Advice On Dying: And Living a Better Life
- Downloads：7660
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-04-10 11:59:30
- Update Date：2025-09-13
- Status：finish
- Author：Dalai Lama XIV
- ISBN：1844132188
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
In this ground-breaking book， the Dalai Lama advises us to gain familiarity with the process and practices of death so that， when we are physically weak， our minds can still be focussed in the right direction， and in the right manner。 Advice on Dying cautions us not to fall under the influence of the mistaken belief of permanence。 We should not think that we have a lot of time in this life， because there is a great danger of wasting our lives in procrastination。 He suggests we meditate on our lives， and on the indefiniteness of the time of death。 For， though the time of our death is uncertain， death itself is certain。。。 In this empowering and positive book， His Holiness brings new inspiration to a subject that we， in the West， have long ignored to our detriment。 It is only by taming our minds and fully facing the end of our lives， that we can fully live in the present moment。
Reviews
Jo
，
This is an intense book。 I am a student of Tibetan Buddhism and I’m lucky to have a weekly sangha class under the tutelage of a Lama。 My Lama did a number of classes on death recently and this I read this book alongside it。 This book covers so much。 Not only dying。 But tantra， deity yoga practice， some interesting information on Tibet and China and the Tibetan chakra system。 It’s a lot of information！ And I mean a lot。 Probably on par with Words of my perfect teacher but I found it much more acc This is an intense book。 I am a student of Tibetan Buddhism and I’m lucky to have a weekly sangha class under the tutelage of a Lama。 My Lama did a number of classes on death recently and this I read this book alongside it。 This book covers so much。 Not only dying。 But tantra， deity yoga practice， some interesting information on Tibet and China and the Tibetan chakra system。 It’s a lot of information！ And I mean a lot。 Probably on par with Words of my perfect teacher but I found it much more accessible than the Tibetan book of The Dead which I’m now going to persevere with。 A nicely constructed book。 Highly recommended for phowa/bardo practitioners。 。。。more
Michael
，
It seemed that as much of the book dealt with the politics of the relations between the Tibetan Buddhist Monks， and the Chinese Government as it did the stated topic of Advice on Dying （still I found this interesting）。The advice on dying was more related to preparing for your own eventual individual death， rather than with dealing with the deaths of loved ones around you。 Also the advice seemed particularly geared to individuals who already practice and have an understanding of Tibetan Buddhism It seemed that as much of the book dealt with the politics of the relations between the Tibetan Buddhist Monks， and the Chinese Government as it did the stated topic of Advice on Dying （still I found this interesting）。The advice on dying was more related to preparing for your own eventual individual death， rather than with dealing with the deaths of loved ones around you。 Also the advice seemed particularly geared to individuals who already practice and have an understanding of Tibetan Buddhism rather than outsiders like me。Still much of the little bit of the book that touched on the subtitle of living a better life， had elements that rang true to me。 。。。more
Rachel
，
This is the first book about Bardo I read after Tibetan Book of the Dead。 I see both positive and negative reviews about this book。 It is very easily misunderstood by general public because this is tantric practice。 Tantra was practiced in secret back then and even now because people easily misunderstand and develop wrong views about it。 This is not a book for grieving nor for dealing with death from perspective of an atheist or other religious person （i。e。 Christian）。 The reader needs to have a This is the first book about Bardo I read after Tibetan Book of the Dead。 I see both positive and negative reviews about this book。 It is very easily misunderstood by general public because this is tantric practice。 Tantra was practiced in secret back then and even now because people easily misunderstand and develop wrong views about it。 This is not a book for grieving nor for dealing with death from perspective of an atheist or other religious person （i。e。 Christian）。 The reader needs to have a different perspective and the dying process， specifically looking at death as simply changing clothes。 The body is old and no longer usable so we take it off and put on a new one。 However， there are certain ways to practice so that the next body we take on will bring conducive environment for continuation of practice。However， this is a very short book。 If you stop here with no more exploration in other books， you might misunderstand or miss out a lot on the practice/meditation on bardo in Tibetan tantric practice。 。。。more
Yc Liao
，
對他人而言，當我們有一個降伏的心，則可以為身邊的任何人帶來舒適的環境與放鬆感，降伏的心帶來快樂，沒有被降伏的心，帶來痛苦。能夠擁有此短暫人生的肉體，是非常珍貴的，因此我們必須好好的利用我們的時間與擁有的能力，利益他人。死亡並非是一個瞬間的事情，而是許多階段的過程，透過修行；意識内最細微的心識則可以在臨終時往更好的方向沒有恐懼的前去。
Lobsang Gyaltsen Negi
，
One of the best book that make me thought about of death Peaceful。。。
Shane
，
Though I bought this book soon after my father’s death， many years ago now， I don’t remember why it appealed， and I never finished reading it。 The culture-specific prescriptions didn’t have much to do with what I’d been through。 The foreword written by a professor of Tibetan studies is fascinating and the Dalai Lama shares plenty of general wisdom， but his belief system is so foreign to the culture of my birth （or rebirth） that to try to apply it in preparation for death doesn’t make sense。 To b Though I bought this book soon after my father’s death， many years ago now， I don’t remember why it appealed， and I never finished reading it。 The culture-specific prescriptions didn’t have much to do with what I’d been through。 The foreword written by a professor of Tibetan studies is fascinating and the Dalai Lama shares plenty of general wisdom， but his belief system is so foreign to the culture of my birth （or rebirth） that to try to apply it in preparation for death doesn’t make sense。 To be honest， I lost interest in the Dalai Lama’s teachings – e。g。， ‘compassion for all beings’ – when I learned he wasn’t vegan。 。。。more
Babe of Darkness
，
My 3 beloved pets and uncle passed away recently。 Their deaths lead me to this book。 The book had a lot of info so I skimmed through it and read what appealed to me。 Live life fearlessly， be mindful， don’t get attached， don’t be an asshole， enjoy pleasure， embrace and learn from your pain because we are all going to die。
劉 邦均
，
I found it hard to accept all the ideas Dalai Lama had presented。 However， I did learn something from this book， and that's what matters。For me， the biggest takeaway from this book was that we should cherish our lives when we are living， and that we shouldn't linger when we are dying。 I found it hard to accept all the ideas Dalai Lama had presented。 However， I did learn something from this book， and that's what matters。For me， the biggest takeaway from this book was that we should cherish our lives when we are living， and that we shouldn't linger when we are dying。 。。。more
Greg
，
This book is interesting。 In it， the Dalai Lama uses a poem written by the First Panchen Lama in the 17th century， and uses it as the scaffolding to encourage the reader to be mindful of death， and to prepare for it。 In general， the book works。 It is interesting because， like many Buddhist writings， it is at once strikingly simple and universal， while at the same time including elements that are very foreign to my way of thinking。 It is of interest， and challenging for the serious reader and thi This book is interesting。 In it， the Dalai Lama uses a poem written by the First Panchen Lama in the 17th century， and uses it as the scaffolding to encourage the reader to be mindful of death， and to prepare for it。 In general， the book works。 It is interesting because， like many Buddhist writings， it is at once strikingly simple and universal， while at the same time including elements that are very foreign to my way of thinking。 It is of interest， and challenging for the serious reader and thinker。 Interesting passages:"Reflecting on the statement from Buddha:Buddhas do not wash away ill deeds with water，Nor remove transmigrators’ sufferings with their hands，Nor transfer their realizations to others。Beings are freed through the teachings of the truth， the nature of things。"The Dalai Lama writes， “You are your own protector; comfort and discomfort are in your own hands。” （61）By encouraging people to view life and death as natural， to meditate on it and prepare for it， is to seek the truth。 What is within the control of the individual is the preparation and reaction to the truth。 。。。more
LeeAnne
，
After the physician for the Dalai Lama came to address my school （to a packed house）， I became more curious about the teachings of the Dalai Lama。 I found the process for selecting a Dalai Lama to be fascinating。 The idea that we should be preparing for death well before we die resonated with me。 Somehow it had never occurred to me before this book。
Joel
，
Some really good gems on a really important topic。 Kinda weird in a lot of places too。
Steven Myers
，
Acceptance of the idea of your own mortality is an important motivator for planning out and living a good life。
Alexis
，
This book has helped me tremendously。 It tells us how to lessen our fear of dying and how to better cope with bereavement。 It tells you from a Buddhist point of veiw on what happens when we die。
Erika
，
Ich habe ein Buch bei BookCrossing。com registriert！http://www。BookCrossing。com/journal/14283584 Ich habe ein Buch bei BookCrossing。com registriert！http://www。BookCrossing。com/journal/14283584 。。。more
Dorothy
，
This book reignited my passion for Buddhist studies。 Commentaries on practice and doctrine。
Yams Plisetsky
，
There are still a lot I have to understand， but this book basically got me out of depression
Edwina Callan
，
"Just as when weavingOne reaches the endWith fine threads woven throughout，So is the life of humans。"- Buddha -To me， the foreword was the most interesting part of this book - the rest was， more or less， was over my head。 "Just as when weavingOne reaches the endWith fine threads woven throughout，So is the life of humans。"- Buddha -To me， the foreword was the most interesting part of this book - the rest was， more or less， was over my head。 。。。more
Daniel Vladimiro
，
Well， I've read it in Portuguese， but anyhow， I think the death it's the same worldwide。 It's a completely new perspective of believes and thoughts about death 。 Quite interesting for the Occident civilization。 I'm always amaze， but the depth of awareness of the body and spirit， that the oriental believes have。 So， it's a delight to know this knowledge ， despite the fact， that I don't think I can die this way。。。to much effort。 Well， I've read it in Portuguese， but anyhow， I think the death it's the same worldwide。 It's a completely new perspective of believes and thoughts about death 。 Quite interesting for the Occident civilization。 I'm always amaze， but the depth of awareness of the body and spirit， that the oriental believes have。 So， it's a delight to know this knowledge ， despite the fact， that I don't think I can die this way。。。to much effort。 。。。more
Arizonagirl
，
This book was so esoteric I wasn't able to get much out of it besides the obvious， don't wait to plan for your death。 This book was so esoteric I wasn't able to get much out of it besides the obvious， don't wait to plan for your death。 。。。more
Barbc
，
20
Darryl
，
I registered a book at BookCrossing。com！http://www。BookCrossing。com/journal/12092363 I registered a book at BookCrossing。com！http://www。BookCrossing。com/journal/12092363 。。。more
Linda Breiding
，
The first part of the book was really good but when it came to the second part I was tottaly lost due to the lack of Buddism kknowledge。
Stephen Robertson
，
Bad Advice but well written。
Jyoti
，
I had high expectations from this book。 It was going to be the first book to tell me clearly what death was about--whether it brought an absolute end or there was indeed a cycle of birth and death。 Do the dead watch over their living relatives or they're perished forever？It was an easy read but I still gave it a lot of breaks。 Those breaks reduced the fright associated with death。 I was able to read through the text in a matter of fact way but found a lot of the initial lessons a reiteration of I had high expectations from this book。 It was going to be the first book to tell me clearly what death was about--whether it brought an absolute end or there was indeed a cycle of birth and death。 Do the dead watch over their living relatives or they're perished forever？It was an easy read but I still gave it a lot of breaks。 Those breaks reduced the fright associated with death。 I was able to read through the text in a matter of fact way but found a lot of the initial lessons a reiteration of Bhagwad Gita's discourse--mainly that life is impermanent so don't get too attached to your body， possessions or relations。。。 What helped was the author's repeated advice to meditate on this impermanence， tame the mind as it helps become virtuous， moderates our expectations from the world and helps overcome our fear of death。 He repeats through the book that the thought of death being definite shouldn't be brushed aside as its recognition actually helps us do good and become compassionate。 As also ease the process of dying。What was new knowledge was the 8-phase process of death that the author has described as the appearance of a mirage， then some smoke， fireflies， a flame of a lamp， vivid white sky， vivid red-organge sky， vivid black sky， ending in clear light。 This sounded plausible even if not all that reassuring。 The author advices that being aware of death helps one practice calmness， pray for the end result--another good life or an end from the cyclic existence--and achieve it because of one's constant practice or meditation。 He also advices against creating disturbance around a person dying。 His suggestion is to make that time peaceful and facilitate the process of death。 In the first 4 phases， he details how our 4 elements of earth， water， fire and wind dissolve and lead to a closure of the body's senses and functions。 He believes that these phases can occur over months or even in a quick succession。Most of the book is a description and interpretation of a 17-stanza poem written by the first Panchen Lama that goes over the process of death。 While I've marked a lot of text to reflect on some more， reading just the Appendix may also be sufficient as it provides a summary of the complete poem。Something the author could have avoided covering was the political stance of China towards the Dalai Lama and Tibet。 A large part of the Foreword and the 2nd chapter is about Panchen Lama's significance that I found myself least involved in。Altogether though the book will remain the first for me to have someone's interpretation of the actual process of death， and it has acted as a reminder that much as we are definitely moving towards our death， we must live a virtuous life to experience a peaceful end。 。。。more
John Lawrence
，
this is helpful for someone who is dying or who has a loved one who is dying。 it contains some good， practical advice on how to hold your mind steady and keep it thoughtful and helpful。 the practical advice covers things like developing an awareness of death， liberating oneself from the fear of death， and meditating while dying。after that， there is a fair bit of deeper Buddhist meditation training that one doesn't receive unless they have been in committed studies for a while。 it covers the ment this is helpful for someone who is dying or who has a loved one who is dying。 it contains some good， practical advice on how to hold your mind steady and keep it thoughtful and helpful。 the practical advice covers things like developing an awareness of death， liberating oneself from the fear of death， and meditating while dying。after that， there is a fair bit of deeper Buddhist meditation training that one doesn't receive unless they have been in committed studies for a while。 it covers the mental states that one passes through as death approaches and one passes through it into the bardo。 it also covers practices for developing favorable conditions for rebirth。 the average bear may not find this part helpful。 if so， i would highly recommend The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying。 it is longer and contains many helpful， constructive instructions on facing either your own death or that of your loved one。 。。。more
Beez Beasley
，
Have read this book along with My Spiritual Journey by the Dalai Lama。 I'm still trying to understand the Buddhist philosophies。。。。how they marry up with my lifelong belief in Christianity。 An interesting journey in learning the ways of the Buddhist。 Have read this book along with My Spiritual Journey by the Dalai Lama。 I'm still trying to understand the Buddhist philosophies。。。。how they marry up with my lifelong belief in Christianity。 An interesting journey in learning the ways of the Buddhist。 。。。more
Karen
，
This book is short and sweet。 It has a bunch of awesome tidbits and ideas that I have never thought of before。 I don't necessarily agree with the whole thing， but it provokes some interesting thoughts。 This book is short and sweet。 It has a bunch of awesome tidbits and ideas that I have never thought of before。 I don't necessarily agree with the whole thing， but it provokes some interesting thoughts。 。。。more
Julie
，
I selected this book after losing both my father and my mother-in-law just a day apart this past summer。 I had hoped that the experience would be similar to someone seeking the truth from a hermit living high up in the mountains。 What is the purpose of life？ And why do people have to die？ Who better to seek these answers from than the Dalai Lama？ Did this book answer all my questions？ Yes。。。 and no。 Death is described as an inescapable event。 One that we all must prepare for。 Part of our day to I selected this book after losing both my father and my mother-in-law just a day apart this past summer。 I had hoped that the experience would be similar to someone seeking the truth from a hermit living high up in the mountains。 What is the purpose of life？ And why do people have to die？ Who better to seek these answers from than the Dalai Lama？ Did this book answer all my questions？ Yes。。。 and no。 Death is described as an inescapable event。 One that we all must prepare for。 Part of our day to day living must be the practice necessary so that we can meet death with our mind and soul ready for the next step。 The book has an immense amount of 'technical' detail about what meditation practices to prepare oneself and for death 。。。 and rebirth。 Much of this was way， way over my head。 But， the message that death is inevitable and not something that only happens next year， next month， or some time in the distant future was clear。 The book has a strong message that we need to always be ready for our own death。 But the question that was left unanswered for me is not how do we prepare for our own deaths， but the deaths of people we love。 。。。more
Becky
，
Awesome and interesting。
CJ Ewell
，