Facing Death and Dying
Death is about life. It is a tremendous opportunity to wake up to the preciousness of this moment and to realise our deepest potential as human beings, if we have prepared for it. The best time to prepare is now.
What would happen if we turned towards the reality of death with kindness and compassion? Can we learn to make peace with it? Can we live more open-heartedly and help others die with less fear?
Reflecting on Living and Dying
Buddhists view life and death not as separate. Death is simply another chapter of life. More radically, life and death are in the mind, nowhere else. The mind is the universal basis of our experience. This is good news! Because it means we are not helpless victims in the face of the relentless fury of thoughts and emotions. Through mindful awareness, compassion and insight, we can transform our restless and anxious mind. We can heal painful emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, or grief. When we feel more calm and clear, we will glimpse our true nature beyond death and change.
Discovering who we really are will give us the trust, courage and confidence to live and die well.
You may have heard of The Tibetan Book of the Dead. This lucid and inspirational teaching cycle is unique to Tibetan Buddhism, especially its most ancient school. The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a guidebook to the after-death states. It goes back to the master Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, who brought the Buddha’s teachings to Tibet in the 8th century. The modern spiritual classic The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying draws its inspiration from these teachings and explains and expands on them not only in light of death, but life and the entire spiritual path.
Buddhists view life and death not as separate. Death is simply another chapter of life. More radically, life and death are in the mind, nowhere else.
Practical Advice and Guidance
Reflecting and preparing
Whether you’re new to Buddhism, want to prepare for your own death, are caring for a dying person, or are simply curious about what will happen when we die, we’ve gathered a collection of teachings and guides that invite you to move closer to the reality of death with awareness and love.
Here you can find a collection that includes short video teachings by Buddhist teachers offering practical heart advice and spiritual guidance on:
- understanding the deeper dimensions of impermanence and death,
- how to work with painful thoughts and feelings,
- how to prepare for death,
- how to support a dying person, and
- what we can do after someone has died.
Supporting Someone at the Moment of Death
The following short practices can offer support to someone who is dying and those close to them. You can play them for the dying person to listen, or you can practice on their behalf.
Sogyal Rinpoche
The Essential Phowa: A Practice for the Dying
Sogyal Rinpoche
Caring for a Dying Person
Kirsten Deleo
Another You: guided practice for someone who is dying
In the Mirror of Death course offers an introduction to the Tibetan Buddhist understanding of death & dying, based on the The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying.
Self study
To support your reflection on death and dying, you can find a collection of short video teachings by Buddhist teachers offering practical heart advice and spiritual guidance.
Spiritual Care Centres
Spiritual Care Centres in Ireland and Germany offer support to those facing long-term or life-limiting illness, living with disability, or suffering from grief.
Everyone is welcome to request prayers for yourself, those close to you or your projects. All prayers are included in the daily practices held by the community at Rigpa’s retreat centre, Lerab Ling.