Book excerpt: "For the first time ever, Westerners can enjoy one of the traditional Tibetan pastimes-the game of Rebirth. This authentic Tibetan board game depicts the Buddhist map of the universe in a scheme of 104 squares. Each square represents a stage of enlightenment and, with each roll of the die, one progresses toward nirvana, afloat among gods of delight, or descends to one of many hellish states, such as that of the realm of hungry ghosts with necks the size of a pin, bellies as big as hills, and in whose mouths food turns to fire. Rebirth was invented in the thirteenth century by the great Sanskrit scholar Sakya pandita Kunga Gyaltsen ("Whose Banner Is Total Joy'); it came to be regarded as an educational game, teaching children the Buddhist religious philosophy while providing entertainment for adults and a means of determining present states of consciousness and future patterns of rebirth.The modern reader may use the game as either an instructive pastime, or as a form of divination similar to that offered by the I Ching. This version is presented with an introduction, complete instructions for playing the game, commentary for each of the 104 squares, and a full-color poster- size tanka gameboard which-drawn in accord with ritual iconography-may be used for worship and meditation." --