The Tibetan Buddhist Practice of Phowa:
How to Transfer Consciousness at the Time of Death
 
By Ven. Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche
By Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche
 
Pages: 240
Book Size: 6.00 x 9.00
ISBN-13: 9798888504581
Imprint: Inner Traditions
On Sale Date: October 6, 2026
Format: Paperback Book
Illustrations: 48 b&w illustrations
 
A practical guide from the ancient tradition of Tibet for conscious dying and spiritual care

Drawing from an unbroken Nyingma lineage, Venerable Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche and Venerable Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche present clear instructions for Phowa, the Tibetan practice of transferring consciousness at death. With teachings, visualizations, and mantras, they guide practitioners and caregivers in turning dying into a conscious passage toward awakening and liberation.
 
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• Teaches step-by-step methods for transforming the moment of death into an opportunity for awakening

• Offers practical meditations, visualizations, and mantra practices to support the transference of consciousness

• Accesses teachings from an unbroken lineage of Tibetan Buddhist masters to help you through life and beyond death

The practice of Phowa provides the keys to transfer consciousness at the time of death. Drawing on an unbroken lineage of Tibetan Buddhist masters, the authors present clear, accessible instructions for the five principal types of Phowa, including Dzogchen and Longchen Nyingtik methods. They detail the philosophical foundations of Phowa, emphasizing the inseparability of body, speech, and mind, and the roles of karma and the bardos in shaping the journey through life and death.

The authors offer guidance on visualization, mantra recitation, and subtle body techniques that support the conscious transition of mind at the end of life. They outline daily preparatory practices for the cultivation of devotion and Buddha mind and give practical advice for integrating Phowa into your regular meditation practice.

They address the needs of caregivers and families, offering clear recommendations for compassionate support before, during, and after death. The authors explain how to create a supportive environment, recognize the signs of dying, and apply ritual and meditative practices to assist the dying and the deceased.

This manual is a resource for individual practitioners and a guide for those supporting others during the final transition. The Tibetan Buddhist Practice of Phowa provides a clear path for transforming death into an opportunity for awakening and spiritual realization.
 
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Table of Contents
 
Acknowledgments

Editors’ Introduction on the Teachings of Death and Dying

Preface

Realizing Our True Nature

The Who, Where, When, How, and What of Phowa

Preliminaries for Phowa

The Five Types of Phowa

Practice at the Time of Death

The Fifteen Points of Phowa Practice

Commentary on the Sadhana of the Longchen Nyingtik Phowa

Deepening Your Level of Understanding

Sadhana of the Longchen Nyingtik Phowa: Buddhahood Without Meditation

Dedication of Merit

Daka Yeshe Do, Meditation on Absolute Wisdom: The Moment of Death Sutra

Questions and Answers

The Stages of the Bardo of Dying

Glossary

Index

About the Authors

Books and Publications by the Khenpo Rinpoches

Padmasambhava Buddhist Center