Chapter 25 Appendix I

Since the Chinese version of this book came out in September 1996, there has been an upsurge of graduate students in the Chinese community.Wherever I went, whether it was Taiwan, or the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, or even Nepal, India and other places where there were not many Chinese, people took the initiative to mention this book to me. The discussion of serious life issues in this book can actually cause such a big response, which shows that the wisdom of Buddhism is profound, and the compassion of Buddhism is vast, and it holds everyone's heartstrings and arouses everyone's sympathy.Life and death is an inescapable event for everyone, and it has become the main goal of life since the existence of human beings.Among the many efforts, the theory and reality provided by Buddhism are the most convincing. The light and heat it radiates has saved countless people. .

This book has become a staple of spiritual food for many people, read over and over again, meditating on and applying to everyday life.Many readers told me that this book has saved their marriages, families, careers, and lives, provided them with guidance on how to live and die, and sublimated the value of their lives.Invisible bridges are built between the readers and me through this book. Whether the readers know or not, they are the objects of my gratitude, which deepens my confidence in Buddhism.For thirty-five years, I have been translating but not writing. I know that I have no cultivation and no certificate, and what I say is kudzu, but the Jingde Yixing of the eminent monk is worth learning from the world, so I will introduce it one after another without thinking about it. Better works to repay the kindness of the Three Jewels and all beings.

"The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" was written under one premise, which is the concept of reincarnation.It is in the belief that human beings have life beyond the physical body that they survive and are sentient after death that this book makes sense. This book can be regarded as the explanation of "Tibetan Book of the Dead" (that is, "The Bardo of Hearing and Teaching"). The Book of the Dead is admittedly difficult to understand, not only because it is full of religious terminology, but also because it talks about a world beyond our experience.In that realm, boundaries are not defined by space or time.In this realm that the dead entered, time is as short as a snap of a finger, and at the same time, it is infinitely long; the space is so vast as to be unimaginable, and at the same time, it is so narrow that it is less than an inch.Although the writer has planned the so-called "bardo" process into the "seven sevens" that we can understand, the real afterlife world is much more complicated than this.

It is said that in the past, only monks could see the "Book of the Dead", and ordinary people had no chance to see it.This may somewhat indicate that reading this book requires special education.I personally think it is a bit like an ancient "underworld clearance manual". After passing this level, you can reach the "underworld" - the kingdom of death.Because it is an ancient book and a reference book for monks to practice rituals, it was not planned to be popularized at first, so it is inevitable to ask Qu Juya.The "Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" popularizes it, not only explaining it with words and sentences that modern people can understand, but also supplementing it with interpretations that conform to modern ideas.There are also some "promoting" phrases, telling everyone that studying this book can not only help people know how to die, but also inspire people how to live.Ordinary people like to say that "death" is a one-and-done thing. This book tells you: Not only is death not a one-and-done solution, but if you die badly, you will not only lose the "rights" of liberation, but you will also have a bad life in your next life.Now that "hospice care" is getting more and more attention, the "Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" provides spiritual comfort.It tells you firmly: "Death is just the beginning of another life." Because there is life after death, this book is a bit like a freshman's manual.It is a good read for those who are about to "enroll".Those who have not yet "enrolled in school" may wish to start preschool education in advance.

In the process of life, death is the most serious. "Life after death" has always been the dream and desire of human beings. I believe that all the stories of gods and ghosts are created because of this desire. "Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" stands on the basis of this human desire, citing various facts to prove that life after death is not a dream.However, this is also like Weiss's "Past Life and Present Life", you have to believe it before everything it says makes sense.For reasons everyone knows, we know less about the land of the dead than outer space.The spacecraft came out of the atmosphere, and some pictures, meteorites were brought back; but no one, not even those who claimed to be resurrected after death, never had any evidence left as a souvenir.All that can be proved to be "yes" can also be disproved to be "no".

But death is not the only puzzle for human beings, and we cannot deny its existence just because we cannot confirm it based on existing theories.I think the meaning of reading this book is not to believe that there is another life after death, but that it provides a chance to meet death.If we can learn how to die peacefully, maybe we will know how to live calmly. (Excerpt from the "Scholar" edition of United Daily News) The "Song Qili" incident that broke out some time ago highlights that our society is indeed sick. The publication of "The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" provides us with a broader perspective and helps us clarify some important core values.From the moment of birth, people are doomed to the road of death, so death is an inevitable result.

The "Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" written by Sogyal Rinpoche not only teaches people how to face death, but also focuses on the "natural existence" stage in this world, emphasizing that the only thing we really have is "the present moment". The book integrates the views of modern science to explain phenomena that were previously thought to be inconceivable. For example, Einstein said: "The individual is a part of the "universe" as a whole, a part of limited time and space. He puts his thoughts and feelings into , as an independent experience unrelated to the rest of the universe—this is an optical illusion of one’s own mind.” This kind of analysis makes it easier for intellectuals to accept, and then can integrate the teachings of Western philosophy and religion, and develop our inner life treasure of the soul.The views of different popular customs are worth learning.Another example is to quote Mother Teresa: "Everyone expects the heaven where God is, but at this moment we have the ability to be with him in heaven. To be happy with him at this time means: to be loving like him, to be like him. Help as he, give as he does, serve as he does, save as he does, be with him 24 hours a day, reach him in his affliction incarnate." That's so powerful. Love and compassion may be able to cure our "ignorance" diseases and reduce the "five poisons" of our daily life such as greed, hatred, ignorance, slow doubt and other spiritual pollution. (Excerpted from Minsheng Daily "Reading Weekly")