Tag Archives: Tibetan Buddhism

Kintsugi: Finding Beauty in Brokenness

Japanese ceramic art tradition highlights history and celebrates imperfection

The 15th century Japanese art of “Kintsugi” (golden joinery) or “Kintsukuroi” (golden repair) involves the mending of shattered ceramics with “urushi” lacquer and powdered metal — most commonly gold. The central philosophy of Kintsugi is that an object is made … Continue reading

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The Ancient Practice of Sky Burial

How the nomads of Mongolia return their loved ones to the universe

For thousands of years, the nomads of Mongolia have roamed the steppes of Central Asia, carrying their belongings and setting up their tents, called “gers,” on the harsh, inhospitable land. One of the last remaining nomadic cultures on Earth, these … Continue reading

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Phowa: A Tibetan Buddhist’s Conscious Dying Meditation

A look at how this meditation clears the mind and opens the heart to remove fear from the great transition of death

Phowa (sometimes written as Poa or Powa) is a meditation technique of the Drikung Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism, and is practiced widely in all lineages. The Drikung Kagyu includes the complete practices and teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, as well … Continue reading

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What is a Soul Midwife? An Interview with Felicity Warner: Part Two

In a two-part interview, Felicity Warner of Soul Midwives explains what it means to help someone explore and experience — even enjoy — their dying process

This is the second half of SevenPonds’ interview with Felicity Warner (read part one here). Felicity is the mind behind Soul Midwives, a service that has helped pioneer the movement towards holistic and spiritual palliative care. As the founder of … Continue reading

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Unlocking the Tibetan Practice of Phowa

The Tibetan Buddhist practice of phowa grants the power to find enlightenment in preparing for death

In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the practice of phowa (pronounced po-wa) is a sacred form of meditation designed to prepare your consciousness to transcend your body after death. Like mantram singing, phowa is a lifelong endeavor that can be picked up … Continue reading

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”the Tibetan Book of the Dead” edited by John Baldock

Editor W.Y. Evans-Wentz's famous translation offers a Buddhist perspective of the end-of-life experience, or the Art of Dying

“The Art of Dying is quite as important as the Art of Living,” writes editor W.Y. Evans-Wentz in his preface to The Tibetan Book of the Dead. An ancient Buddhist text, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, or the Bardo … Continue reading

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