Grant

Firstly, I hope to have all my affairs in order so that I have no earth-business-type things to think about and all of my possessions are now former possessions, having found their way to happy homes.

In thinking about this question I remembered a talk given by Robert Thurman at the Art of Dying Conference in NYC back in the mid ’90s. Thurman was doing a lot of work for the Dalai Lama at that time and was talking about the Bardo Thodol, Tibetan Book of the Dead, and its relevance to todays culture. He had just written a book about it as a valid guidebook to use when entering the Bardo spaces at the time of death. I remember very distinctly how the room became bright as he spoke and the chandeliers of the big Hilton Hotel Ballroom shimmered and glistened.

In describing the Bardo he said something that took me by surprise. In effect he said that when in the Bardo, if one encounters a place that seems very noisy and bright– like a loud party where people are carrying on, making noise, one should go there. He said that especially as compared to the quiet dark spaces, these loud rowdy places are much preferable. This was a shock to me, and I think it applies to this question. So, as one possibility for my end of life setting, I hope to be surrounded by lively conversation and laughter around my death bed. I hope to add to it by filling the room with light and love for all.