Padmasambhava

The Tibetan Book of the Dead talks about death as if there is nothing to fear. They make it sound like an opportunity to become more enlightened and be at peace. The book seems as though it would be a great comfort to someone who is dying. To me death does not seem so glorious or a positive experience to improve oneself or understanding. Honestly death makes me afraid. Maybe I am more scared of how I will die. It would be one thing if I knew I would be old and feel no pain in my death. It is a scary thought to think that any one of us could die tomorrow. It is especially scary to think of all the painful ways it could happen. Most of us try to not think about it. I know that I try not to most of the time! I guess that it makes sense to try and make the most of every situation, no matter how bad it my be. The Tibetan Book of the Dead said that when death comes we should adopt this attitude: 'I will adopt only the attitude of an enlightened state of mind, friendliness and compassion, and attain perfect enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings as limitless as space.' The book carries a different attitude about death than I do. Maybe there is more positive things in death than I see. I believe that there is heaven and hell after death, but that does not erase my fears. I think that The Tibetan Book of the Dead is for both those that are close to death and those that will continue living. I can see how death can provide people with a last opportunity to create peace among their relationships and themselves. I like how this reading starts out with, "Even a deathbed can be a place of rebirth." I generally do not associate death with peace like that book does.