Death and Dying
What Is the Best Way to Prepare for Death? Advice from 8 Buddhist Masters
In the process of writing my book, “Preparing to Die: Practical Advice and Spiritual Wisdom from a Tibetan Buddhist Tradition”I had the great opportunity to interview a number of Buddhist meditation masters. One of the questions I asked them was, what is the best way...
What’s The Best Way to Help Others As They Die? Advice From Buddhist Masters
I previously asked the question "What Is The Best Way To Prepare For Death?" during a divine experience interviewing Buddhist meditation masters. A follow-up question I asked was "What is the best way to help others as they die?" I feel this question is just as...
Shamatha Meditation as a Preparation for Death
Shamatha meditation is a fundamental form of mindfulness meditation. Shamatha means “peaceful abiding”.”Mindfulness is the meditation common to all schools of Buddhism. It is the ground meditation upon which all subsequent meditations are based. Without a solid foundation in mindfulness, all the other practices become shaky.
How Vipassana Meditation Helps Prepare for Death
Just as shamatha meditation prepares the mind for the after death states, we can also look at how vipassana meditation helps prepare for death. One of the main themes in The Tibetan Book of the Dead is “recognition and liberation are simultaneous.” This relates to...
After Death States: The Bardos in Tibetan Buddhism
The central orienting view in the Tibetan tradition of “thanatology” (the study of death and dying) is that of the bardos. This Tibetan word “Bardo” is translated as “gap, interval, intermediate state, transitional process, or in between” and usually refers to the gap between lives. According to the Tibetan teachings, there are three death bardos: the painful bardo of dying, the luminous bardo of dharmata, and the karmic bardo of becoming.
Karmic Implications of Suicide
To address questions about the karmic implications of suicide, it helps to understand the four aspects of a fully established karma. What is a karmic action made of? How are the consequences of an act established? Even though the topic of karma has entered the public...
Relating to Suicide from a Buddhist Perspective
The difficult topic of suicide and the depression that often triggers it are complex issues. Biological, cultural, social, and psychological causes all conspire to spark these tragic events. How can we relate to suicide from a Buddhist perspective? Is there a way to...
Holding Environment for Dying
There is a great deal we can do to help others as they die. The best thing is to create a proper holding environment for dying. What is a Holding Environment? The idea of holding environments was created by the psychiatrist and pediatrician Donald Winnicott. He used...
Make Your Spiritual Wishes Known by Writing a Dharma Will
A legal will is a document that says how you want your money and belongings to be distributed after you die. For Buddhists, in addition to having a traditional will, it is a good idea to also have a "Dharma Will." The ideas is to ensure that your caregivers implement...