A OM HUNG At the moment when the impermanent illusory body dissolves
Surrounded by loved ones and relatives and material possessions
May the ties of attachment to them and the grasping mind be liberated.
May I achieve the great liberation.
— from Bardo Prayer by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
TEACHINGS & GUIDED PRACTICES TO HELP PREPARE FOR DEATH
According to the Tibetan spiritual traditions, living and dying are part of a sacred continuum. The more attached we are to our possessions, our loved ones, and our sense of identity, the more we suffer. Loosening attachment frees us to find joy in each moment of life, and peace at the moment of death.
Below is a collection of teachings by Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche to support reflection on transition within life and at death.
Living in Joy, Dying in Peace
Collection of six webcasts with guided meditations by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Audio recordings of guided practices from the webcast Sleep and Death as the Doorway to Wisdom of Clear Light
Bardo Teachings on Living and Dying
A one-hour exploration of the transition at death
Finding a Place of Peace
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche teaches and guides a calming and centering meditation that can help you find inner refuge during times of transition
Transcending Fear
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche draws on ancient Tibetan wisdom as he explains how you can transcend fear and live more joyfully
The Gift of Inner Refuge
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche guides you in shifting your attention to the source of all healing, the space of inner refuge. Additional practices are led by Marcy Vaughn.
Shenlha Okar surrounded by the Buddhas of the Six Realms
LIVING IN JOY, DYING IN PEACE
A collection of webcasts given by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche on topics related to preparing for death, while living life fully. The six webcasts have been brought together as a free, self-paced, online course.
Part 1: Releasing Attachments, Finding Freedom and Joy
Part 2: Transcending Fear, Finding Hope
Part 3: Discovering Awareness in the Sleep State
Part 4: Sleep and Death as Doorways to Wisdom
Part 5: Finding Peace with Death
Part 6: Helping Loved Ones Through Sickness and Death
Register here for the free online course
Guided Practices from webcast Sleep and Death as Doorway to Wisdom of Clear Light. Audio downloads (mp3):
Sleep and Death as Doorways to Wisdom — Meditation 1 (12:39) [link to audio file]
Sleep and Death as Doorways to Wisdom — Meditation 2 (5:10)
Download
VIDEO TEACHINGS BY TENZIN WANGYAL RINPOCHE
Bardo Teachings on Living and Dying
As the death toll continues to rise during the global pandemic, the Bardo teachings of Tibet can bring us more peace of mind. They also provide us with methods for reducing the suffering and enhancing the welfare of those who are dying or have passed away. The word “bardo” means “in between” in Tibetan, including the time between life and death, and the time between death and rebirth. In a live online broadcast, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche helps us to better understand these critical moments of transition and introduces prayers we can recite on behalf of our friends and loved ones who have died. He then recites the Great Mantra.
Whether you are preparing for a good night’s sleep, anticipating a long journey, or even facing death, you can ease the transition by finding a place of peace and calm within yourself beforehand. In this live Webcast, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche teaches and guides a calming and centering meditation that can help you find inner refuge during times of transition. Recorded on April 17, 2011, at Ligmincha International’s Serenity Ridge Retreat Center in Nelson County, Virginia.
Rinpoche draws on ancient Tibetan wisdom as he explains how you can transcend fear and live more joyfully even during uncertain or threatening times. Rinpoche presents the ancient Bön teachings in a way that is fresh and relevant to modern daily life.
In two teaching sessions of a full-day online retreat, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche guides you in shifting your attention to the source of all healing, the space of inner refuge. In two practice sessions, senior student Marcy Vaughn guides a meditation that helps you discover and rest deeply in the healing space of inner refuge.
The Dharma Will & Support Materials
We can prepare for our own death in a variety of ways such as reflection, prayer, and meditation. An additional way is to create a Dharma Will that can be put in place now, regardless of your age or health condition. It provides a framework to reflect on your wishes for spiritual support during the final stage of life and for the time after death.
The Dharma Will
You may find that preparing your Dharma Will eases your mind. It also can provide peace of mind for sangha members, family or friends as they help create an environment that is familiar and supportive for you in the last days of your life.
Creating A Dharma Box
You may find it helpful to create a dharma box containing practice supports for your final days. Consider which images, smells, sounds, tastes, and touch sensations will offer you the most comfort. Your dharma box can hold any sacred items that you feel will support you at this time.
For family members and friends who do not follow the Bön tradition, you may wish to include a list of the contents of the box and a letter and/or instructions for how to use the materials it contains.
Prayers and Mantras
For those who would like to listen to recordings of prayers or mantras as they approach the time of their death, we have gathered a number of recordings that you can listen to or download.
Practical Considerations
Preparing legal documents is important to help you shape your end-of-life experience. For example, if you have specific wishes related to receiving (or not receiving) pain medication or life-prolonging medical procedures, then a healthcare power of attorney and advance directive are essential. Your Last Will and Testament is the place to outline your preferences for whether you would like to be buried or cremated, for funeral arrangements or for dispensing of personal belongings, funds, or other assets.
You can search the internet to see which legal documents are available and recognized in your locale.
THE DHARMA WILL
Consider what will support you in your final days and hours through your five senses. What images, smells, sounds, taste and touch would you like to have near you? Your dharma box will hold these and any additional supports for your practice.
Download Dharma Will Instructions [Click here to download]
Download Dharma Will [LINK to complete]
Download Sample Letter to Loved Ones [LINK to complete]
CREATING A DHARMA BOX
Consider what will support you in your final days and hours through your five senses. What images, smells, sounds, taste and touch would you like to have near you? Your dharma box will hold these and any additional supports for your practice.
You may find it helpful to create a dharma box containing practice supports for your final days and hours. Consider which images, smells, sounds, tastes, and touch sensations will offer you the most comfort. Your dharma box can hold these and any additional sacred supports, such as:
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Photos of teachers and loved ones
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Practice materials for your use or to be read to you
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A device for playing mp3 recordings of mantras, teachings, or guided meditations, and headphones for listening
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Candles with holder and lighter
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Incense, incense burner, and lighter
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A list of items to be brought to you from your home shrine
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An extra mala in case yours is not nearby
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A khata (offering scarf) to be placed on your body after death
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Photos of yourself on a USB drive to be sent to a lama for powa practice and to your dharma friends for bardo prayers
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For family members and friends who do not follow the Bön tradition, you
may wish to include a list of the contents of the box and a letter and/or instructions for how to use the materials it contains.
Note: This information is also included in the Dharma Will Instructions. [Click here to download]
Prayers and Mantras
Here is a list of downloadable audio and pdf files of prayers and mantras you may wish to have:
- Precious Garland
- Bardo Prayer by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
- MA TRI Mantra
Helpful Information
The documents listed below are merely listed as a support to complete the picture of how you want to shape your end-of-life experience.
- Last Will and Testament: Contains preferences for whether you would like to be buried or cremated, for funeral arrangements, and/or for the distribution of your personal belongings and assets.
- Healthcare Power of Attorney: Where you may state specific wishes related to pain medication or life-prolonging medical procedures.
- Advance Directive or Living Will
Note: don’t forget to leave practical information for family members about where to find the above documents, computer entry information, credit card or bank information, etc.
For those in the United States, Five Wishes may be a useful advance directive document. It’s available in multiple languages, includes a healthcare power of attorney, and is legally recognized in most U.S. states.
Another helpful site for those in the U.S. is Advanced Directives (also in Spanish) from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).
A very useful self-paced course on (mostly) temporal aspects end-of-life planning considerations, is offered by hospice physician Karen Wyatt.
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