Why this word is great
TUKDAM — [Noun] An advanced meditative state believed to be attained by experienced practitioners after clinical death, characterized by minimal bodily decay. Borrowed from Tibetan ཐུགས་དམ (thugs dam), where ཐུགས (thugs) means 'mind' or 'heart' and དམ (dam) means 'commitment' or 'meditative bond.' Unlike 'samsara' (the cyclical grind of rebirth and suffering) or 'nirvana' (the final release from that cycle), tukdam is the suspended moment between—a body defying decay, still seated in lotus, skin warm to the touch, while the mind lingers at the threshold. It is the unshaken lotus posture of a monk three days deceased, the scent of sandalwood lingering in an empty room, the last ember of a fire refusing to go cold—a testament to the will’s power to hold fast, even as the world insists on letting go.