Another excellent podcast from The Dying Matters Podcast! Kevin Toolis has written a must read book and this podcast talks about his experiences since writing the book.
The following article addresses an age-old problem that we all face sooner or later. How can we keep going in the face of trauma, or even everyday setbacks and discouragement? The Tibetans have suffered incredible hardship at the hands of the Chinese and yet they remain buoyant and cheerful. How can it be so?
I highly recommend a listen to the Spacious Minds podcast on the Cornell University Press page in order to get some valuable insights into the Tibetan way of viewing suffering.
“You create space in the mind, you make the mind more vast by thinking about others, and by thinking that it is only natural to have problems in life.” Talking about mental distress only solidifies it, she argues. “And it can make you sick.” Continue reading
“In a way, what you refer to as life, right now, is like soap bubbles being blown. A rock, a plant, and a human being are all like soap bubbles of different kinds. The layer of covering of the bubbles is the complex amalgamation of memory – various kinds of memory.
The difference between a ‘human bubble’ and a ‘rock bubble’ is just this: a rock bubble is mostly physical, with a thick covering and less air inside.
The entire Yogic process or the entire spiritual process is to wear this bubble thin so that one day when it bursts there is absolutely nothing left. It then moves from the bondage of existance to the freedom of non-existance, or Nirvana.” – Sadguru. Passage taken from Death: An Inside Story, p 31
I have found this book to be extremely informative and beneficial and would HIGHLY recommend it, ie it’s a must read! AI generated image created in NightCafe..
I truly value the Tibetan Buddhist teachings on death and dying. Like most Yogic practices, they have developed over centuries of deep examination and practice. Below is a quick read, but an invaluable resource for all hospice workers, clinicians and caregivers.
What is the Best Way to Help Others as They Die?
Some excerpts:
“The most important thing is to help anyone who is dying to relax. Doesn’t matter what religion, or no religion. That’s the most important thing. Help them relax and have some kind of positive environment, and positive thought processes.” –Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
“You want consciousness to exit from the crown, and merge with luminous emptiness awareness, so that your consciousness becomes vast like the sky. Reminding them of this is very helpful.” – Lama Tarchin Rinpoche Continue reading
I am totally enjoying the The Dying Matters Podcast It is really well done, very interesting and covers a wide range of topics. Currently listening to this episode with Dr. Kathryn Mannix, which I would highly recommend!
