Death and loss are universal experiences, which we all face at some time in some form. Death/loss is experienced according to one’s orientation, i.e. culture, religion, experience, and nervous system. For some, death is a wall, an ending; for some, it is a door, a beginning. For some, it is a tragedy, a loss for which they may never recover. For others, death/loss is a transformation, an opportunity to make a change in their life for the better. How we experience death/loss is our choice. But, it can take training.
Training, you may ask?
Yes, and it makes total sense.
There are two portals in our adventure of life and death, one we enter
through at the time of birth, and one we leave through at the time of
death. It is very common to go to
birthing classes. The pregnant mother
learns about the development of the fetus in the womb. She learns about what to expect during the
birthing process. It is advised that she
have a birthing coach, like her mother, husband or friend to guide her through
the experience. Mother and coach even
practice birthing. Such a training is widely accepted and encouraged by all
facets of our society. It is a happy
time, a time of much anticipation and expectancy. We welcome it.
Why then, do we not encourage a death training, the time we exit life as we know it? There are a lot of movies, songs, theories and religious beliefs about death, but few encourage a training and the practice of dying. Traditionally and historically, Buddhists do have some practices, as well as Native Americans. Although, I don’t know how widely they are practiced today. Conversely with birth, death is a dreaded and sad time to be avoided, not welcomed.
Dying Into Life is a yogic training about death. We all need to prepare for death. Death is not a dreaded time, because we are going home to God, the Infinite.
When we do yoga, breathing and meditation, we experience the bliss of our soul, of uniting with the Infinite, the exact same experience we can have in death. Doing our daily yogic practice we are also balancing the chakras, the tatvas (elements) and the 10 bodies, all which keep us healthy and in harmony. At the time of death, they will each play a major role in the process and quality of our death. For example, at the time of death, the soul is more likely to be liberated if it leaves through the top chakra (the Tenth Gate). We need to practice how to direct the energy up the chakras, so it will be second nature at the time of death. The Tatvas will leave one at a time, earth being first, then water, and so forth. As the tatvas are leaving, we experience various sensations, which if not practiced in life may be very disorientating and scary at the time of death. The Eighth Body, the Pranic Body (energy utilized through our breath) signifies death of the physical body. When the breath is gone, life is gone. We can practice how to use our breath to maximize our energy in life and how to direct our energy in death. With practice, we can die with ease, grace and fearlessly. All of these things are practiced in the Dying Into Life training.
The training also includes Eastern philosophy about Karma vs. Dharma, reincarnation, angels, suicide, liberation while alive, spiritual perspective on grief, death of a child, leaving a legacy, and the journey of a soul. Besides training oneself for death, the training also includes how to help coach someone else in their death process, whether you are physically present or not. Yogi Bhajan gave specific meditations and visualizations to prepare for death, some of which will be practiced in the training.
Meditation on Death – (Yogi Bhajan gave this meditation November 2, 1986 in Los Angeles, CA)
The night before, set your alarm for 15-20 minutes earlier than your normal wake up time. When your alarm goes off, follow these ten steps. You may need to set your alarm again to make sure you get up after the meditation.
- Don’t get up. Say “Wahe Guru” out loud before you do anything else.
- Lie in Corpse Pose (flat on your back with the arms next to your sides and the palms up). Consciously die.
- Relate to your soul.
- Decorate your subtle body with the mantra “Wahe Guru” as you would decorate the Palki Sahib with flowers.
- Make a Palki of your body – feel that you are walking around it and chant Wahe Guru.
- Carry the palki of your won body yourself to the Infinity of God.
- Settle there, purify yourself and enjoy the ecstasy.
- Then with the speed of one utterance of the word, ”Wahe Guru!” come back into your body.
- Next, come into Dhandwaat Pranaam (Mathe Tek): Lie flat on your stomach with your heels together and your arms outstretched in front of you, palms together. Consciously thank God. This will give you mastery over space.
- Start your day.
Practice this for at least forty days. You can also extend it up to three to six months, so may never forget it at the time of death.
This valuable training is being offered in Espanola, New Mexico about every six months.
THE NEXT TRAINING IS:
FRIDAY EVENING APRIL 20
SATURDAY APRIL 21 – ALL DAY
AND SUNDAY APRIL 22 – ALL DAY
INSTRUCTOR: JIVAN-JOTI K KHALSA, PHD – author of “Dying Into Life: The Yoga of Death, Loss and Transformation,” and “The Art of Making Sex Sacred.” The book “Dying Into Life” is included in cost of the course. Dr. Khalsa is a NM Licensed Counselor, Lead Trainer for Level I and II Kundalini Yoga Teachers, and a Level III Candidate for Sat Nam Rasayan Practitioner and Healer. She brings joy, fun, experience, hope, and grace to her courses.
TO REGISTER: GO TO WWW.AQUARIANWORKSHOPS.COM
FOR MORE INFORMATION: [email protected] (505) 020-5755 or [email protected] Discounts are available.