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

QUESTIONS ABOUT DEATH 383According to the Buddhist teachings we should do everything wecan to help the dying cope with their deterioration, pain, and fear,and offer them the loving support that will give the end of their livesmeaning. Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of St. Christopher's Hospicein London, said: "If one of our patients requests euthanasia, it meanswe are not doing our job." She argues against the legalization ofeuthanasia, and says:We are not so poor a society that we cannot afford time and trouble andmoney to help people live until they die. We owe it to all those for whomwe can kill the pain which traps them in fear and bitterness, To do thiswe do not have to kill them,,,, To make voluntary [active] euthanasialawful would be an irresponsible act, hindering help, pressuring the vulnerable,abrogating our true respect and responsibility to the frail and theold, the disabled and dying 6SOME OTHER QUESTIONSWhat happens to the consciousness of a baby that is aborted, or dies veryyoung? What can the parents do to help the baby?Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche explained:The consciousness of those who die before birth, at birth, or in infancy willtravel once again through the bardo states, and take on another existence.The same meritorious practices and actions can be done for them as areusually performed for the dead: the purification practice and mantra recitationof Vajrasattva, offering of lights, purification of the ashes, and so on.In the case of an abortion, in addition to these usual practices, ifthe parents feel remorse they can help by acknowledging it, askingfor forgiveness, and performing ardently the purification practice ofVajrasattva. They can also offer lights, and save lives, or help others,or sponsor some humanitarian or spiritual project, dedicating it to thewell-being and future enlightenment of the baby's consciousness.What happens to the consciousness of a person who commits suicide?Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche said:When a person commits suicide, the consciousness has no choice but to followits negative karma, and it may well happen that a harmful spirit willseize and possess its life force, In the case of suicide, a powerful mastermust perform special kinds of practices, such as fire ceremonies and otherrituals, in order to free the dead person's consciousness.Should we donate our organs when we die? What if they have to beremoved while the blood is still circulating or before the process of dying is