Being in the Present: The Essential Buddhist Practice

Posted on July 23, 2023 by webmaven

This was shared by a friend on Facebook today and I thought it would serve as a nice reminder of how simple a “spiritual practice” can be:

“Being in the present is so important in Buddhism. It is the core strategy of Buddhism to do whatever it takes to keep the mind present, to have ones mind from going astray. Every single method that exists in Buddhism is for that result. It could be from just a simple sitting meditation to the tantric methods of visualisation, ritual and mantra.” From Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Image courtesy of Spirit Rock

 

Posted in care giving, caregiver, Meditation, mindfulness, nursing home | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Being in the Present: The Essential Buddhist Practice

What if We Treated Death Like Birth?

Posted on June 11, 2023 by webmaven

This eye opening article (and TED Talk) by Jane Whitlock, a Doula, is thought provoking and may help us to realize that there are many more similaritites between death and birth than we could ever imagine.

Posted in bereavement, care giving, death and dying, Doula, End of Life Care, hospice | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on What if We Treated Death Like Birth?

‘If death was a marathon you had to run, you’d do a few practice laps’. Kevin Toolis

Posted on June 10, 2023 by webmaven

Another excellent podcast from The Dying Matters Podcast! Kevin Toolis has written a must read book and this podcast talks about his experiences since writing the book.

Posted in bereavement, death and dying, end of life celebration | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘If death was a marathon you had to run, you’d do a few practice laps’. Kevin Toolis

How Can We Bounce Back? Understanding Trauma and Resilience in Tibetan Buddhism

Posted on May 10, 2023 by webmaven

The following article addresses an age-old problem that we all face sooner or later. How can we keep going in the face of trauma, or even everyday setbacks and discouragement? The Tibetans have suffered incredible hardship at the hands of the Chinese and yet they remain buoyant and cheerful. How can it be so?

spacious mindsI highly recommend a listen to the Spacious Minds podcast on the Cornell University Press page  in order to get some valuable insights into the Tibetan way  of viewing suffering.

“You create space in the mind, you make the mind more vast by thinking about others, and by thinking that it is only natural to have problems in life.” Talking about mental distress only solidifies it, she argues. “And it can make you sick.” Continue reading →

Posted in care giving | Comments Off on How Can We Bounce Back? Understanding Trauma and Resilience in Tibetan Buddhism

Death: An Inside Story

Posted on April 16, 2023 by webmaven

“In a way, what you refer to as life, right now, is like soap bubbles being blown. A rock, a plant, and a human being are all like soap bubbles of different kinds. The layer of covering of the bubbles is the complex amalgamation of memory – various kinds of memory.

The difference between a ‘human bubble’ and a ‘rock bubble’ is just this: a rock bubble is mostly physical, with a thick covering and less air inside.

The entire Yogic process or the entire spiritual  process is to wear this bubble thin so that one day when it bursts there is absolutely nothing left. It then moves from the bondage of existance to the freedom of non-existance, or Nirvana.” – Sadguru. Passage taken from Death: An Inside Story, p 31 

I have found this book to be extremely informative and beneficial and would HIGHLY recommend it, ie it’s a must read! AI generated image created in NightCafe..

Posted in care giving | Comments Off on Death: An Inside Story

What is the Best Way to Truly Help Others as They Die?

Posted on April 1, 2023 by webmaven

I truly value the Tibetan Buddhist teachings on death and dying. Like most Yogic practices, they have developed over centuries of  deep examination and  practice. Below is a quick read, but an invaluable resource for all hospice workers, clinicians and caregivers.

What is the Best Way to Help Others as They Die?

Some excerpts:
“The most important thing is to help anyone who is dying to relax. Doesn’t matter what religion, or no religion. That’s the most important thing. Help them relax and have some kind of positive environment, and positive thought processes.” –Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche

“You want consciousness to exit from the crown, and merge with luminous emptiness awareness, so that your consciousness becomes vast like the sky. Reminding them of this is very helpful.” – Lama Tarchin Rinpoche Continue reading →

Posted in advance directives, bereavement, care giving, death and dying, hospice, hospice care | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on What is the Best Way to Truly Help Others as They Die?