{"id":180,"date":"2022-05-25T00:47:53","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T00:47:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/preparing-for-dying.com\/?page_id=180"},"modified":"2022-07-09T07:46:51","modified_gmt":"2022-07-09T07:46:51","slug":"about-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/preparing-for-dying.com\/?page_id=180","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Preparing for Dying: Overview<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(1) Accept the reality of death.<\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Death is inevitable and certain \u2013 there is no way to avoid dying or to escape from death when it is time for us to die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Every person \u2013 sooner or later, young or old \u2013 will die, no matter who they are, rich or poor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Our bodies are fragile \u2013 there are many ways in which death can unexpectedly occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 \u201cDeath is real, it comes without warning and it cannot be escaped.\u201d1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

(2) Realise there is continuity of consciousness<\/em> after this life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Compelling evidence of life after death exists from spiritual traditions across all cultures and times \u2013 in other words, the end of life is not the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Our body is only the shell of the spirit that lives within it \u2013 at death,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

that spirit leaves and experiences another life and another world.2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Yet the essence of people\u2019s being remains within our hearts \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

it is in our hearts that we come to know this, the profoundest of mysteries.3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Our connection with each other does not die when our bodies die \u2013 the connection that we feel and know in our hearts, is not of the nature of what dies.4<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

(3) Reflect on the reality of an afterlife<\/em> realm.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 \u201cWhen you read the lives of the greatest practitioners, those who have succeeded in Awakening, it is clear that they reflected deeply on death, and that was what motivated them and enabled them successfully to traverse the path to Awakening<\/em>.\u201d5<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 \u201cThis reflection [on death] provides both the vision<\/em> and the impetus to overcome all difficulties, and to regard any difficulty on the path as nothing compared with the pain of remaining trapped in the unawakened state of samsara.\u201d6<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 \u201cAt death, it is certain we will be cut off from all we cling to in this life, but there is no evidence to suggest awareness<\/em> itself will die.\u201d7<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 \u201cThe more we look at the nature of awareness<\/em>, the more we realize it is not of the nature of something that dies \u2013 this realization, combined with the recognition that death severs us from all we cling to in life, makes reflection on death our dearest friend. It is the friend that drives us into the arms of our own salvation.\u201d8<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

(4) Bring resolution and healing<\/em> to the present life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Seek to heal unfinished business and suffering in your life here and now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Nurture a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude for all of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Accept whatever has transpired in life and befriend it all \u2013 reflect on the transformative lessons learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Seek to gain new spiritual insights for the purpose of your life as you look back on life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

(5) Take time now to deal with practical preparations<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Realise that it is kind and respectful to people we leave behind to have all our affairs in order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Formulate explicit end-of-life instructions, especially your will and funeral preparations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Write any final letters of reconciliation and gratitude you feel inspired to do for family members, relatives, and friends \u2013 especially those you love or who have cared for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Experience peace of mind, knowing that you have planned for your financial and health matters to be taken care of, as well as your physical possessions \u2013 in the ways you have desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

(6) Support others in their end-of-life journey<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Be ready to support others as they reach the end of their life and are soon to face their death \u2013 being aware of the grief process of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Learn, if possible, the skills of whole body listening, the art of compassionate care, and spiritual companionship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Gain the skills, if possible, to help those in distressing circumstances \u2013 such as accidents and environmental disasters \u2013 to experience a peaceful physical departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Be able to bring peace to others on their end-of-life journey \u2013 in order to help them pass on peacefully and gracefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

(7) Meditate on the end of life \u2014 setting aside time for silence, stillness and solitude<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Recognise how easy it is to devote all our energies to physical activities \u2013 and get caught up in the busyness of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Ensure that you take time each day for a period of meditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Plan time for retreats into your yearly calendar \u2013 such as for whole days, weekends, a week, or even longer \u2013 understanding the benefits of retreat and how to practice in retreat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Recognize that \u201creflection on death is always a good way to get perspective on the preciousness of life.\u201d9<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

(8) Engage in a daily spiritual practice<\/em> to keep focused<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Remember that life consists of far more than material, mundane pursuits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Realise that our homes, friends, comforts, and wealth in life will all be left behind at death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Sever, therefore, your attachments and as a priority in life strive to attain enlightenment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Nurture the spiritual dimension of your life through such daily activities as spiritual reading, meditation, and prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

References:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Leonard Cohen in a YouTube presentation on the Tibetan Book of the Dead<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2-9. Hookham, Lama Shenpen. There\u2019s More to Dying Than Death: A Buddhist Perspective<\/em>. Cambridge, UK: Windhorse Publications, 2006.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Copyright 2022 Alexander Peck<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Listen, Contemplate, Meditate<\/strong>

Preparing for Dying \u2014 Key Points

* Reality of death
* Continuity of consciousness
* Reality of an afterlife realm
* Resolution and healing in this life
* Practical preparations now
* Supporting others in their end-of-life journey
* Setting aside time for silence and solitude
* Engaging in a daily spiritual practice

(Alexander Peck) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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