Lesson Sixteen
Buddhism and Spiritual Care for the Dying
“This body is not me; I am not caught in this body, I am life without boundaries, I have
never been born and I have never died. Over there the wide ocean and the sky with many
galaxies All manifests from the basis of consciousness. Since beginningless time I have
always been free. Birth and death are only a door through which we go in and out. Birth
and death are only a game of hide-and-seek. So smile to me and take my hand and wave
good-bye. Tomorrow we shall meet again or even before. We shall always be meeting
again at the true source, always meeting again on the myriad paths of life.”
― Thích Nhất Hạnh, No Death, No Fear
In this lesson, we will explore further viewpoints on
death and the idea of spiritual care for the dying
using the insights and wisdom of Buddhism. These
perspectives can help us prepare for our own
eventual death and as well support us in caring for
people we know who are in the process of dying or
have already passed on.
Please read this page:
http://www.dhammatalks.net/Books10/Thich_Nhat_Hanh_No_Death_No
_Fear.htm
1) It sounds like nonsense to say “nothing is born, nothing dies.” From what you have
just read, can you explain how this statement could be true?
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About the Spiritual Care Program
—from the Spiritual Care Program web site http://www.spcare.org/en/
“The Spiritual Care Program is a non-denominational, international outreach
program that offers training and care in the arenas of both living and dying.
For more than 20 years, we have presented time-tested—and now empirically supported —contemplative methods in a secular and yet authentic way.
Despite dramatic advances in medical technology, it is clear that fundamental questions remain at the boundary of life and death that are not subject to
technical or scientific solutions.
Our approach comes from understandings drawn from the Buddhist tradition, particularly from The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal
Rinpoche, an acclaimed book that explores practical ways to benefit those
facing difficulties, illness or death. This approach is not religious and it completely supports each person to draw from their own inner resources.
Spiritual Care is active in 7 countries and collaborates with universities, hospitals and other institutions, offering a variety of residential and online
courses. To date 30,000 professionals and volunteers from around the world
working in all fields of medicine, social care and education have attended
trainings.”
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Why is it called spiritual care?
The word "spiritual" refers to those aspects of life which give a sense of
meaning, connection, integrity and hope. There are spiritual needs which are
universal whatever our beliefs:
•
•
•
•
to love and make an authentic connection with others
to understand and transform
suffering
to rely on a refuge or source
of peace
to find a meaning in life.”
1. What are some of the goals of the
Spiritual Care Program?
Now visit this link:
http://www.spcare.org/en/about/what-we-offer
2. Describe the 4 areas of activity of the Spiritual Care Program.
Please move on to this link:
http://web.archive.org/web/20070807032506/www.spcare.org/resources/bo
oks/tbld-excerpts-unconditionallove.html
3. What is it that the dying person is losing as death approaches?
4. What are the emotional stages that people go through as they try to deal with loss
and dying?
5. The article talks about repressed feelings returning in people who are dying. These
are feelings that we have pushed out of awareness usually because they are painful
to feel. Why do you think it is that many people experience such intense emotions
when they are dying?
6. What can we do to help people cope with these emotions as they die?
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Now read Spiritual Care: A Vast Perspective:
http://web.archive.org/web/20070908120529/http://www.spcare.org/caregi
ving/vastperspective.html
7. According to the author, Christine Longaker, how does our spiritual
practice help someone who has no spiritual practice and is dying?
8. Why is death described as an extraordinary opportunity according to
Tibetan Buddhism?
9. According to Tibetan Buddhism, what is the connection between our
mind at the time of death and our experiences after death?
In the next lesson you will learn about the American Buddhist nun Pema
Chodron. Here is a little preview of her story:
http://www.lionsroar.com/the-natural-warmth-of-the-heart/
10. Describe 3 things that Ane Pema Chodron learned through experiencing loss in
her life.
11. Pema Chodron says that there is value in our personal suffering and that “instead
of your distress becoming all about you, it can become your link with everyone all
over the world who is in the same predicament.” What was said about how this
could help the suffering person?
Let’s go back for the second half of the lecture about impermanence with
Guy Armstrong. Please listen to the last 30 minutes and answer the questions below.
Go here and click the “listen” button, then scroll to minute 30:
http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/79/?search=impermanence+human
Or click here to download the mp3:
http://media.dharmaseed.org/recordings/2005/02/20050203-Guy_Armstrong-SRimpermanence.mp3
12. Share one anecdote you remember from Guy’s stories about aging.
13. Why do you think that reflection on death is beneficial in spiritual practice?
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14. Our concept of a chair is fixed and it fools us into thinking that phenomenon—
because we name it—is stable and fixed. Can you explain how this is related to the
idea that we do not see things as they truly are?
15. Finish the quote from the lecture: ”In the beginning nothing comes, in the middle
nothing stays, in the end nothing __________________.
Meditation & Journal
By now, you have done quite a few meditations and have no doubt
encountered obstacles such as agitation or drowsiness. But what do you do
when you have a song stuck in your head or a worry that won’t go away?!
You can take these thoughts as the object of your mindfulness.
Meditation: Please do this 30 minute guided meditation with Guy
Armstrong on Mindfulness of Thoughts:
http://www.dharmaseed.org/teacher/79/talk/18343/
Journal: Do this meditation with Guy twice this week. Describe the
technique. How did it work for you?
“We should live every day like people who have just been rescued from the moon.”
TNHanh
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REMEMBER: If you run into any kind of problem with a website, please go back to
your course download page and get a new copy of the lesson(s). Many times you will
discover that the problem has already been fixed!
If the link still does not work notify Tanya MacGumerait
(tanya@globalvillageschool.org) immediately, so that she can find you an alternative
site before you turn the lesson in. Be sure to include the following in your email:
course name, lesson number and the link that needs attention.
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