Practices

Practices for sudden death
After a sudden death we should bring every ounce of our will and compassion into our meditation or prayers to purify the person of any possible suffering at the time of his death. In addition to the simple practice of essential phowa, there are many other practices which can benefit those who have died, their friends and families. Resources for victims of sudden death...

Three Noble Principles
Reflecting on the Three Noble Principles can bring all our fragmented selves into one whole, and give us a sense of meaning and direction. The Three Noble Principles (Good in the beginning, Good in the middle, and Good in the end) help us discover the motivation of compassion, sustain inspiration and openness throughout the day, and dedicate the merit we accrue toward the enlightenment of all beings.

Loving Kindness Meditation
Before we can extend compassion toward others, we must first feel love. If our own heart is wounded or walled up, the Loving Kindness Meditation can help reconnect us to the source of love within. Once this love opens our heart, then we will be able to offer our genuine love and fearless compassion to others.

The compassion practices of Tonglen
Tonglen means "giving and receiving." In the Tonglen visualization, we receive with compassion, the suffering and pain of others; and we give them, with a tender and confident heart, all of our love, joy, well-being, and peace. Normally, we don't want to give away our happiness, nor do we want to take on another person's suffering, but here we practice doing just that in order to unravel the selfish patterning of the ego and reinforce our confidence in the wisdom and compassion of our true nature.

Seeing the other as another you and exchanging places
Those who are ill or dying need to feel a deep and meaningful connection with their closest loved ones. But if we have been holding on to old expectations or judgments--or if the other person does not openly communicate, then it is difficult to genuinely connect. These two reflections can help us understand the other person's experience and needs in a new way--and this understanding awakens our heart of compassion.

Practice of Essential Phowa
In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Phowa is considered the most valuable and effective practice for death. The word phowa means the transference or ejection of consciousness into the state of truth. Its success relies on invoking the presence of a buddha (a fully enlightened being), combined with our receptivity and devotion, and the familiarity which comes from having done the practice repeatedly throughout our life.