Dimensions
140 x 216 x 11mm
Working as an emergency room nurse, Margaret Coberly came in contact with death on a daily basis. However, it wasn't until her own brother was diagnosed with terminal cancer that she realised she understood very little about the emotional and spiritual aspects of caring for the terminally ill.
To fill this gap she turned to the unique wisdom on death and dying found in Tibetan Buddhism. In this book Coberly offers sound, practical advice on meeting the essential needs of the dying, integrating stories from her long career in nursing with useful insights from the Tibetan Buddhist teachings.
In the West, death is viewed as a tragic and horrible event. Coberly shows us how this view generates fear and denial, which harm the dying by adding unnecessary loneliness, confusion and mental anguish to the dying process. Tibetan Buddhism focuses on the nature of death and how to face it with honest, openness and courage.
In this view death is not a failure, but a natural part of life that, if properly understood and appreciated, can offer the dying and their loved ones an opportunity to gain valuable insight and wisdom. Coberly argues that the Tibetan Buddhist outlook can be a useful antidote to the culture of fear and denial that surrounds death in the West and can help caregivers become more fully present, fearless, honest and compassionate.
'Sacred Passage' highlights two very practical teachings on death and dying from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and presents them in clear, non-technical language. Readers learn about the 'eight stages of dissolution leading to death', a detailed roadmap of the dying process that describes the sequence of physical, psychological and spiritual changes that occur as we die.
Coberly also presents the 'death mediation', a contemplative exercise for developing a new relationship to death - and life. The book also includes a lengthy, annotated list of recommended readings for added guidance and inspiration.
