Chapter 14: "The Practices for Dying" Summary

Sogyal begins by noting that at the moment of death, there are two primary aspects, those of the actions done in life, and the state of mind at the moment of death. He reminds that all tendencies are stored in the ordinary mind, and are ready to be activated in an instant. By dying in a positive frame of mind, one can improve the next life even in the face of negative karma. If upset and distressed at death, the next life may be damaged, even if karma is positive. To die ideally, one must first let go of any attachments, including personal possessions, friends, and loved ones. By dictating prior to death what loved ones are to do with possessions, one can avoid worrying about such issues in the bardo of becoming...