The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Jon Kabat-Zinn is the author of the “Preface to the 25th Anniversary Edition” to The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. In the Preface, he highlights the profound and transformative potential of the book’s teachings. He praises Rinpoche’s work for making Tibetan teachings accessible, especially after Tibetan culture has been under attack during recent history. The Preface suggests that understanding and practicing these teachings can lead to healing and transformation.

In the Foreword of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, His Holiness the Dalai Lama addresses the inevitability of death and different ways of approaching it. He argues that in Tibetan Buddhism, death is a natural aspect of existence. He emphasizes the importance of the mind’s state at death, which, along with one’s karma, can impact the quality of one’s next rebirth. He notes that dedicated practitioners of Buddhism use death as an opportunity for profound spiritual realization, often engaging in meditation during their final moments.

He notes that assisting others in their dying process is equally important to dying well. The Dalai Lama notes that the key in assisting one’s death is to avoid disturbing the dying person’s mind and instead help them achieve equanimity and peace.