Enhances understanding of the dying process from a healing perspective

books:


	• The Grace in Dying : How We Are Transformed Spiritually as We Die Kathleen D. Singh HarperOne, 2000 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 21 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Enhances understanding of the dying process from a healing perspective

Kathleen Dowling Singh presents excellent descriptions of many healings that are possible in the process of dying. While her transpersonal orientation is apparently inspired by Sufi (mystic Muslim) traditions, her writing is relevant universally. As she notes, "I am an ordinary person working with ordinary people dying ordinary deaths." ( p. 3).

Singh specifies that this book is for people who have a space of time towards the end of their life - or are close to someone in this situation - and can contemplate what lies ahead. It is not for people who are already in the process of transition. At this stage, one's business is simply to get on with what is happening, not to distance oneself from it through analyzing it.

I found Singh's discussion on qualities of the Nearing Death Experience to be helpful handles on aspects of the deathing process. These include the qualities of relaxation, withdrawal, radiance, interiority, silence, the sacred, transcendence, knowing, intensity, merging, and experienced perfection.

Taking a more structured perspective, Singh considers stages of releasing of controls over psychophysical functions (Karnofsky scale - Appendix II) and relates them to stages in the process of dying which she finds conceptually helpful, including chaos, surrender and transcendence.

Singh's discussion brings an atmosphere of peace, acceptance and healing to what is often in our society a time fraught with anxieties, fears and distress. An example of this attitude is evident in the following observation:

"The AIDS community has called its disease `Accelerated Individual Discovery of Self' and has referred to the pandemic as `enlightenment at gunpoint.' This phrase applies equally to any one of us who is dying." (p. 15)

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is involved in the dying process or just interested in understanding it in greater depth, from a healing perspective.

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One of the most complete books for the dying

I have read many books on the dying as I work with hospices and have to say, this is one of the best books I have read yet. It not only gives the experience of the person dying, but also with those surrounding and accompanying the person on this "journey".
Very complete and well written book.

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Passing to the other side

I came across a copy of this book a few months after my mother's passing. Although I was familiar with various perspectives on the spiritual and transpersonal aspects of dying this book was my guide to understanding some of the subtleties of her physical and mental withdrawal. It provided me with some "aha!" insights.

This insightful book about the "psycho-spiritual" aspects of dying, draws upon the perspectives of several spiritual traditions, largely eastern. I found it to be a wonderful blend of Sogyal Rinpoche and Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.

The topic does not make for easy, light, quick reading, but it is not difficult to understand if one keeps an open mind, regardless of one's faith. The material can be as fluid, thought-provoking, or as complex as a reader perceives it to be.

It ought to be required reading for any medical student and professional, as a mind-opener, much as a world-religions glass educates people about different faiths; no conversion necessary. Many thanks to Ms. Singh for her valuable work!

E.A. Davis, author, Waiting for Wings: Accompanying a Parent to the Edge of Life

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Excellent resource for spiritual growth

With profound wisdom and insight, Kathleen Dowling Singh offers a uniquely clear view of the arc of life, encouraging readers to open into the gifts of awareness made available through facing death. This book will open your eyes to truths about where we came from and where we're going, and help clarify the beauty of this journey of human existence. Her writing style is clear and incisive, as well as compassionate and poetic. I recommend this book to everyone who desires greater self-awareness and who enjoys expanding their consciousness.

Jargon update for Platonists

Assuming the Platonic narrative is an important aid to those who are dying over an extended gentle period Singh incorporates much of the vocabulary -- from pop-psychology and philosophy -- to build a coherent picture that must certainly soothe us as we die. Here, at the point where Aristotle would challenge us to recognize our soul ends with the body and accept that our soul was past tense -- a narrative sure to depress those who enjoyed life and wish for eternity -- reiterating the Platonic narrative using current idioms is a great service to our dying process. The reassurance that this interpretation of the narrative is persuasive depends on accepting Singh's expereinces which we cannot duplicate. Indeed, those who have had such experience, being present at many deaths, have told me they did not share such experience. But it is a safe argument since we cannot test it. It is beleivable to those who wish to beleive it and that may be enough.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

A moving illumination of the final transition of our lives.

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