What to do for Dying Mother

What to do for Dying Mother

Date Posted:
October 2005

This advice was given by Rinpoche to a student whose mother was dying. Although the mother had begun practicing Buddhism, after meeting the Dharma very late in life, she did not have much of a formal practice. Rinpoche went to the hospital to visit her and to bless her. Rinpoche gave the following advice as to what they should do when she was actually dying.

You should place a picture of Tara so you can die looking at it. Play mantras constantly, until you die. Ask someone to read the Heart Sutra and prayers to you, so you can hear them before you die.

Later, the woman died with her eyes open, facing the image of Tara that Rinpoche had given her. The resident teacher at the FPMT center that she attended told her that the main practice she should do was to keep her mind peaceful. This teacher, a Tibetan geshe, went to visit her the night before she died, and commented that no one would be afraid of dying if they could see her. The woman was calm and upbeat as she said goodbye to people the day before she died. One of the last things she told her daughter was that it was all very clear, and that she felt good.

 

View all advices and related links for this topic