7:00-8:30 pm ET

Wednesdays: January 8, 15, 22, 29 / Feb 5, 12, 19, 26 / March 5, 12, 19, 26

About the Book Group

Donations are welcome!

Explore the profundity and power of The Tibetan Book of Dead in this guided, book-group experience that makes these timeless teachings accessible to all. Drawing on ancient wisdom, readers will be able to approach these potent teachings on impermanence and death with joy and ease.  

Participants will use the book The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners, A Guide to Living & Dying by Lama Lhanang Rinpoche and Mordy Levine, to help them develop greater love and compassion for themselves and others as death approaches – whether it be for themselves or a loved one. It will also help readers enrich their understanding of The Tibetan Book of the Dead, with commentary by Francesca Fremantle and Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, which is one of the most highly regarded translations of this sacred text. 

January 7 – Chapter 1: Karma – How We Live is How We Die
January 14 – Chapter 2: What Dies and What Gets Reborn
January 21 – Chapter 3: Our Consciousness After Death
January 28 – Chapter 4: Influencing Our Next Rebirth
February 4 – Chapter 5: Start Where We are Now
February 11 – Chapter 6: Supporting Loved Ones as They Approach Death
February 18 – Chapter 7: Practices as Death Approaches
February 25 – Chapter 8: Supporting Dying Loved Ones from a Distance
March 4 – Chapter 9: Supporting Ourselves at End of Life
March 11 – Chapter 10: The Time Immediately After Death
March 18 – Chapter 11: Essential Advice for Joyful Living and Peaceful Dying
March 25 – Conclusion & Practice Session

Included in the Book Group

• An opportunity for meditation, discussion, and connecting as a community. 
• An opportunity to discuss topics such as death and dying in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and context with a Buddhist Chaplain who is also an End-of-Life Care scholar and professional caregiver.  
• Discussions on karma, rebirth, what gets reborn, influences on our next rebirth, supporting ourselves and loved ones as they approach death, support for loved ones from a distance, the bardos, compassion practices and essential advice and much more.

What You Will Gain

• Experience to enrich your understanding of The Tibetan Book of the Dead translated with commentary by Francesca Fremantle and Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
• You will also gain a deeper understanding of the teachings of the great Buddhist Master Padmasambhava and Tibetan Buddhism in general.

Requred Reading Material

The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners: A Guide to Living & Dying by Lama Lhanang Rinpoche & Mordy Levine

*Please purchase the book from your preferred vendor in advance

Highly Recommended Reading Material (Not Required)

The Tibetan Book of the Dead translated with commentary by Francesca Fremantle and Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Luminous Emptiness: Understanding the Tibetan Book of the Dead by Francesca Fremantle

Prerequisites

No experience necessary. Open to all levels of experience.

About the Teacher

Alley Smith (she/her) is a Chaplain and US military war veteran. During her career, Alley served with the military funeral honors teams in the US Marine Corps and Navy Reserve. She specializes in spiritual care, mortuary affairs and as a funeral clergy/celebrant. She has been a student of Shambhala and Zen Buddhism since 1999. She works at a funeral home in Vermont. Alley currently hosts “Making Friends with Death and Dying: Support Group” on Shambhala Online. [email protected]

Resource(s):

The Tibetan Book of the Dead for Beginners: A Guide to Living & Dying by Lama Lhanang Rinpoche & Mordy Levine
https://www.amazon.com/Tibetan-Book-Dead-Beginners-Living/dp/B0C384VH5J

The Tibetan Book of the Dead translated with commentary by Francesca Fremantle and Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
https://www.shambhala.com/the-tibetan-book-of-the-dead-1540.html

Shambhala Online, Death & Dying: Practice & Ceremony Protocols:
https://shambhala.org/members/member-resources/practice-education/practice-and-ceremony-protocols/