Grief and Loss - a Buddhist Education Class

In recent years, the topic of death and dying has captured popular attention. “Tuesdays with Morrie” and a number of books by Buddhist authors such as the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Sogyal Rinpoche have popped up on best-seller lists. Buddhist methods for coping with dying have become influential in medicine, psychology, and hospice care.  Our Buddhist Education Committee brought the Venerable Dr. Karma Lekshe Tsomo to our temple to talk about the Buddha’s teachings on death and dying, Buddhist cultural practices, and questions about controversial contemporary bioethical issues.

(Venerable Dr. Karma Lekshe Tsomo, who taught this class, is a Buddhist nun and professor of theology and religious studies at the University of San Diego and is a specialist in Buddhist studies. Her educational background includes studying Buddhism in Dharamsala, India for fifteen years and having an MA in Asian Studies, an MA in Religion (Asian), and a PhD in Comparative Philosophy, all from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. )
“It’s better to talk about this now than wait until later,” said Dr. Tsomo when she surveyed a full hondo of students on a beautiful Sunday afternoon ready to learn about death and dying.  “Death has come out of the closet—particularly since the AIDS epidemic.  And people are interested in religious views on the subject.”
She is asked what the Buddha said about extended life care and has to answer, “Nothing!  It wasn’t an issue then.”  But the Buddha’s first precept for lay people (not to take a life) and compassion can be used as guidelines for decision making about these difficult issues.
By dying, Dr. Tsomo said, the Buddha gave his final teaching.  He died.  “Life is a terminal condition,” she said.  All of us will die, even the Buddha.  In meditating on death and dying, she said:

1.     Death is definite.

2.     The time of death is indefinite.

3.     At the time of death, only our spiritual practice will be any benefit at all.

We need to learn to calm our mind, focus our mind, be attentive.  Meditation helps us live better and helps us die better.

To sooth the transition between living and dying, she mentioned:

1.     mindfulness of breathing

2.      meditating on loving kindness

3.     meditating on the dying process and stages

4.     chanting sacred texts and mantras (this is particularly done in Tibetan Buddhism)

5.     Transfer of consciousness (another Tibetan Buddhist practice), and

6.     Pure Land practices:  in Chinese forms of Buddhism this is chanting the name of Amida (Amitaba) Buddha; in Japanese forms of Buddhism, such as our own Shin Buddhism, it is saying the Nembutso (Namo Amido Butsu)

Death, Dr. Tsomo finished her presentation, is the opportunity of a lifetime.

1.     It gives insight into impermanence.

2.     It gives insight into suffering.

3.     It allows the practice of patience.

4.     It allows the practice of compassion.

5.     It allows the practice of momentary awareness, and finally,

6.     There is the possibility of enlightenment.