Secular Program About Death and Dying

Secular Program About Death and Dying

Date of Advice:
July 2018
Date Posted:
January 2023

A student wrote to Rinpoche about a program they were developing on death and preparation for death from a Universal Education perspective. Elements such as the five points at the moment of death and tonglen meditation were being adapted for secular use in the program.

My most dear, most kind, most precious, wish-fulfilling one,

Thank you for your kind email and details of what you are doing. I am sorry for the long delay.

I can’t say, as I don’t know every single detail. Generally you can use this as a method for now, but someone might gradually develop it, so then it would have to be changed. It would not be the same for everybody and not all the time.

Generally, if it brings benefit to the people and people like it, then it’s good to do. But just because people like it, that doesn’t mean necessarily that it is positive. People like even when we do very silly things, but just because they like it so much, it doesn’t necessarily mean everything is good. There are old people who like when we play like a child etc., and children who like it when you act like old person, etc.

Thank you very much for helping people. Thank you. As you know, the most important thing is the good heart, to really benefit others; that is the first thing, then we need to do our work with wisdom and a compassionate motivation.

Please see my daily motivation [The Method to Transform a Suffering Life into Happiness (Including Enlightenment)]. I am sure you have it, but this is in case you do not. Also see Practicing the Five Powers Near the Time of Death—I am also sure you have it, but in case you do not. [Find links to both of these practice booklets in the Teachings, Advice and Commentaries section of the FPMT Catalogue.]

Thank you very much.

With much love and prayer ...