Instructions for the Transitional State ~ A Concise Guide

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The Buddhist teachings tell us that death is one of the most profound opportunities of our lifetime. Authorized by Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche, 'Instructions for the Transitional State' is a concise “end-of-life” manual of instructions that offers advice and guidelines in a practical, accessible manner to help prepare for transition and to assist throughout the dying process in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The information presented is intended for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, and includes a glossary of terms, traditional Vajrayana Buddhist methods and observances, as well as advice about secular documentation, such as Advance Directives and POLSTS, plus more…

• Assisting before & after death

• Advice about secular preparation

• Observing beneficial behaviors

• Suggested Buddhist practices

• Communicating with loved ones

• Preparing the body

• Vajrayana cremation

• Advice from Buddhist masters

 

This short manual was published in 2007 by Vimala, Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche's spiritual archive. Ms. Rogers teaches day-long workshops referred to as 'Transitional State Forums' that focus on the material in this manual and other aspects of preparing for the transitional state, including bereavement.

 

About Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche

Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche [1925-2023], who authorized this text, was born near the Tibetan border with China and was recognized at the age of seven by two great meditation masters to be a tulku, or consciously incarnating master, of Dhomang Monastery in Tibet. In his early life, he spent many years in retreat with his root guru, Tulku Natsok, a great terton, or treasure revealer. In 1959 during the Communist Chinese invasion Gyatrul Rinpoche fled Tibet for India and during his initial years of exile there he served as an elected representative of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Requested by H.H. the Dalai Lama and H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche to immigrate west in order to spread the dharma, Gyatrul Rinpoche came to America in 1972 and in 1980 established Tashi Choling, his Ashland, Oregon center. Gyatrul Rinpoche was instrumental in founding Buddhist centers in several U.S. locations, and abroad, including Orgyen Dorje Den Temple in Alameda, CA, Dorje Ling in Portland, OR, and Yeshe Nyingpo Mexico in Ensenada, Mexico. As appointed by H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, Gyatrul Rinpoche was the spiritual director and representative of all Yeshe Nyingpo centers on the west coast of the U.S. and frequently invited Buddhist masters from Tibet, Sikkim, Bhutan, and India to teach. He was known for his keen understanding of western students, his profound teachings, and his humor, humility, and compassion.

 

About the Author

A student of Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche since 1983, Julie Rogers has been active for over forty years at Tashi Choling and Orgyen Dorje Den. She worked with developmentally disabled adults, the aged, and with hospice patients for twenty years as a caregiver in facilities and private homes. She completed training in Patient and Bereavement Care at Ashland Community Hospital Hospice and in Children’s Bereavement at WinterSpring Center in Medford, Oregon. At Gyatrul Rinpoche’s request, in 2014 Ms. Rogers founded and became the director of TLC Transitional Life Care, a Vajrayana Buddhist end-of-life education and support program. She is also an author of prose and poetry.

 

Endorsement for Instructions for the Transitional State

“As western practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism, we are blessed with a plethora of very profound teachings and advice on how to die and how to deal with the dying and dead. However, when someone we know is dying, we are often not sure how to apply these teachings; in short, we don’t know what to do. But that problem is now solved. Julie Rogers, a diligent, long-time student of Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche, has compiled very clear, precise and detailed instructions on exactly what to do for the dying and deceased here in America. This guidance is extremely helpful and exactly what we need. There are very few books on Tibetan Buddhism that I would unequivocally say are “must-haves”; this is one.”  Bruce Newman, author of A Beginner’s Guide to Tibetan Buddhism

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All proceeds from this publication are offered to support the Amitabha Shrine at Tashi Choling and to further fund ‘Vimala’, Gyatrul Rinpoche’s archive, for the preservation of sacred texts and teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism for future generations.