Into the Jaws of Yama, Lord of Death: Buddhism, Bioethics, and Death

Into the Jaws of Yama, Lord of Death

Into the Jaws of Yama, Lord of Death Into the Jaws of Yama, Lord of Death Buddhism, Bioethics and Death  KARMA LEKSHE TSOMO STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS Graphic design of Yama image courtesy of Daphne Chu and Michel Le, Ostrander & Chu. Published by State University of New York Press, Albany© 2006 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210-2384 Production by Kelli Williams Marketing by Susan M. Petrie Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Karma Lekshe Tsomo, 1944– Into the jaws of Yama, lord of death : Buddhism, bioethics, and death / Karma Lekshe Tsomo. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-7914-6831-9 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-7914-6831-3 (hardcover : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978-0-7914-6832-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-7914-6832-1 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Death—Religious aspects—Buddhism. 2. Intermediate state—Buddhism. 3. Buddhism—Doctrines. I. Title. BQ4487.K375 2006 294.3'5697—dc22 2005030347 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is dedicated to my parents, who taught me about life and death. Martha Jean Haycraft Walters 1918–2001 and Philip Zenn 1919–2005 ...