The Art of Dying

This anthology of stories, discourses, and poems about death, and preparing for death through Vipassana meditation, is dedicated to Mr. S.N. Goenka. He willingly embraced his teacher Sayagyi U Ba Khin’s mission to introduce Vipassana meditation throughout the world, and with open hands joyfully shared the teaching of the Buddha.
This book is also dedicated to those who faced their own deaths or the deaths of loved ones, and whose stories inspire us to take up and diligently practice the Buddha’s teaching.

For many years my husband and I were editors of the Vipassana Newsletter. This afforded us a unique opportunity to hear and see many inspiring stories about meditators who had died bravely and peacefully, filled with the wisdom of their meditation practice. We have read accounts of the deaths of parents, partners, children and friends. Often, as they witnessed their beloved die with contentment and equanimity, those present were filled with an unexpected happiness on an occasion of irreplaceable loss.
The Buddha said, “Two things only do I teach: misery and the way out of misery.” This collection of writings—Goenkaji’s explanations of the teaching of the Buddha, the Buddha’s scriptural verses, poetical stories of monks and nuns from the time of the Buddha, accounts from fellow meditators—is born of the acceptance of the truth of suffering. It contains inspiring examples of people gaining strength and a taste of freedom through their practice, and demonstrates convincingly the efficacy of the Path, the way out of misery.
I have gathered these stories not only to help sustain and strengthen established Vipassana meditators in their quest, but also to encourage others searching for peace and understanding to take up the practice of getting to “know thyself” truly, on an experiential level—to develop their own wisdom.
May you experience the fruits of the Path taught by the Buddha: freedom from the suffering and sorrow that we face throughout our lives.
—Virginia Hamilton
January 2014