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Recently I began reading The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying  by Sogyal Rinpoche. Death began to creep into my awareness more often after I became very ill in 2007. The wisdom in this book is supremely profound. I am very deeply moved by it. I think everyone should read this book. Soon. The take home messages are too numerous to begin trying to nail down here and now, but I can assure you that this book will give you something. 

Does the mundane world have you down? Do you fear death (or ignore it?) Do you wonder if there has to be more to this life? This book hammers home (among other things), the sacred nature of this existence and what we can do with it. It makes abundantly clear, on another level, how each and every moment are so precious and such a gift, and should not be wasted. We are all going to die, and this life is such an opportunity. It is said that the stuff you experience in this life (the anger, fear, anxiety, etc), will be multiplied times seven at the moment of your death, so why not start working with it now? One might find once they begin to face it, to really be with the uncertainty of death, the life becomes so much happier, so much more rich, so precious. And the fear of death becomes less and less. There is no time to waste.

One doesn’t need to be a Buddhist to read and appreciate the book. The wisdom in it is universal. After all, the teachings of the Buddha were meant for all sentient beings that we maycome out of suffering and lead a happier life, full of love, compassion, and goodwill. Buddhism came later. Whatever doesn’t work for you, throw it out. But keep reading, because you might just find your heart stirring with the whispers of truth. Lasting knowledge needs to be experiential in nature however, it doesn’t come from reading words. Though words are important signposts. (and forgive me if I can’t stop talking about this book for weeks to come)

~

 

“Autobiography in Five Chapters”

by Portia Nelson

 

1) I walk down the street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I fall in.

I am lost…I am hopeless.

It isn’t my fault.

It takes forever to find a way out.

 

2)I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I pretend I don’t see it.

I fall in again.

I can’t believe I’m in the same place.

But it isn’t my fault.

It still takes a long time to get out.

 

3) I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I see it is there.

I still fall in…it’s a habit.

My eyes are open

I know where I am

It is my fault.

I get out immediately.

 

4) I walk down the same street.

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

I walk around it.

 

5) I walk down another street.