The Art of Dying

180 Pages·2014·1.81 MB·English

Meditation
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H
A collection of verses from the Buddha, essays by Vipassana meditation
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teacher, S.N. Goenka, and interviews with meditators facing death.
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One learns the art of dying by learning the art of living: how to become master of the present
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—S.N. Goenka

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F
…A thoughtful look at the greatest challenge facing each of us: death, whether our own D
or a loved one’s. Weaving together material from many sources, this collection provides Y
a context for understanding death and experiencing it with awareness and equanimity. I
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Here are passages from the Pali texts, writings of S.N. Goenka, poems, theoretical
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expositions, and questions and answers. But perhaps the most compelling parts are the
sections by or about meditators confronting the end of life. With humility, tenderness
b
y
can aspire. V by Vipassana Meditation Teacher
i
p
a S.N. Goenka and others
s
plary poise sa
and courage, and who attributed this gift to Vipassana meditation. n
a

M
e
…Brings a piercing light to a universal reality too often darkened by ignorance, fear and d
i
t
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devotional, it examines its important subject from a variety of angles in its quest to ti
o
n
readable way is truly remarkable. T
e
a
c
h
I imagine there is no better way to experience the end of life—apart from meditating or e
r
living it oneself—than to read these beautiful stories. S
—Rivers Cuomo, lead singer, Weezer .N
.

G
o
Virginia Hamilton spent years gradually collecting the material for this book. She and her e
n
husband Bill are former editors of the International Vipassana Newsletter
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teachers responsible for Canada as well as for Dhamma Torana, the Vipassana meditation a
center near Toronto. a
n
d

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t
h
PARIYATTI
e
Onalaska, Washington r
s
www.pariyatti.org collected and edited by
$11.95 Virginia Hamilton
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The Art of Dying

by
Vipassana Meditation Teacher
S.N. Goenka and others

collected and edited
by Virginia Hamilton

Vipassana Research Publications – Onalaska, WA, USA
Vipassana Research Publications
an imprint of
Pariyatti Publishing
867 Larmon Road, Onalaska, WA 98570
www.pariyatti.org
© 2014 Ontario Vipassana Foundation
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or
reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written
permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
ISBN: 978-1-928706-35-9 (Softcover)
978-1-928706-47-2 (PDF eBook)
978-1-938754-60-9 (ePub)
978-1-938754-61-6 (Mobi)
LCCN: 2014900220
Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā,
manoseṭṭhā manomayā;
Manasā ce paduṭṭhena,
bhāsati vā karoti vā;
Tato naṃ dukkhamanveti,
cakkaṃva vahato padaṃ.

Manopubbaṅgamā dhammā,
manoseṭṭhā manomayā;
Manasā ce pasannena,
bhāsati vā karoti vā;
Tato naṃ sukhamanveti
chāyāva anapāyinī.

Mind precedes everything; mind matters most.
Whatever one experiences throughout life
is nothing but the product of one’s own mind.
If one speaks or acts with an impure mind,
suffering will follow,
even as the wheel follows the hoof of the ox.

… If one speaks or acts with a pure mind,
happiness follows like an inseparable shadow.

—Dhammapada 1.1-2

i

Dedication

This anthology of stories, discourses, and poems about death, and
preparing for death through Vipassana meditation, is dedicated to
Mr. S.N. Goenka. He willingly embraced his teacher Sayagyi U
Ba Khin’s mission to introduce Vipassana meditation throughout
the world, and with open hands joyfully shared the teaching of
the Buddha.
This book is also dedicated to those who faced their own
deaths or the deaths of loved ones, and whose stories inspire us
to take up and diligently practice the Buddha’s teaching.

ii i
Table of Contents
Dedication iii
Preface 1
About S.N. Goenka 3
The Passing of the Day 4
About This Book 6
About Vipassana Meditation 7
My Mother’s Death in Dhamma - S.N. Goenka 9
The Buddha’s Wisdom 13
As It Was / As It Is - Graham Gambie 21
Graham’s Death - Anne Doneman 25
What Happens at Death - S.N. Goenka 29
Paṭicca Samuppāda—The Law of Dependent Origination
- S.N. Goenka 37
Tara Jadhav: An Exemplary Death - S.N. Goenka 43
Questions to Goenkaji I
Supporting Loved Ones at the Time of 45
Death Susan Babbitt: Only the Present Moment
- Virginia Hamilton 51
Kamma—The Real Inheritance - S.N. Goenka 71
Rodney Bernier: Smiling All the Way to Death
- Evie Chauncey 79
Questions to Goenkaji II
Preparing for Our Own Deaths 85
Ratilal Mehta: A Life and Death in Dhamma
- Vipassana Newsletter 91
Parvathamma Adaviappa: Equanimity in the Face
of Terminal Illness - S. Adaviappa 95
The Flood of Tears - C.A.F. Rhys Davids 98
iv
The Deaths of Our Children 99
An Invaluable Gift - Gabriela Ionita 100
Undying Gratitude —John Wolford and Laurie Campbell 103
Work Out Your Own Salvation - S.N. Goenka 113
Hiding from the Wisdom of 121
Anicca Ambapālī’s Verses - Amadeo Solé-Leris 122
Questions to Goenkaji III
Ethical Questions in the Age of Modern Medicine 126
Terrell Jones: Facing Death Head-on
- Virginia Hamilton 129
70 Years Are Over - S.N. Goenka 139
Appendix
The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation - S.N. Goenka 147
The Practice of Mettā Bhāvanā in Vipassana Meditation
- S.N. Goenka 155
Acknowledgments 159
Glossary 162
About Pariyatti 169
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