Sogyal Rinpoche presents the principles of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, specifically the teachings on the bardo, or the intermediate states between life and death. The text explains the practice of meditation as a method for stabilizing the mind and the role of compassion in easing the transition of the dying. It outlines the specific visualizations and prayers used in Phowa to transfer consciousness at the moment of expiration. Rinpoche details how physical dissolution correlates with mental shifts, providing a framework for assisting others through their final hours and the subsequent mourning process.
This book serves healthcare providers, hospice volunteers, and people facing terminal illness or the loss of a loved one. Readers seek a structured approach to mortality that moves beyond medical management into spiritual preparation. By engaging with these instructions, a reader gains a vocabulary for the dying process and specific techniques for maintaining mental clarity during periods of grief. The text provides a protocol for approaching the end of life with intentionality and composure rather than fear or avoidance.
Deep, inward-looking and contemplative; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Mindful Reader. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1992
- Language
- EN
