Description

I was told about this book by a dear friend who suggested that I read it to help me with the puzzle of helping another beloved friend who was, at that time, dying. I was baffled by her death and afraid that I would not have the ability or wisdom to support her through her death. I had told her that I would be with her every step of the way and yet I, as a Westerner, had no skills and at the crucial moment when she told me she was afraid, very few and seemingly weak words of comfort and that made me very sad and useless as a friend. To be in a trusted and caring position for someone who is dying is an honor and a privilege and I did not feel that I was up to the task. I felt ashamed even of this lack of preparedness. This beautiful, gentle and enthralling book gave me everything that I needed to be with my friend in a way that I felt was useful to both of us. Her death was quite beautiful and extraordinarily peaceful, surrounded by the sweet love of her parents, children and friends. I am transformed, as were many of our group by her passing. She was a spiritual force, a luminous dancing spirit and her release from her body and her physical suffering caused a profound change in many of us in her circle of friends. But this book has given me more than that wonderful experience. It has confirmed and verbalized feelings of the divine and sacred that until now, I had been unable to express. It has given me courage and a firm sense of commitment to the spiritual path that I am on and the happy knowledge that every small kind act, every decision to have compassion instead of separateness and cruelty is important, not just to me and those immediately close, but also the whole of humanity and this beautiful planet. Thank you Sogyal Rinpoche and God or whatever it may be 🙂 Bless you!