*bows* DP, I think this a common fear, with any number of interpretations as to why one feels this way. Perhaps it is not fear of dying that drives this for you. Maybe working with "fear" itself as a core emotion would be helpful. In any event, I came across a couple of books you may want to look through... "Being with Dying: Cultivating Compassion and Fearlessness in the Presence of Death", by Joan Haifax is one source. She uses Buddhist principles when working with death and dying, and the book offers exercises, stories and personal experiences to guide the reader. Another is "The fearless Heart", by Pema Chodron, which centers on the core emotion of fear. Lastly, though not buddhist or zen, per se, in the course of my own education and training in health care, I can suggest reading Elizabeth Kubler Ross' works on the stages of death, and her thoughts on the dying process.
Just a thought.. Kristy <bows> Dear Kristy, Thank you for the book recommendations. I love Pema Chodren. The first book I read, after my home was destroyed by a tornado, and I'd lost all my posessions and my home was "When Things Fall Apart" and it was very helpful!!! The tornado has slightly lowered my fear of death, as I would always ponder "what will I be thinking when I die". Now I have an answer! The tornado was over my house for about 3 minutes. I was huddled under some exercise equipment, in the basement with my terrififed dogs. One of my dogs, somehow kept walking in circles around me, which seems like it would be impossible due to the presence of the exercise equipment. I wondered how on earth she was doing it and that would have been my last thought. I suffer from anxiety and depression, which I keep in check with meditation and exercise, and yes, also pills. If I start thinking about my own death too much, I can work myself up into anxiety. These sound like great books that maybe will help. Anyway, I am always looking for great books, and I'll be heading over to Amazon to now buy what you have recommended, though, I have several books I need to read first. My next book is going to be Thich Nhat Hahn's "Happiness". Metta, Ari > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are >reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >
