Rare 1st edition vintage 'Rebirth, The Tibetan Game of Liberation' 1977

Rebirth: The Tibetan Game of Liberation is a book published in 1977 by Mark Tatz and Jody Kent that explains and includes an authentic traditional Tibetan board game. The game itself is an ancient educational tool used to teach Buddhist cosmology and philosophy. Origin: The game was reportedly invented in the thirteenth century by the great Sanskrit scholar Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltsen (1182-1251) to entertain his ailing mother. Purpose: It is designed to teach players about Buddhist principles, karma, and the cycle of existence (samsara), and can also be used as a form of divination. Gameplay Mechanics: The game uses a single die, representing the forces of karma, to move a player's token across a board. The board has 104 squares that represent different stages of enlightenment, virtues, vices, and realms of existence (e.g., hellish states, heavenly states, human realm). The ultimate goal is to progress along the path, learn from each square's meaning, and reach the final square of Nirvana, thereby achieving liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Very good condition rare 1st edition softback