I do a lot of work with the critically ill and dying and I use this text as a guidebook to help in critical, high stress, transitional situations. It aligns, of course, with the Tibetan Buddhist Bardo teachings, presenting them in a context that is culturally accessible and, dare I say it, sometimes humorous. Without the normal religious context it offers the dharma teachings to westerners and opens the way of equanimity. It gives an excellent presentation of how to recognize the stages of physical death, make contact with the patient or “voyager,” prepare the room for passing, and deliver an effective reading. It provides a way for families and the bereaved to participate in a more conscious passage for their beloved by aligning with his or her own spiritual needs and practices.
In the resonance of the various chambers with different psychological states this text is also a workbook for those in psychological stress. The person in crisis can read from the particular chapter which is analogous to his or her condition.
As you can see, all of this is very practical stuff. I would even say that this is a book which can only be fully understood in terms of being used to help others. Indeed as I look at the range and scope of his work it seems that most of Mr. Gold’s writings and teachings are of this nature.
