Living and dying. This is one aspect of our short life that is inescapable. Its actual nature is to most remain elusive.
I tend to think that death is not so frightening. What is most frightening is the actual process of dying. Having seen many friends dying, it fills me with dread and sorry for the pain and suffering they underwent.
Trying to understand death before coming to death’s door has always fascinated me. It would be a victory of sorts and immense satisfaction to know what comes with dying. Of course, eventually theknell will sound but for the time being, I am nowhere near having the answers.
Reading up and hearing about it helps but they are in no way substitute for the actual truth of knowing it for oneself. Among the many literature that I have read and tried to understand, the Bardo Thodrol, The Tibetan Book of The Dead seems to provide the best answers.
After a relative passed away a week ago, I looked up one of my old books and started reading it again. The book I opened was ‘The Tibetan Book of The Dead – Liberation Through Understanding in the Between’ by Robert Thurman.
This book is in many ways useful for the uninitiated to the Tibetan view of dying. It provides a very good background of the the Bardo Thodrol, its origins and the fascinating history associated with it.
There were many instances where the author exercised some carefree abandon in interpreting concepts in his own words which I found distracting but he was trying his best to convey the ideas. Can’t fault him too much for that.
The book did well to present dying as a process which is the ideal occasion to gain liberation. In speaking of liberation, it is from the Buddhist, Tibetan Buddhist viewpoint of knowing one’s true uncorrupted nature. It is a many profound subject, this uncorrupted nature. Some called it the true nature of mind. Whatever term, we label it, the essence is that it is through the ability of recognizing the true nature that dawns in the state after dying that we must work towards.
It is not an easy act. But there is hope for the hopeful, like me for instance, who hope to do something when the time comes for us to die.
The actual translations are presented in easy to understand terms. In fact, the translations are also intended for reading to the dying as well as the just dead. There are instructions which appear clear enough but following them may be another matter altogether.
Particular concepts are dealt with foe example the six realms of existence, the Buddha bodies and most importantly the stages of death. All these are concise explanations of the key concepts that are critical in glimpsing what realization is all about. It is useful irrespective of whether one believes in the Buddhist philosophy or some other religious philosophy.
Within are also prayers and the author has taken the approach of intending them for non-Buddhists as well. After all, angels are still angels although our concept and perception of them may be different because of our individual leanings.
Outlined are ordinary and extraordinary preparations for death. Of these, the three main ethical practices of generosity, sensitivity to others and tolerance. This looks like the easiest to incorporate into one’s daily life.
The act of giving for example is explained. One is asked to give away things that we care about not just those things that we do not like. It is also not the size of the gift but rather the quality and the amount of mental attachment that one needs to overcome. We are advised to give away small things and not to bankrupt ourselves from a momentary positive impulse.
Thoughts like patience in relationships and concern for oneself as well as others are also taught. The main theme is that death is ever present and one could die just right then and there. All very sobering thoughts. For those familiar with the preliminary practices of the Tibetan Buddhist path would recognize and find them such strong reminders of their practice. It gives a sense of urgency towards working harder on our individual spiritual path.
For those inclined towards meditation there is a section that is devoted to this. Calm meditation and other meditation are discussed, all attached with easy advice.
Whichever way you look at it, be it as a casual read or as a tool for enhancing meditation and preparation for death, this book is a must-read. There has to be a meaning to life. There has to be a bigger picture, a picture much bigger than ourselves, our mansions, our cars and our families. In understanding dying and more critically in preparing oneself for this inevitable, the more we know and understand the better. I find this argument hard to counter.
I provide here the link for more reading and if you cannot source one at the local bookshop, here’s the link to Amazoncom.
May all be happy and free from hurt and harm. 
