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eghimire_'s review against another edition
4.0
The last section on death was very heavy in Buddhist teachings and it was quite hard to get through for me. I loved the first part on living, it was inspirational and made me realize I need to open my heart to the people in my life. Definitely a book to go back to for life lessons.
faryewing's review against another edition
Making my way slowly through this deep material.
VERY slowly. 4/14/09 Page 203.
VERY slowly. 4/14/09 Page 203.
elaichipod's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
There are a lot of important messages in this book. I think I'll want to reread this book every few years. It's also great resource regardless of your religious views!
All substances are my own mind, and this mind is emptiness, unarisen and unobstructed.
Edit: I just learned learned about Rinpoche's abuse allegations and I'm massively disappointed. I will be turning to the primary text from now on (bardo thodol). I am not interested in learning from someone who did not practice the values he spoke about.
cancermoononhigh's review
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Really enjoyed this book. Will be holding onto it, have a feeling I will need its advice in years to come.
"And yet what else but karma could really begin to explain the satisfying the extreme and extraordinary differences between each of us? Even though we may be born in the same family or country, or in similar circumstances, we all have different characters, totally different things happen to us, we have different talents, inclinations and destines."
"If you wan to know your past life, look into your present condition; if you want to know your future life, look at your present actions."
Our human existence is not the only kind of karmic vision. Six reals are gods, demigods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hells. If you are reborn in a god or human realm your gaze will directed upward. If you are reborn in the animal realm you will look straight ahead. Of you face downward you will be in the hungry ghost realm.
Through advanced practices of Dzogchen practitioners can have a triumphant end. As they die they can be reabsorbed back into the light essence of the elements that created it and their body will disappear completely. Only the hair and nails will be left over.
Given the right care 98% of people can have a peaceful death. The hospice movement has developed a variety of ways of managing pain by using various combinations of drugs, not simply narcotics. Most people die in a state of unconsciousness. There is a need to allow the dying person to die in silence and serenity.
At the moment of death there are two things that count: whatever we have done in our lies and what state of mind we are in at that moment. Our state of mind at death is all important. If we die in a positive frame of mind we can improve our next birth, despite our negative karma.
Some who have experienced the near death experience reported the "life review." The "life review" seems to suggest that after death, we experience all the suffering for which we were both directly and indirectly responsible for.
"And yet what else but karma could really begin to explain the satisfying the extreme and extraordinary differences between each of us? Even though we may be born in the same family or country, or in similar circumstances, we all have different characters, totally different things happen to us, we have different talents, inclinations and destines."
"If you wan to know your past life, look into your present condition; if you want to know your future life, look at your present actions."
Our human existence is not the only kind of karmic vision. Six reals are gods, demigods, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hells. If you are reborn in a god or human realm your gaze will directed upward. If you are reborn in the animal realm you will look straight ahead. Of you face downward you will be in the hungry ghost realm.
Through advanced practices of Dzogchen practitioners can have a triumphant end. As they die they can be reabsorbed back into the light essence of the elements that created it and their body will disappear completely. Only the hair and nails will be left over.
Given the right care 98% of people can have a peaceful death. The hospice movement has developed a variety of ways of managing pain by using various combinations of drugs, not simply narcotics. Most people die in a state of unconsciousness. There is a need to allow the dying person to die in silence and serenity.
At the moment of death there are two things that count: whatever we have done in our lies and what state of mind we are in at that moment. Our state of mind at death is all important. If we die in a positive frame of mind we can improve our next birth, despite our negative karma.
Some who have experienced the near death experience reported the "life review." The "life review" seems to suggest that after death, we experience all the suffering for which we were both directly and indirectly responsible for.
jonbrammer's review against another edition
3.0
Spiritual traditions all seem to prioritize comfort for the dying, even if that comfort comes from an elaborate metaphysical system in which the dead attain eternal life or reincarnation. I've always thought of Tibetan Buddhism as being one of the most tolerable traditions for a skeptic like myself, mainly because it is not as dogmatic or judgmental as modern interpretations of Judeo/Christian/Islamic scriptures.
Unfortunately, Rinpoche's writing is rife with jargon and mumbo-jumbo. There are a few essential truths here, but to get to them the reader has to wade through rivers of mysticism. Meditation is powerful - life is dreamlike - death is painful. We must learn to look at death head-on, and to die with dignity. Hospice organizations are necessary for many people.
The agnostic/atheist can learn from Rinpoche, as long as you have patience for a lot of the mind-bending nonsense
Unfortunately, Rinpoche's writing is rife with jargon and mumbo-jumbo. There are a few essential truths here, but to get to them the reader has to wade through rivers of mysticism. Meditation is powerful - life is dreamlike - death is painful. We must learn to look at death head-on, and to die with dignity. Hospice organizations are necessary for many people.
The agnostic/atheist can learn from Rinpoche, as long as you have patience for a lot of the mind-bending nonsense