At The Time of Death

 

 

 

At The Time Of Death

 

            In The Tibetan Book of the Dead the dying person is given some rather profound instructions that, in my view, could be helpful to anyone at that moment the consciousness leaves the body, just as focusing on the body of Christ or prayers or chants can help to ease the transition and letting go.  As adapted from the translation by W. Y. Eveans-Wentz:

Remember the clear light, the pure clear white light from which everything in the universe comes, to which everything in the universe returns; the original nature of your own mind.

 

Let go into the clear light, trust it, merge with it. It is your own true nature, it is home.

 

The visions you experience exist within your consciousness; the forms they take are determined by your past fears, your past karmas.

 

These visions have no reality outside your consciousness. No matter how frightening some of them may seem they cannot hurt you. Just let them pass through your consciousness. They will all pass in time. No need to become involved with them; no need to become attracted to the beautiful visions; no need to be repulsed by the frightening ones. No need to be seduced or excited by the sexual ones. No need to be attached to them at all.

 

Just let them pass. If you become involved with these visions, you may wander for a long time confused. Just let them pass through your consciousness like clouds passing through an empty sky.

 

Remember these teachings, remember the clear light, the pure bright shining white light of your own nature, it is deathless.

 

No matter where or how far you wander, the light is only a split second, a half-breath away. It is never too late to recognize the clear light.

Tags: death, clear light, Buddhist teaching on death, our true nature, deathlessness