How Do Perspectives on Death Shape Our Understanding of Life?
Class meets online Saturday, June 5th from 10:00AM-12:00PM PST
Reading List & Questions for Class
Class Reading #1:
Excerpts from “The Tibetan Book of the Dead”
Introduction: (~10-20 pages*) This section generally includes an overview of the text and its cultural and religious context.
The First Bardo: Chikhai Bardo (The Moment of Death): (~20-40 pages*)
Instructions on the Signs of Death, and the Rituals to be Performed When Death is Approaching: (~15-25 pages*)
(*Page numbers vary depending on edition)
Questions to consider as you read “The Tibetian Book of the Dead”
Excerpt 1: The First Bardo: Chikhai Bardo (The Moment of Death)
How does the Bardo Thodol describe the experience of death? How does this align with or differ from your preconceptions about what happens at the moment of death?
What does the text suggest about the importance of consciousness and awareness at the moment of death?
How might the concept of transitioning consciousness, as presented in this section, influence your understanding of life and death?
The text discusses spiritual liberation at the moment of death. How might this concept reshape your perception of death and dying?
How might reflecting on these descriptions of the death experience influence how you live your life
Excerpt 2 :Instructions on the Signs of Death, and the Rituals to be Performed When Death is Approaching
What are the practical and spiritual purposes of the rituals described in this section?
How do these rituals help both the dying person and their caregivers?
How does the text conceptualize the signs of death? What does it suggest about the progression and inevitability of death?
How might these rituals and understandings change our approach to end-of-life care and discussions around death in our own culture?
How can the conscious preparations for death, as proposed by the rituals, affect your understanding of life's meaning and purpose?
Class Reading #2
Excerpts from “Mortality” by Christopher Hitchens
Discussion questions to guide your reading of "Mortality" by Christopher Hitchens:
How does Hitchens' atheistic perspective shape his understanding of his terminal illness and his own mortality? How does this contrast with religious or spiritual perspectives on death?
"Mortality" offers an intimate view of Hitchens' personal journey with esophageal cancer. How does he handle the physical and emotional challenges of his disease, and what insights can we gain from his experiences?
Hitchens writes, "To the dumb question 'Why me?' the cosmos barely bothers to return the reply: why not?" How does this statement reflect his view on life, death, and the randomness of illness?
Hitchens explores the concept of "living dyingly." How does this idea challenge or align with societal attitudes towards death and dying? How might it change the way we live our lives?
Consider Hitchens' exploration of language, particularly the euphemisms and cliches often associated with illness and death. How do our words and language shape our experiences and understanding of illness and mortality?
