Have you read this book -The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying?

I wish to know your thougths about this book and also what you think about how to care for and show love to the dying? Even if you have not read this book, what do you think of how to care for and show love to the dying?

I feel that death in our (indian) culture is something far away that most people fear, ignore or dont want to think of till it happens to someone nearby.

Jiddu Krishnamurti on the living and dying :

We think that living is always in the present and that dying is something that awaits us at a distant time. But we have never questioned whether this battle of everyday life is living at all. We want to know the truth about reincarnation, we want proof of the survival of the soul, we listen to the assertion of clairvoyants and to the conclusions of psychical research, but we never ask, never, how to live--to live with delight, with enchantment, with beauty every day. We have accepted life as it is with all its agony and despair and have got used to it, and think of death as something to be carefully avoided. But death is extraordinarily like life when we know how to live. You cannot live without dying. You cannot live if you do not die psychologically every minute. This is not an intellectual paradox. To live completely, wholly, every day as if it were a new loveliness, there must be dying to everything of yesterday, otherwise you live mechanically, and a mechanical mind can never know what love is or what freedom is.

---from Freedom From the Known

Two different people writing about Living and Dying :) but similar thoughts...... let me know your thoughts. Thank you :)

Interesting one Anne and thanks for sharing this one...

On a cellular level we die and rebirth all the time, right? Skin, cells etc.....

I'll be posting about reincarnation soon at the main blog so hold tight!

Hi Anne, I've got the book, but it's a tough read. Did you manage to finish it ?

I've worked with some people who where dying and some knew it and were dealing with it and others did not comprehend it or were in denial. Mostly, I kept them company, sat listened, cried and laughed with them. Most were Christians, which I am, so I believe that I will be with God and that is an exciting thought. It is the beginning with an eternity with God. I will say that most of the people that I've been with that have died seemed to be at peace or know that it was their time to go.

Thanks for your inputs :)

..... I look forward to your post on reincarnation Jim :)

*holding the main blog tight* ;)

RYK , I finished reading it two years ago and keep reading chapters from it now and then.I find it very beautiful. I did recommend it to family and friends but just one of my friend managed to finish it, my family member gave up half way..eheh..but they ask me about topics in it..... :)

I too think it's tough read. I refered to a lot of online articles and forums for understanding it and i think it was worth it!

I will post my thoughts in detail later maybe over the weekend...especially about the questions i asked here. Meanwhile, i would love to know your thoughts.

CC :) Thanks. I was very scared of death since i did not understand it. I looked at it as something terrible that took away people i loved. But after reading this book and also meeting people , discussing about living and dying my attitude towards death has remarkably changed. It's no longer the 'enemy'..but a friend i did not understand. I will explain in another post.....

need to rush now...lol....:P

Just started re-reading the Tao te ching by Lao Tsu - 5 yars since I last picked the book up!