Recently a very close friend called to talk about his father. At 95, it seems that he is fading away. As the result of our conversation, I offered to write down briefly the teachings on dying that I have been given over the years and supplemented from some source books that I have on the matter.
Tibetans in general and Nyingma Buddhist of Tibet in particular have extensive teachings on what we call dying and death. Tibetans begin with an understanding from a young age that we are not just this life. We are not this body. Death and dying do not have the same connotations as we in the West think. The term used in Tibet for dying is more accurately translated as “moving forward.”
This present life is one in a long continuum of births and deaths. The transition from this life into our eventual rebirth is a critical juncture and is regarded as both sacred and extremely important. Attending to the dying is focused on the person rather than focusing on our self-directed sadness. During the dying process, one is commonly visited by family, neighbors, friend and spiritual guides.
Leading up to and even beyond the point where we take our last in-breath can be called the dying process. This process of separation of our thinking mind from the current life and bodies can be swift or can be extended.
All Nyingma Masters emphasize that during the dying process and after death, we must be very courteous with what we say. Sensitivity increases even though outside responses may seem to fade. We should not only speak kind, loving and compassionate words, but also we should say these words in gentle and loving voices. No harsh language or disturbing voices.
The dying process, I think, would be better described as the dissolution process: Initially we go through the dissolution of outer senses and the elements of this world and this life. Following the outer dissolution, the individual will begin what has been called the inner dissolutions.
The dissolution of the outer elements commonly follow a pattern of (a) earth dissolving into water; (b) water dissolving into fire; (c) fire dissolving into air; and finally (d) air dissolving into space.
It is important to know that leading up to the final dissolution process, all elements begin to weaken. There are interim periods of being hot to being cold; from feeling thirsty to feeling wet, from feeling confused/dull to feeling extremely sensitive to all outside stimuli; and from having a hard time breathing to feeling extremely airy.
Earth dissolves into Water
The first stage of final dissolution is the dissolution of the earth element. The teachings say that the dissolution of each element starts with an initial intensification of the element before it full dissolves. After the initial feelings of heaviness and weightiness, the earth element dissolves into water. During this time one’s solidity begins to fade. One begins to feel very liquid-like – our firm and solid feelings disappear. The sense of visual and mental clarity begin to dull. Our bodies may lose some of its brightness and glow.
Water dissolves into Fire
Initially one will feel saturated with water. one will then experience dryness of skin, dryness of the mouth, eyes, and nasal passages. Blood and lymph circulation will slow. One will feel very thirsty. The Feelings to react to external stimuli will begin to fade. It might appear that the person is unable to respond to things going on around them. Senses will become dull and we may become indifferent to many things going on around us.
Fire dissolves into Air
Initially we may feel extremely hot, as if one is going to burn up in a fire. This is followed by the fire element dissolving and the feeling of being cold. No matter how warm it is and how many covers one has; the person will still feel cold. At this time it is common for the sense of smell to deteriorate. The person will begin to be unable to distinguish and differentiate outside information coming through their senses. We are beginning to full separate from our body senses.
Air Dissolves into Space
While air dissolve into space, the traditional teachings say that “air dissolves into consciousness and consciousness dissolves into space.” So actually there is this interim step of consciousness.
One initially feels that there are strong winds or breezes in the room. Subsequently, one begins to have lightness in breathing. In-breaths shorten. Out breaths are slow and extend. The dying person loses motivation and sense of being within this world. What we think of as the life-force is very light. Breathing becomes very slow and delayed. It is likely that the person will lose the desire to eat. The sense of taste has dissolved. Dissolution of air into consciousness is likened to a candle which is almost out. The flame is very small and faint. It has very little energy left burning.
Upon the final dissolution of air into consciousness and then to space, one stops breathing. In our modern medical world, we regard this as the moment of death. However, “inner respiration” continues for another 20 minutes. It is after the cessation of inner respiration that the dying person can no longer return to this life.
Full separation of our thinking mind from our physical bodies is completed after completion of the inner dissolution. The teachings on this process are quite comprehensive. However, they are typically noticeable to a trained Master.
As an attendant to the dying, we are advised to support the person. Provide comfort and understanding. We want to aid them in their transition with immeasurable compassion and love.
Many Dharma Blessings
Geoff
