Part 1: A Way of Life

This film reveals the history of The Tibetan Books of the Dead and examines its traditional use in northern India, as well as its acceptance in Western hospices. Shot over a four-month period, the film contains footage of the rites and liturgies for a deceased Ladakhi elder, and includes an interview with the Dalai lama, who shares his views on the book's meaning and importance.

Part 2: The Great Liberation

This film follows an old lama and his novice monk as they guide a Himalayan villager into the afterlife using readings from The Tibetan Book of the Dead. The mind's 39 day journey towards rebirth is envisioned through actual photography of rarely seen Buddhist rituals, interwoven with groundbreaking animation by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Ishu Patel.