How to Live and Die

The Transformative Power of Meditating on Impermanence

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Gordon McDougall

• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN:
  9798890700117
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Buddhism

In this authoritative account of one of the most important practices in Tibetan Buddhism, Lama Zopa shows us how facing the reality of death and impermanence can transform and enrich our life.

What death is, how we die, what minds we need at death and what happens after death—only by knowing about death and rebirth can we actually fully understand what life is and so learn how to live fully.
—Lama Zopa Rinpoche

There is arguably no truth more foundational to Buddhism than this: everything is impermanent. We can see this in the world all around us; old systems break down, relationships change. Death comes for those we love and, inevitably, for us.

In this book, the late, beloved teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche walks us through the traditional, revelatory practices of meditating on the fact of impermanence and even—especially—on death itself. Rather than shy away from this reality, we look straight at it, and thus we learn not only how to not fear death, but how to live.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Contents
• Editor’s Preface
• 1. Remembering Death
• 2. The Shortcomings of Not Remembering Death
• 3. The Advantages of Remembering Death
• 4. Overcoming the Fear of Death
• 5. The First Root Truth: Death Is Certain
• 6. The Second Root Truth: The Time of Death Is Uncertain
• 7. The Third Root Truth: Nothing Can Help at the Time of Death Except Dharma Practice
• 8. Death and Rebirth
• 9. Preparing for Death
• 10. Impermanence
• Appendices
• Glossary
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index
• About the Author
• Copyright