There were many established and influential speakers in the recent ,
World Buddhist Conference 2012.
One of them was Venerable Thubten Chokyi, who is a Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition and a resident teacher at Vajrayana Institute. She is also the Executive Director & Education of Liberation Prison Project which offers spiritual advice and teachings, as well as books and materials to people in prison interested in exploring, studying, and practicing Buddhist.
In the conference, she talked about that there's no need to be fear of dying because it is an inevitably part of life. As a Buddhist, we must always contemplate that death is certain, the time of death is uncertain and that the only thing that can help at the time of death is the Dharma Whatever time left before the death should be put to good use ie to live with compassion, work with compassion, die with compassion and enjoy with compassion. When problem comes, experience them with compassion (a quote from Lama Zopa Rinpoche). She used as a case study of a student from the Liberation Prison Project by the name of John (which is not his real name). He was sentenced to die and a year before he died, he took refuge in the Buddha
World Buddhist Conference 2012.
One of them was Venerable Thubten Chokyi, who is a Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition and a resident teacher at Vajrayana Institute. She is also the Executive Director & Education of Liberation Prison Project which offers spiritual advice and teachings, as well as books and materials to people in prison interested in exploring, studying, and practicing Buddhist.
In the conference, she talked about that there's no need to be fear of dying because it is an inevitably part of life. As a Buddhist, we must always contemplate that death is certain, the time of death is uncertain and that the only thing that can help at the time of death is the Dharma Whatever time left before the death should be put to good use ie to live with compassion, work with compassion, die with compassion and enjoy with compassion. When problem comes, experience them with compassion (a quote from Lama Zopa Rinpoche). She used as a case study of a student from the Liberation Prison Project by the name of John (which is not his real name). He was sentenced to die and a year before he died, he took refuge in the Buddha
Through his meditation practice, he developed a capacity for self awareness, mindfulness, introspection and self regulation and was not afraid to name and face his afflictions. In preparing for death John fully embraced the concept of being benefit to others. His life was meaningful because he touched many hearts around the globe. John certainly demonstrated how to cultivate a good heart, how to live and die with a good heart.
Venerable's story reminds me of a young man from Sabah, Malaysia who is sentenced to hand in Singapore for drug trafficking. He did some wrong acts which harmed others but at the end, he repented. This can be seen from the letters which were published in the online media here in Malaysia. He is Yong Vui Keong and he's from Sabah, Malaysia.
This is his story - Save Vui Kong
This is his story - Save Vui Kong
He wrote several letters to his sister which I reproduced here. The reason I am doing this because the letters touched my heart and I wish to share them with you.
Letters From Death Rows - Yong Vui Keong
If there is the good heart, an attitude of compassion and loving kindness, then our actions become helpful and beneficial - Lama Zopa Rinpoche