Preparing for Death and Helping the Dying
A Buddhist PerspectiveDeath is a subject that most people do not like to hear about, talk about, or even think about. Yet death is a reality, a fact of life, so wouldn’t it be better to approach it with openness and acceptance, rather than fear and denial?
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About the book
Venerable Sangye Khadro has taught numerous time on the the topic of “Preparing for Death and Helping the Dying” and this booklet is based on material used during such seminars. It generously provides advice about how to prepare for death, a natural and inevitable part of life. Through taking time for such preparations, we may also find that it becomes a time of learning and growth, the deepening of love, greater awareness of what matters most in life, and a blossoming of our faith and commitment to spiritual beliefs and practices.
Death is a subject that most people do not like to hear about, talk about, or even think about. Yet death is a reality, a fact of life, so wouldn’t it be better to approach it with openness and acceptance, rather than fear and denial? With the proper training and preparation, a peaceful and positive death is possible for each and every one of us.
Translations
Available in Chinese (Traditional)
Excerpt from the booklet
Death can even be an opportunity to gain insight into the true nature of ourselves and all things, an insight that will enable us to become free from all suffering.
Let’s take the example of Inta McKimm, the director of a Buddhist centre in Brisbane, Australia. Inta died of lung cancer in August, 1997. Two months before her death she wrote in a letter to her Spiritual Teacher, Lama Zopa Rinpoche: Although I am dying, this is the happiest time of my life!…. For a long time life seemed so hard, so difficult. But when really recognizing death it turned into the greatest happiness. I wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on their own death, the great happiness that comes with having recognized impermanence and death. This is quite surprising and unexpected, and extremely joyful. It is the greatest happiness of my whole life, the greatest adventure and the greatest party!
Inta spent the last few months of her life dedicating herself to spiritual practice. At the time of her death her mind was peaceful, and she was surrounded by family and friends praying for her. There are many similar stories of Lamas, monks, nuns and spiritual practitioners who are able to face death with serenity and dignity, and in some cases are even able to remain in a state of meditation during and after their death.