Noble Living, Noble Caring, Noble Dying: Introduction
Noble Living, Noble Caring and Noble Dying describes the outlook we can bring to our human experience. Most of us will receive care and give care to others at some point in
Noble Living, Noble Caring, Noble Dying
Noble Living, Noble Caring and Noble Dying describes the outlook we can bring to our human experience. This resource center is the result of many conversations with Phakchok Rinpoche, Tulku Migmar, and experts in the caring profession. We invite you to explore how our Buddhist practice informs our living, caring, and dying so that they are noble: filled with dignity and grace.
Noble Living: Study and Reflections
The Buddhist tradition offers innumerable resources that encourage us to live a noble life. All the masters and adepts advocate an active, lifelong learning process. We open our hearts and minds to the realities of suffering and death. When we stay present with our vulnerabilities instead of ignoring them or pushing them away, we can face challenges with courage and curiosity. And we can be a powerful support for our loved ones and for all those who suffer.
Conversation with Phakchok Rinpoche on Noble Living, Noble Caring, Noble Dying
The Noble Living, Noble Caring, Noble Dying team met with Phakchok Rinpoche on several occasions to discuss questions frequently posed by sangha members. In this recorded conversation, various participants raised issues from
Conversation with Tulku Migmar: How We Live is How We Die
In this conversation, Tulku Migmar speaks about living a meaningful life. This is good advice regardless of whether we are Buddhist or not. And he emphasizes the fact that we all write
Four Reminders for Noble Living
In the Buddhist tradition, we speak frequently about Four Mind Changings. The Four reminders, or Four Mind Changings that turn the mind towards the dharma are powerful contemplation on both life and
Taking Hold of Bodhicitta
Taking hold of Bodhicitta is a crucial element of Noble Living and also of Noble Caring. When we wish to live nobly, we give up our own ego-centered point-of-view. Even if we
Conversation: Preparing For Our Own Death
In July, 2018, Samye Institute recorded a series of conversations on the topic of Noble Living, Noble Caring and Noble Dying. This project came about from the questions we heard from many
The Six Bardos: Powerful Opportunities for Liberation
In a previous Guru Rinpoche Day message, Phakchok Rinpoche sent students a reminder to regularly bring to mind teachings on the six bardos. We present here an excerpt from this message in which
Conversation: Tulku Migmar on the Bardo
Samye Institute’s Noble Living, Noble Caring and Noble Dying team continues the conversation about Noble Living and Care-giving. Here the team discusses the bardo, the intermediate period after death—and the importance and
Physical Health: Advice from Phakchok Rinpoche
Physical health situations can make our lives more stressful and difficult to manage. And we often ask the Rinpoches and lamas what spiritual practices we should do when we are having health problems. Here,
Instant Liberation Through Supplication
Instant liberation can happen, even if we think that practice while dying is very difficult. How can this happen? If we take the time to build a strong habit of supplication and
We need to learn how to live with dignity. Live without regret, live with compassion, (just a little bit of compassion), live with contentment… live with no regrets. Then you are going to find some degree of dignity, I think that is the only way to die. No regret. Whether you are spiritual or not spiritual it is important to have no regrets.
—Phakchok Rinpoche
Noble Caring
When we train in loving-kindness, compassion, and equanimity, we can truly care for ourselves and others. Our noble caring manifests with no agenda, and with pure love for all sentient beings. If we embrace this practice, we can avoid burnout, and instead face challenges with courage and dignity. We can become a rock for others who need support.
Noble Caring and Compassionate Heart
Phakchok Rinpoche explained compassion in the following way: In Tibetan, the word for compassion, nying je (snying rje), means “noble heart”. It refers to our own heart and to the heart of the world. Our
Cultivating Kindness: Advice from Phakchok Rinpoche
Bodhicitta is a word that means the mind of enlightenment. You will never realize enlightenment without it. What qualities does this mind have? Bodhicitta needs compassion, bodhicitta needs loving kindness, and bodhicitta
Conversation with Phakchok Rinpoche on Noble Caring
Our Noble Living, Noble Caring, Noble Dying team continued their conversation with Phakchok Rinpoche in New York. In this section, our team members discuss care giving, and how we can best offer
Conversation: Pure Motivation
Our Noble Living, Noble Caring and Noble Dying team here discusses the importance of pure motivation when care-giving. If we spend some time to consider our motivation, we benefit not only the
Motivation and Dharma as Medicine
In this short clip, Rinpoche responds to a question asked about how to view and implement our motivation into practice. Rinpoche uses the analogy of the Dharma as medicine, the student as
Medicine Buddha Visualization and Mantra
Medicine Buddha, or Bhaiṣajyaguru visualization has been practiced in many forms of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. According to the Mahayana Bhaiṣajya-guru-vaiḍūrya-prabhā-rāja Sūtra, the bodhisattva Bhaiṣajyaguru made twelve great vows. In particular, he
Caregiving At a Distance and the Paramita of Generosity
Caregiving at a distance is extremely challenging during this time of the coronavirus threat. How do you care for someone when you can’t be directly with the person that you are caring
The Paramita of Patience and Caring For People with Dementia
It can be very challenging to care for a person who has dementia. Patience is key. They may need intense caregiving and as the disease progresses there is ongoing loss, particularly a
Noble Caring at the Bedside
Phakchok Rinpoche often reminds us to have no expectations. Nowhere is this advice more important than when we engage in intimate caring. To care nobly, we approach each situation with a willingness to witness and to be present with whatever arises.
Practicing Compassionate Presence at the Bedside
Being present at the bedside of those who are dying can be a deeply profound experience for everyone who is involved. It may be filled with an array of feelings, anguish, physical
Being With and Caring for Those Who Are Dying
Being with and caring for those who are dying is a spiritual experience, more than a medical one. When someone is dying we enter a world that is sacred and filled with
Noble Caring for Children
Beings of all ages experience suffering. And children may approach serious illnesses with open curiosity. We can care for children most effectively when we listen deeply and honor their experiences. Then we may offer our young friends the opportunity to communicate their own concerns or wishes.
Caring for Children, Part One
Caring for children, especially those who may be quite ill or dying, requires special skill sets. Here, in the first of a series of conversations, Tsunma Jamyang gives a general introduction to caring nobly
Caring for Children, Part Two
In the second video in this series, Tsunma Jamyang continues her discussion of caring for children. Here, she encourages the care-giver to recall the four immeasurable attitudes: Loving Kindness Compassion Equanimity Sympathetic
Body Scan and Favorite Place Practice with Children
Body scan practice and favorite place practice can be skillful explorations when working with very sick or terminally ill children. In this video unit Tsunma Jamyang explains how we can gently introduce these two
Never Stop Communicating
In this video teaching, Tsunma Jamyang discusses issues surrounding a long, involved dying process with children. She reminds us that we don’t know what people may hear or feel even when it
Noble Self-Care
Self-care is crucial on the path. Before we help others, we take time to set our intentions and to check our own physical and mental health. Simple practices, such as pausing before we enter client rooms, bring us back to the present moment. We move purposefully, and with calm awareness. We take time to rest and eat nutritious meals. We practice supplication and guru yoga, reminding ourselves of our pure basic nature.
Let Go: Simple Self-Care Practices For the Caregiver
Self-care can be a huge issue for the caregiver. Andrea Sherman reminds us that we need to heal ourselves as we try to heal or care for others. Often, we may care
Applying the Pāramitās to Care-Giving
Applying the pāramitās, or transcendental perfections, to care-giving offers us a way to go beyond remaining caught up in self-absorption. Care-giving, as Andrea Sherman explains here, is naturally a place of uncertainty.
Conversation: Helping Others Prepare for Death
In July, 2018, Samye Institute recorded a series of conversations on the topic of Noble Living, Noble Caring and Noble Dying. This project came about from the questions we heard from many
Noble Caring Through Pain
Most of us will experience physical or mental pain. And almost all of us will care for others who suffer. We can learn how to approach pain with curiosity and kindness. When we choose to investigate pain rather than fight against it, we may discover a new relationship!
The Six Pāramitās: Part Two
In this teaching kindly provided by Samye’s Indonesian Sangha, Khenpo Gyaltsen begins a series of teachings dedicated to the six pāramitās.
The Six Pāramitās: Part Two
In this teaching kindly provided by Samye’s Indonesian Sangha, Khenpo Gyaltsen begins a series of teachings dedicated to the six pāramitās.
Noble Dying: The Final Steps
We can help our friends, families, and caregivers by planning ahead. Conversations about our final wishes may seem awkward or pessimistic. But death is certain; we know that from our own experience. So we can plan our final steps with love, thinking to ease the burden of those we leave behind. If we adopt the practice of noble living, we can see this process as a meaningful gift for others.
Noble Dying: Active Dying
The dying process unfolds as a series of dissolution of the physical elements of the body. Although each death is unique, we can explore the journey ahead and thus approach our own deaths fearlessly and with awareness. If we know what to expect, we can prepare ourselves and welcome death without regret, confident in our own pure nature and in our practice. We can also take the opportunity to direct our prayers and practice as the consecutive stages occur.
Conversation: What’s Happening at Death?
Our Samye Insitute team continued the conversation at Gomde Cooperstown about the process of death. Here, Tulku Migmar discusses the signs of death—the actual physical dissolution of the body as it is
Buddhist Reading on Dying and Care-Giving
We’re often asked for suggestions for Buddhist reading on dying and care-giving. These books generally reflect a Buddhist perspective and provide detailed discussions of many of the points we cover in our
Conversation with Phakchok Rinpoche on Prayer and Phowa
Phakchok Rinpoche discusses the benefits of prayer with the Noble Living, Noble Caring, Noble Dying Team. In this conversation in New York, he explains the types of practices that are best to
Awareness and Vigiling at the Bedside
Vigiling with those who are dying is being present at the bedside during the final hours of a person’s life. To sit vigil is to sit and keep compassionate awareness and a
Noble Grief
Grief arises when we encounter suffering. But grief does not need to incapacitate us or block our ability to love or care. Here we share reflections on how to skillfully work with grief.
Conversation with Phakchok Rinpoche on Grief and Guilt
Our Noble Living, Noble Caring, Noble Dying continued their conversation with Phakchok Rinpoche in New York. In this section, our team members discuss grief and guilt. How we can best help those
Grief: A Contemplative View
Alan Pope, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology at the University of West Georgia, USA. He received his Ph.D. in clinical existential-phenomenological psychology at Duquesne University in 2000. This education coincided with the
Guided Meditations
In this resource section, we share a selection of audio meditations. Some of these can be practiced by both the caregiver and the care recipient, as well as with their friends and family. Others are particularly helpful for the caregiver as regular practices to develop compassion and equanimity in the face of suffering. We encourage you to browse the library and to download the audios for your convenience.
Guest Blog
Our contributors share their stories of navigating the caring and dying process with dignity and grace. Their very personal stories can touch us, and, we hope, inspire us on our journey. If you would have a story to share or would like to contribute, please contact us!
The Excellence of Bodhicitta
Today being Guru Rinpoche Day, I want to remind you all to practice “bodhicitta”.
Phakchok Rinpoche
The Confession of Negative Actions
Like the previous month, I would like to draw your attention once again to the timeless verses of Śāntideva who is of great inspiration to me and hopefully to you in following the compassionate path of the bodhisattvas.
Phakchok Rinpoche
Taking Hold of Bodhicitta
Like in my previous messages, I would like to once again take you away for a moment from your samsaric activities and share with you some of Śāntideva’s words of wisdom.
Phakchok Rinpoche
Continue the Conversation
We hope that you have found the materials presented in our program helpful. As we all face the reality of sickness and death, we can learn from each other along the way. We encourage you to join our Noble Living, Noble Caring, Noble Dying forum. Feel free to post your questions or your personal tips. We look forward to sharing together in this beautiful journey!
The Six Pāramitās: Part Two
In this teaching kindly provided by Samye’s Indonesian Sangha, Khenpo Gyaltsen begins a series of teachings dedicated to the six pāramitās.
The Six Pāramitās: Part Two
In this teaching kindly provided by Samye’s Indonesian Sangha, Khenpo Gyaltsen begins a series of teachings dedicated to the six pāramitās.
Supplementary Resources
Our translation team at Lhasey Lotsawa offers translations of prayers and practices relevant to the dying process.