Facing Death and Dying Well

The Dalai Lama offers observations on the proper way to prepare oneself for the inevitable end of life in this program from the Meridian Trust, which is assembling a major video archive on Buddhist spirituality and culture. His message is based on traditional Buddhist teaching about coming to terms with suffering and reflecting on the impermanence of existence in order to cultivate an understanding of death that will enable one to embrace it as the pathway to a new birth. The Dalai Lama delivers his remarks to an audience in English while seated on a stage, accompanied only by a younger monk who translates for him when he slips into Tibetan. Four major sections cover: confronting the situation calmly, the Buddhist perspective, the importance of proper preparation, and the necessity of a peaceful mind. The talk is followed by a wide-ranging Q&A with the audience. Technically, this is a no-frills affair—the camera remains stationary throughout, and the sound is occasionally muffled (subtitles would have been helpful)—but the calm instruction and genial personality of the Dalai Lama, coupled with interest in the subject, makes this likely to appeal to many. DVD extras include background information on Meridian. Other titles in the series include Interdependence, Interconnectedness and the Nature of Reality; Contentment, Joy and Living and The Power of Compassion. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)