{"id":724,"date":"2019-12-29T12:47:10","date_gmt":"2019-12-29T02:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/?page_id=724"},"modified":"2019-12-29T13:05:51","modified_gmt":"2019-12-29T03:05:51","slug":"724-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/index.php\/724-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Way to Prepare for Death"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In his book, Preparing to Die: Practical Advice and Spiritual Wisdom from a Tibetan Buddhist Tradition<\/em>, author Andrew Holecek states how he interviewed a number of Buddhist meditation masters and also asked them what is the best way to prepare for death? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are six excerpts from Part Three, entitled \u201cHeart\nAdvice from Spiritual Masters\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(1)<\/strong>  The basic idea is that what you got now is what you\u2019re going to get when you die. I\u2019m very much a believer in this statement. This is what Buddhism says. There\u2019s an expression in Tibetan Buddhism that says \u201cWhere you are going into the future can be known by looking at the color of your mind now.\u201d So, I don\u2019t think there is a preparation for death separate from that of life. \u2026 There is no advice separately for death and for life. Same advice for life and for death. If you don\u2019t know how to live then you don\u2019t know how to prepare for death either. So the question is: how do you want to live? (Anam Thubten Rinpoche)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

************<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(2)<\/strong>  Death is natural. Sometimes we live long, or short. The bottom line is we all will die. Each of us, there are no exceptions. Whether you like to talk about it or not, or think about it or not, it is very important to know about death and impermanence. We need to face that. We tend to think that death is ugly, not good. We ask ourselves \u201cWhy should we talk about it, it\u2019s not necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not a wise way of thinking\u2014we need to face it. We\nneed to face sickness, old age, and death. Rather than hiding or being ignorant\nabout these difficult topics, it\u2019s good to know about them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

No matter what religion or faith, people still want to die\nsmoothly, easily. No one wants to die a horrible death. So, what makes a\npeaceful death, what makes a difficult death? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Difficult deaths are brought on by too much clinging.\nClinging to self, or relatives, or what you have created in this world\u2014name,\nfame, power, money. So much clinging, not letting go, leads to a horrible\ndeath. At the moment of death, you realize you can\u2019t own anything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even during life, if we lose little things, we feel uneasy,\n\u201cGoodness, I lost my shoe, I lost my cat, I lost my camera, my car, my this or\nthat.\u201d This is just a tiny piece. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At death, we lose everything<\/em>. Everything that\nyou created, anything physically, verbally, mentally is being taken away. All\nof it, suddenly, you need to give up. There is nothing you can take with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, now, what is the method?\nVery simple: let go, let go. You need to let go. You need to know that if you\ncling, it only leads to more suffering. You need to give up. You need to let\ngo, don\u2019t cling. Whatever you created\u2014land, home, money, family, whatever\u2014clinging\nis of no use. Especially to loved ones. Show them your love, care, respect, and\nlet them go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also need to be kind to others during life, if we\u2019re not kind, suffering starts. Understand how kindness leads to happiness. Sometimes people may think you\u2019re na\u00efve, \u201cHe\u2019s kind to everyone. This person has no discrimination.\u201d But the motivation to be kind to everyone is very important. So now you need to give good and wise advice to your friends, family, whoever loves you, whoever trusts you\u2014you need to give them very important and good advice: Don\u2019t be selfish. (Ch\u00f6kyi Nyima Rinpoche)  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

************ <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(3)<\/strong>  What is the best way to prepare for death? First and foremost, since we have this precious human life, it\u2019s very important that we really use this golden opportunity in a better way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you go to the upper realms or to the lower realms\ndepends totally on how you deal with your precious human life. How you are\ngoing to use this life in a better way\u2014whether you go up or down\u2014depends on\nwhat you do now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s very necessary that while we are healthy and living we should accumulate virtuous actions and not get involved in non-virtuous actions with our body, speech, and mind. This is an important preparation\u2014living in a good way, with pure motivation and virtuous action. (Namkha Drimed Rinpoche) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

************ <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(4)<\/strong>  Live your life fully. And use every moment, every opportunity, in a way that is beneficial for oneself and for others. If we live every moment the same, in a positive, peaceful, and kind way, then death is also another moment\u2014the same. So there\u2019s no difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we\u2019re not living our life in that way, and always\npreparing for something to come in the future, at the end, then our preparation\nis a little bit contradictory with what we\u2019re trying to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can we expect something positive to happen in one\ninstant, at some point in the future, when we are not living that in every\nmoment? So I think that\u2019s the most important thing. \u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do we know\u2014are we going to die in an accident, are we\ngoing to die from a terminal disease, are going to die in some unusual way, or\nusual way? There\u2019s nothing to predict. And if we can\u2019t work with every moment\nthen we will definitely not be able to work with that moment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So setting our mind in that direction, setting our mind in that way, preparing and working with every moment is the best way to prepare for death. And don\u2019t make death a big deal. (Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

************ <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(5)<\/strong>  The main thing, the best thing is to just let go of everything. Don\u2019t worry about anything. Whatever is remaining, whatever you have left behind, people will take care of it. You need to be free from loved ones, from possessions, from your own ideas and thoughts. Try to do what you have been trained to do on the path. Everything you have done over the spiritual path in this life is about letting go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end just let go of everything possible. If that is not possible, then you do need to take care of things. But to prepare oneself the point is to step by step just let go of whatever you are able to let go of, and gradually work your way into what you are not able to let go of, and then try to release that. There will always be challenges at the last minute\u2014some people still don\u2019t want to let go of things\u2014but do your best in advance to let go. (Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

************ <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(6)<\/strong>  It is important to do spiritual practice and meditation in this life. In particular, the teachings on mind training (lojong<\/em>) and the tonglen<\/em> practice of sending and taking are the most important. (Thrangu Rinpoche)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

************ <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: https:\/\/www.andrewholecek.com\/what-is-the-best-way-to-prepare-for-death-advice-from-8-buddhist-masters\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Holecek, Andrew. Preparing to Die: Practical Advice and\nSpiritual Wisdom from a Tibetan Buddhist Tradition<\/em>. Boston: Snow Lion,\n2013. (Pages 275-307.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rinpoche\u00a0is a title that is used for important teachers in the Tibetan tradition. The word Rinpoche<\/em> means \u201cprecious one\u201d in Tibetan.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Best

Reflection: “Men come and they go and they trot and they dance, and never a word about death. All well and good. Yet when death does come\u2014to them, their wives, their children, their friends\u2014catching them unawares and unprepared, then what storms of passion overwhelm them, what cries, what fury, what despair! .\u00a0.\u00a0.”<\/strong>
(Montaigne)
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