Preparing for Death and Helping the Dying

eath has ceased. This is possible if the person has
died at home, but would be difficult in a hospital
because hospitals have rules regarding how long a
body can be kept in a room or ward. You can request
the hospital staff to move the body to another
room where it could be left for several more hours,
while prayers and mantras continue to be recited.
It is best to not touch the body from the time
the breath has stopped until the consciousness has
departed. However, if it is necessary to touch the
body during this time, first pull the hair on the crown
of the head (or just touch the crown if there is no
hair). This will stimulate the person’s mind to leave
from the crown, which is the exit-point for a fortunate
rebirth—state such as in a Pure Land. After that
you can touch other parts of the body.
In the Buddhist tradition it is recommended that
we not cry in the presence of someone who is dying
or has stopped breathing. It is also not good to talk
about the person’s possessions and how they should
be distributed. Hearing such sounds could disturb
their mind. Family members and friends can go to
another room to cry, or to discuss practical matters.
In the presence of the person who has died, it is best
to have only the sounds of prayers, mantras and
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