Spiritual traditions all seem to prioritize comfort for the dying, even if that comfort comes from an elaborate metaphysical system in which the dead attain eternal life or reincarnation. I've always thought of Tibetan Buddhism as being one of the most tolerable traditions for a skeptic like myself, mainly because it is not as dogmatic or judgmental as modern interpretations of Judeo/Christian/Islamic scriptures.

Unfortunately, Rinpoche's writing is rife with jargon and mumbo-jumbo. There are a few essential truths here, but to get to them the reader has to wade through rivers of mysticism. Meditation is powerful - life is dreamlike - death is painful. We must learn to look at death head-on, and to die with dignity. Hospice organizations are necessary for many people.

The agnostic/atheist can learn from Rinpoche, as long as you have patience for a lot of the mind-bending nonsense ( )

Intellectual and inspiring. ( )

I've always been interested in meditation and other Buddhist practices. This is an interesting book that includes some formal teaching as well as personal experiences and stories to give the lessons more meaning. Recommended to anyone interested in Tibet and Eastern religions. ( )

I see that this book has received seven Library Thing reviews, all favorable, most very favorable and very personal. I have not yet had the experience of watching someone close to me die over a period of time, so I don't want to comment on these personal reactions. I'm commenting on it only as a book and an intellectual exercise. In that regard, it is the first book-length exposition of Buddhist ideas that I've ever read: what surprised me a little is that it says exactly what one thinks a Buddhist exposition would say, even what somebody like me, a complete novice in such matters, would expect.. Some of the reviewers make the point that its teaching would be applicable to any of the major "religions". Maybe I'm looking at it too much from the standpoint of ideas rather than experience, but this assertion doesn't seem very plausible to me. What struck me was the difference between a Buddhist and a Christian perspective.

For some reason, this book was the only one that comforted meright after my mother died. And I'm not Buddhist. ( )