In the novel, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, Archaeologist Dr. Nima Ganpa heads an expedition to the no-man's land of the Western Himalayas for the recovery of primordial clay tablets of the "original" Bardo Thodol passed down by the founder of Swastika Bon. Its discovery would potentially change the history of Tibet-the many established and well-entrenched doctrines, practices and institutions of Tibetan Buddhism.

The ancient clay tablets contain sutras, tantric yoga techniques, and secretive vehicles to guide the initiate to attain spontaneous enlightenment, breaking the suffering of the endless cycle of death and rebirth. They offer a shortcut to attain Nirvana.

However, the archaeological expedition immediately attracts the attention of agents of Dharamsala, Tibet's sacred treasure hunters and a syndicate for stolen antiquities headed by a former Nazi SS and a former CIA who have been involved with the affairs of Tibet since the 1930s. Only Dr. Ganpa can stop the madness of the Forces of Light against the Forces of Darkness in an apocalyptic Armageddon of Shambhala.