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Buddhist teachings on facing death with openness
and insight, from the author of The Healing Power of
Mind—now in paperback.
Buddhism teaches that
death can be a springboard to enlightenment—yet for all
but the most advanced meditators, it will be the gateway
to countless future lives of suffering in samsara. Tulku
Thondup wrote this guide to help us heal our fear and
confusion about death and strengthen our practice in
anticipation of this transition, and to help us realize
the enlightened goal of ultimate peace and joy—not only
for death and rebirth, but for this very lifetime. In
simple language, he distills a vast range of sources,
including scriptures, classic commentaries, oral
teachings, and firsthand accounts. The book includes:
• A downloadable audio program of guided meditations
(URL provided in the book)
• An overview
of the dying process, the after-death bardo states, and
teachings on why, where, and how we take rebirth
•
Accounts by Tibetan "near-death experiencers"
(delogs), who returned from death with amazing
reports of their visions
• Ways to train our minds during life, so that at
death, all the phenomena before us will arise as a world
of peace, joy, and enlightenment
• Simple meditations,
prayers, and rituals to benefit the dead and dying
• Advice for caregivers,
helpers, and survivors of the dying
The paperback
edition links to a downloadable audio program providing
guided instructions by the author on how to visualize
Amitabha Buddha in the Pure Realm; how to receive his
blessings; how to visualize transforming your body into
light and sound at the time of death; how to share the
blessings with compassion for all sentient beings; and
how to rest in oneness. By becoming intimate with this
practice while we're alive, we can alleviate our fear of
death, improve our appreciation of this life, and
prepare for death in a very practical way, while
planting the seeds for rebirth in the Pure Land.
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