{"id":264,"date":"2019-11-19T23:08:40","date_gmt":"2019-11-19T23:08:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/?page_id=264"},"modified":"2019-12-21T13:32:18","modified_gmt":"2019-12-21T03:32:18","slug":"the-dying-process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/index.php\/preparing-to-die\/the-dying-process\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dying Process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To understand the dying process is vital. I have found the\nfollowing excerpt most helpful in providing an overview:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere comes a point when it is obvious that death is near\nand cannot be turned back. Neither medicines, meditation methods that\nstrengthen our elemental constitution, nor prayers will extend our life.\nWhether by degenerative disease or the completion of old age, we know that we\nwill soon die. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An understanding of the physical, perceptual, and mental\nphenomena of the dying process may be very helpful as our own death approaches;\nit may also provide insights into the experiences of others who are dying. We\nshould realize, however, that the strange sensations of dying and the loss of\nthe familiar support of the body will still be very difficult. For this reason\nwe must develop an unwavering recognition of the absolute nature that will\ncarry us through the dying transition no matter what arises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dying begins when the five vital winds that sustain the\nbody\u2019s functions and the five secondary winds that sustain the senses lose\npower, causing their functions to fail with them. In a complex\ninterrelationship, the energy centers of the body, known as the chakras, begin\nto fail. As the energy of each chakra disperses, a corresponding element of the\nbody\u2014earth, water, fire, wind\u2014also disperses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These elements have a direct relationship to the body\u2019s\ncomponents. The earth element relates to flesh and bone, the water element to\nblood and fluids, the fire element to digestion and internal heat, and the wind\nelement to breath and circulation. When these elements dissociate, one after\nanother, their cohesion and function deteriorate. The physical, mental, and\nvisionary experiences of dying rapidly accelerate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first effects of dying are difficulty in digesting food,\nswallowing, and lifting the arms, legs, and head. The breath is short and\ngasping. The limbs, then the whole body, are chilled and nothing warms them.\nThe mind is agitated and thoughts arise uncontrollably. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It becomes impossible to stay erect. We cannot lift our arms\nand legs, the head lolls back, and there is a feeling of heavy pressure on the\nwhole body. The agitation ceases and is replaced by drowsiness, a semi-swoon.\nWe see mirage-like visions and flickering lights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is dryness of mouth, nose, throat, and eyes. Bodily\nsensations are greatly reduced, and alternate between pain and pleasure, heat\nand cold. The mind becomes irritable and we have visions of smoke. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then we cannot recognize friends or family. Sound and sight\nare confused. We see red dots like fireflies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We become totally immobile. The breath is shorter and more\ngasping, our exhalations longer. Sound and sight blur. Visionary experiences\narise according to our karma. Persons whose activities of body, speech, and\nmind have been very negative may see terrifying forms or a replay of the bad\nmoments of their lives. They may react with guttural sounds of fear. Those who\nhave been virtuous and kind may experience blissful, heavenly visions and see\nforms of loving friends and enlightened beings. They will have little fear of\ndeath. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, there is one long exhalation, the \u201cdeath rattle.\u201d\nThis is followed by the closure of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch as\nthe winds retract toward the heart. Physically one is dead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing compares to the fear of death, not the anxiety of\nhaving a business fail, not the grief of loved ones dying, nothing. When we\nknow death is imminent, there is fear far beyond any emotion we have\nexperienced in our lives. Fear alternates with regret over the pointlessness of\nlife. We worked hard and tried to be successful, but what do we have to show\nfor our efforts? A terrible sadness arises if we look back and find that life\nwas unfulfilled and rather meaningless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not knowing what will happen or where we will go, we feel\ndeeply disturbed. Overwhelmed by emotions, we are powerless to deal with our\nconfusion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our understanding of the dying process and the difficulties\nit involves should be an incentive to prepare for death. We begin this\npreparation by recognizing the dreamlike nature of our life. Moment by moment,\nwe should look at life as if it were a dream unfolding. Whether we are putting\ngas in the car, washing the dishes, or taking a walk, we should stand back a\nbit and look at the situation, the dreamlike quality of it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this way we learn to accept that life will inevitably\nchange, and we come to know that it is no more than one dream changing into\nanother. By holding this view we create a slightly different stance in life,\nand our attachment diminishes. Things don\u2019t seem quite so solid, and we don\u2019t\ngrasp at them so rigidly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this relaxed, more open state of being we have the\nopportunity to gain the infallible means for dying well, which is recognition\nof our absolute nature.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. Life in Relation to Death<\/em>.\n2nd<\/sup> edition. Junction City, California: Padma Publishing, 2000. Pages\n17-21. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the back cover of the book it states that the desire of the author has been to provide brief but profound instructions on preparing for death. Because it is short and accessible, the book has been read by a wide range of people, many of whom have commented that it is a book they feel comfortable giving to their elderly parents or friends who are dealing with life-threatening illnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a PDF copy of the above text, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Reflecting

Reflection: “It is symptomatic of the human condition that life\u2019s preoccupations sweep us relentlessly on, leaving us with no time to think about death, and little inclination to do so. This is one reason why the prospect of death tends to come as a shock, when we are suddenly faced, at the worst possible moment, with fundamental questions about what life is, or was, all about.” (Lama Shenpen Hookham)
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To understand the dying process is vital. I have found the following excerpt most helpful in providing an overview: \u201cThere comes a point when it is obvious that death is near and cannot be turned back. 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