Dying with friends

Imagine these scenarios: 

• A member of our sangha receives a diagnosis of terminal cancer and asks for support
• A member of our Shambhala sangha dies suddenly as a result of a car accident
• A local Buddhist enters hospice and request spiritual assistance during the dying process

Are we, as a sangha prepared to help?

In Preparing to Die, Andrew Holecek explains:

Entrusted Dharma Friends are spiritual friends who agree to help each other die, according to the directives left in their dharma wills.  These spiritual friends create a pact with each other.  They share their dharma will and their vision for how they want to die. Then they implement these wishes.

You are invited to join this dharmic support group to help each other prepare for death.

We will get to know each other so that we will feel a dharmic connection and form commitments to each other as appropriate.

The focus of this group will be based on Buddhist teachings and practices, specifically the Shambhala teachings as well as Tibetan Buddhist teachings and practices.  However, Buddhists from any lineage are welcome to participate.

At our initial meeting, we will discuss what is meant by a dharma will and a dharma box, and entrusted dharma friends.  Participants agreed to begin working on their own personal arrangements by organizing legal and social documents, as well as starting to plan their own vigils and/or funeral rites.  We will share ideas, chants, texts, etc.  in future gatherings and online.

We have a shared Google drive link here.  This folder could include instructions for your final care wishes, the location of your dharma box, and any information you want to share with your dharma friends.

Anyone is welcome to join this group at anytime.

Please register if you are new to the group and we will send you a link to the next meeting.

For more information, email Kristine McCutcheon

Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Unsplash