal from the album ‘Heart Sutra‘ (2004) by Ethno Super Lounge is used on the Bob Thurman Podcast with artist’s permission, all rights reserved.