Walter Evans-Wentz translated the Bardo Thodol, guiding consciousness through death states, drawing global attention to Tibetan practices. It synthesized indigenous and Theosophical ideas. It mattered by popularizing Eastern views on dying and altered realms in the West.

The publication of the Tibetan Book of the Dead in 1927 inspired a diverse array of poets and psychedelic explorers, including Ginsberg, to engage with themes of death, rebirth, and visionary states. This text has shaped 20th-century literature, encouraging a cross-cultural dialogue on spirituality and the nature of existence.