What does the Tibetan book of the dead say happens 14 days after death? I don't have my copy to hand. I'm asking, because I suspect a dear friend of mine may have died last week.

In the "Tibetan Book of The Living and Dying" it is said that the state one dies in, is the state one enters the Bardo in. Are there any resources someone can point me to that can clarify how to live in a state that makes on better prepared for the Bardo, but at the same time not be attached to the thought of it. I figure that if one is always concentrated on being in a certain state in preparation, that this would be considered attachment, or even become an obsession.

In his book "Tibetan Buddhism from the ground up", Alan Wallace describes a part of the (human) rebirth process as follows: >"In [this vision] one sees (...) [the parents-to-be] in the act of sexual intercourse (...) and the bardo being is lustfully drawn to this event. Moreover, Buddhism says, this lust is directed toward the parent of the opposite sex of that being which is about to be conceived." I have some questions about this: - Is this the usual Buddhist view? If yes: What's the original source? - Do I understand it correctly that "lustfully drawn to" means sexual attraction? - If heterosexual attraction is a fundamental part of the human rebirth, how is this process supposed to work for homo- or asexual people?

In Tibetan Buddhist teaching it is stated that we will be in bardo state for 49 days before rebirth. So during this period we can still communicate with the dead? What is the Buddhist view on this? Can the dead communicate with the living, for example via chimes (making sound notes that only the family member will know)? Is it possible or just a joke? In Tibetan Buddhism it's still possible, because i read their system on how to find the dead Dalai lama via a dream. But based on my research, all experiment to communicate with the living one, which done by many famous people is failed. For example: - Ian Stevenson promised will tell a code of the safebox to all the worker colleagues. Failed! - Houdini promise to do everything possible to communicate with his wife Bess Houdini. Also failed! - The Beatles also doing this experiment: they promise whoever die first will contact the living one. Also failed. - And many others

I'm wondering if mental illness is carried over into the space between lives and then subsequently to the next birth?

The question I pose is the same as the title of this post. Any experience or further reading of how to practice this reaching of a loved one to support and guide them after they have passed through the bardo into rebirth. Thank you What I mean by reaching....is, I suppose after reading the post below by bhumishu; to send a blessing. Is this received? Now even another question....I have read that there are 49 days in the bardo and the first day is equal to four days which in total will be 52. All of which are merely symbolic. Can someone or you please expound on this? Also, I do have a copy of The Tibetan Book of the Dead which will need to be opened and read again and refereed to again for retained wisdom. Any and all acceptance that can be given that I was unable to be there to guide my Grandmother within the 49 or 52 day time frame according to the practices given in the teachings. This is why I deeply want to assist or send blessings to her that are received by her in whatever or wherever she may be now. Thank you so much!

From the moment of death, to the moment of rebirth (or alternative outcomes) How would you map the flowchart of the bardo? or instead of a flowchart a tree map? A list of stages would also be sufficient. The specific order is important though I believe. I remember something being said of the max time one could spend in the bardo being 49 days. Chunks of 7 days normally lead to rebirth, and I have knowledge of some of the stages. The specific order is always a matter of curiosity for me.

In reading this answer to another question there were many references to "the peaceful and wrathful buddhas" in the quote from The Tibetan Book of the Dead. This is a tradition that I'm not very familiar with. Is it possible to explain what a wrathful Buddha is and how Buddhist teachings on considering anger as a poison might align with the idea of a wrathful Buddha? Thanks for any clarification on this.