Tukdam

In the Vajrayana tradition^[1] of Tibetan Buddhism, tukdam (Tibetan: ཐུགས་དམ, Wylie: thugs dam་) is a post-mortem meditative state observed in advanced Tibetan Buddhist practitioners. This state occurs after clinical death, wherein the body shows minimal signs of decomposition, retaining a lifelike appearance for days or even weeks. Practitioners are believed to be in a profound state of meditation,^[2] merging their consciousness with the Clear Light, a fundamental concept in Tibetan Buddhism signifying the primordial nature of mind and reality.^[3] The tradition states that the tukdam is available to all people, but only the expert practitioners of meditation, when dying, can recognize it and use for spiritual purposes.^[2] The tradition became more popular among Tibetan exiles after the 14th Dalai Lama's call for the scientific research of the matter.^[1]

^ ^a ^b Lott 2023.
^ ^a ^b Lott et al. 2021.
^ Donough Coleman, interviewed in Tricycle (2024).

[FOOTNOTELott2023-1] Lott 2023.

[FOOTNOTELottYeshiNorchungDolma2021-2] Lott et al. 2021.

[3] Donough Coleman, interviewed in Tricycle (2024).

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