The Art of Dying

Weaving together material from many sources, this collection provides a context for understanding death—whether our own or a loved one's—and experiencing it with awareness and equanimity. It features passages from the Pali texts, writings of S. N. Goenka, poems, theoretical expositions, a question-and-answer section, and compelling essays by or about meditators confronting the end of life. With humility, tenderness, and often a smile, they learn to accept their own impermanence, suffering, and nonself. Much of this material was collected from the archives of the International Vipassana Newsletter.

S. N. Goenka has trained more than 800 assistant teachers who conduct courses in Vipassana centers around the world. He is the author of The Discourse Summaries, The Gracious Flow of Dharma, and Meditation Now. Virginia Hamilton is a former editor of the International Vipassana Newsletter. She lives in Egbert, Ontario.