Preparing for Death and Helping the Dying

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and making regular prayers for such a rebirth, 3) purifying our negative actions and accumulating positive actions, and dedicating these to be born in the Pure Land, and 4) having the motivation of bodhicitta—the aspiration to attain enlightenment (Buddhahood) to be able to help all beings—as the reason for wishing to be born in the Pure Land. 4 3) Mindfulness Mindfulness is a meditative practice that involves being aware of whatever is happening in our body and mind accompanied by equanimity, free of attachment to what is pleasant and aversion to what is unpleasant. Strong familiarity with this practice gives one the ability to cope with pain and discomfort, keep the mind free from disturbing emotions, and remain peaceful while dying. Several books on mindfulness and meditation are mentioned in the reading list. 4) Loving-kindness This practice involves cultivating feelings of care, concern and kindness towards all other beings. When we face difficulties or pain, our strong attachment to ‘I’ augments our suffering, whereas being less 18
concerned with ourselves and more concerned for others diminishes our suffering. At the time of death, thinking of other beings and wishing them to be happy and free from suffering would bring great peace to our mind. Lama Zopa Rinpoche says that these are the best thoughts and feelings that we could have in our mind before and during death. Not only do they help us have a more peaceful death, but they also purify our negativities and accumulate positive potential, or merit, which ensures a good rebirth in the next life. More information on how to cultivate lovingkindness can be found in Sharon Salzburg’s book, LovingKindness—The Revolutionary Art of Happiness (see the recommended reading list). BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE STAGES OF THE DEATH PROCESS One reason why people tend to be afraid of death is because they do not know what will happen to them. In the Tibetan tradition of Buddhism, there is a clear and detailed explanation of the process of dying, which involves eight stages. The eight stages 19
Page 1: Preparing for Death and Helping the
Page 4 and 5: CONTENTS Preface To The Revised Edi
Page 6 and 7: PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION This
Page 8 and 9: INTRODUCTION Death is a subject tha
Page 10 and 11: training and preparation, a peacefu
Page 12 and 13: the fear of death (because we tend
Page 14 and 15: And: 2 What is born will die What h
Page 16 and 17: turned to the Buddha, buried her ch
Page 18 and 19: die, for example, on an operating t
Page 20 and 21: may lead us to take birth in unfort
Page 22 and 23: 10 HOW TO PREPARE FOR DEATH THE FOU
Page 24 and 25: 12 “Every religious tradition emp
Page 26 and 27: death itself is one of the most eff
Page 28 and 29: 16 • keeping in mind an object of
Page 32 and 33: correspond to the gradual dissoluti
Page 34 and 35: such as The Tibetan Book of the Dea
Page 36 and 37: Thus one of the most important skil
Page 38 and 39: and deal with turbulent emotions. I
Page 40 and 41: 28 Sogyal Rinpoche says (p.213): Al
Page 42 and 43: ence, dedicating the merit of these
Page 44 and 45: their religious beliefs and practic
Page 46 and 47: have stopped breathing. Remember th
Page 48 and 49: spiritual instructions. Among the p
Page 50 and 51: 38 CONCLUSION I hope that the ideas
Page 52 and 53: dark smoke. It comes into your hear
Page 54 and 55: person you love whom you want to fo
Page 56 and 57: 44 NOTES 1. Gary Zukav, The Dancing
Page 58 and 59: 46 You never think of death’s app
Page 60 and 61: 48 Driven by the winds, swept by th
Page 62 and 63: 50 RECOMMENDED READING BUDDHIST TEA
Page 64 and 65: Dying. London: Papermac, 1988. Call
Page 66: 54 St Joseph’s Home & Hospice 921

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