Talking About Death in Tibetan Buddhism: Teachings and Advice from the Charnel Ground

by Traleg Kyabgon
Editor: Traleg Khandro
Paper back: ISBN: 978-0-6456653-6-9
EBook: ISBN: 978-0-6456653-7-6

Talking About Death in Tibetan Buddhism contains teachings given by Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche IX on preparing for death in a way that enhances our life and current situation. Rinpoche describes experiences in the bardo (intermediate state) between life and death, and gives guidance and instructions on approaches to meditation – contemplations and Vajrayana practices – that are traditionally used to make peace with the inevitability of our demise. As well as Rinpoche’s remarkable spontaneous translations and commentary from a range of textual sources, Talking About Death includes advice and instructions that Rinpoche gave to his wife Traleg Khandro about managing death in the West. The advice includes such considerations as caring for the deceased, hospital and funeral arrangements. Some Buddhist and non-sectarian prayers are included as well as daily contemplations based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead. The teachings are enlightening and profound, and the guidance practical and helpful for oneself and those one is caring for.

SECTION ONE—Teachings On The Bardo

Chapter 1 Searching for Meaning—Contemplating Death and Impermanence

Chapter 2 Opportunities for Spiritual Liberation in the Bardo

Chapter 3 Three Modes of Attaining an Enlightened Body—the Kayas

Chapter 4 Vajrayana Practices that Help Prepare Us to Navigate the Bardo

SECTION TWO—Traditional Meditations and Contemplations on Death

Chapter 5 Incorporating Contemplations of Death into One’s Meditation Practice

Chapter 6 Theravadin and Mahayana Contemplations on Death

Chapter 7 Mystic Heat Yoga (Tummo)—Kagyu and Nyingma Traditions of Tibetan Buddhism

Chapter 8 Mystic Heat Yoga Practices from the Dzogchen Tradition (Tummo) 

Chapter 9 Six Yogas of Naropa Overview

Chapter 10 Dream Yoga—continuation of the overview Six Yogas of Naropa

Chapter 11 The Practices of Dream Yoga

Chapter 12 The Four Brahmaviharas

SECTION THREE–Postscript by the Editor Traleg Khandro–Guidelines for Practitioners, Lightening the Karmic load, Funerals, Prayers.

Chapter 13 Creating a Peaceful Environment for the Dying Person

Chapter 14 How our Dharma Activities are Preparing us for Death

Chapter 15 Lightening our Karmic Load

Chapter 16 Guidelines for Funerals in the West, Instructions for the Funeral Home, Secular Prayers and Readings

Chapter 17 Dissolution of the Elements

Chapter 18 Prayers for the Dying Person, and for Guidance Through the Bardo—Forty-nine Days

Chapter 19 When Animals are Sick or Dying