The-Tibetan-Book-of-Living-and-Dying

232 THE TIBETAN BOOK OF LIVING AND DYINGcomplicated. Even when he was nearing his eighties, I remember,he was sprightly and active and went shopping every dayalmost till his death.A-pé Dorje used to go shopping every morning aroundnine. He had heard that Ani Rilu was on the verge of death,and came to her room. He had a habit of speaking ratherloudly, almost shouting. 'Ani Rilu," he called out. She openedher eyes. "My dear girl," he beamed at her affectionately withhis enchanting smile, "now is the moment to show your truemettle. Don't falter. Don't waver. You have been so blessed tohave met so many wonderful masters and received teachingsfrom all of them. Not only that, but you have had the pricelessopportunity to practice as well. What more could you askfor? Now, the only thing you need to do is to keep theessence of the teachings in your heart, and especially theinstruction for the moment of death that your masters havegiven you. Keep that in your mind, and do not be distracted."Don't worry about us, we'll be fine. I'm going shoppingnow, and perhaps when I come back, I won't see you. So,goodbye." He said this with a huge grin. Ani Rilu was stillalert and the way he said it made her smile in recognition,and give a little nod.A-pé Dorje knew that it is vital, as we come near to death,to essentialize all our spiritual practice into one "heart practice"that embodies everything. What he said to Ani Rilu sums upthe third line in the verse by Padmasambhava, which tells us,at the moment of death, to: "Enter, undistracted, into clearawareness of the teaching."For someone who has gained recognition of the nature ofmind and stabilized it in his or her practice, this means to restin the state of Rigpa. If you do not have that stability, remember,in your innermost heart, the essence of your master'steaching, especially the most essential instructions for themoment of death. Hold that in your mind and heart, and think ofyour master, and unite your mind as one with him or her as you die.THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR DYINGAn image that is often given to characterize the bardo ofdying is that of a beautiful actress sitting in front of her mirror.Her final performance is about to begin, and she is putting onher makeup and checking her appearance for the last timebefore going out on stage. In just the same way, at themoment of death the master reintroduces us to the essential