Can dying be a peak experience?

I agree with much of all this, though as a Christian I surely don't see any "lottery" aspect to life's end. Living is about kindness and compassion, dying is part of the process. A long-time volunteer with Compassion & Choices and a writer for True/Slant.com, I just yesterday posted an article on palliative care; if anyone's interested I welcome visits to trueslant.com/franjohns.

Hello DanielITLD,

I did not read Chopra suggesting that we not recognize death as a natural aspect of life, but rather not as an end to it. I personally like the thought, as I am of the belief that consciousness and awareness are more truthful representations of life than an animated body.

So the main point that I heard him make is that we should spend our time raising conscious awareness in life, and that work will benefit life while incarnate as well as disencarnate.

"I suppose then, that that must mean that I am not a Bhuddist."

You may still be a Bhuddist, but you would be better off being a Buddhist. More community. Bhuddists are few and far between, and not anchored in a deep tradition. Buddhists are aplenty, and have great company.

chatard

Your comments indicate that you are under the illusion that "end of life" care is care that is administered to "old people."

But for your information, "end of life" is a term that applies to anyone of any age. Even children get cancer and may have heroic and possibly pointless "end of life" care designed to extend their deaths by a few days.

I don't really understand Deepak's point, though. We must accept what we cannot change. And we must accept death.

Once it is accepted, then it is best to forget about it, and get busy living.

I suppose then, that that must mean that I am not a Bhuddist.

Hello ekim53,

I believe that this "death panel" hype is all caca conjured up from lie and straight into conjecture by your buddies at GOP fringe, Swift boat liars or such related swindlers.

Let me be clear though. If "death panels" had any truth to them, I assure you I would far prefer them over the "death squads" that Bush Jr. and Darth Cheney preferred.

And at least "death panels" are up for vote. The last failed, embarrassment of an Administration put as little as possible up for debate and vote. Preferred covert action. Anti-democratic in spirit as well as in fact.

Democratic not even in name. No Choice.

Can dying be a peak experience?

Hey Chopra, sounds like you're hustling to be in charge of Obama's death panels with the Obama/Pelosi/Reid/Democrats Big Government Crap Care of No Choice...

The point of the article is to get the old folks to accept death panels. Period. You're all gonna die, folks, and it's just another experience, so don't fight it, and get on board the O-train.

Deepak,

Many have been those who have told you that you know little of Christianity, less of Judaism.

"In the Judeo-Christian tradition death has become a kind of risky lottery where the soul discovers, to its delight or horror, that it's headed for heaven or hell."

First, there is no "Judeo-Christian," in any meaningful sense, since the Christians know next to nothing about Judaism, more than you, of course, but very, very little.

Second, Judaism does not acknowledge the existence of "hell." Third, heaven is a late concept that never comes into play except at funerals.

Perhaps, Eboo, you would do better do devote yourself full time to initiating philanthropies from the money you bilk from gullible Americans.

The Dalit need your help.

Hello K215,

"We believe that your actions in this life have consequences in eternity. One's eternal fate or destination is not received by chance or the lottery. It is a result of how you live your life and therefore not random. Just because you believe in an afterlife that is earned by your actions does not mean you have to wonder about the outcome."

So, what, you DO KNOW what comes after death?

I disagree. It is clear that Christian thinking in general has the Belief, based on Faith in the Bible, that they know what will transpire after death. But in practice it is not a known. It is a faith held thing, holding back the Unknown by the hands of the Personal Identity.

What I believe is that this Christian tenet, that one is saved by personal alignment with Jesus as Saviour, is one of the most destructive of all beliefs. It not only affords but supports spiritual laziness and lethargy. One is encouraged to "do good", but it is not required. Act Light, Dark or Grey, the Christian believes that s/he gets through the Pearly Gates, (how does one know they are pearly? the Bible tells me so, no doubt), and into Eternal Heavenly Bliss. Done deal.

Why trouble with the work of BECOMING just as I am so you also must be...

Mr. Chopra's suggestion is a common Eastern traditions approach. Work to increase and better your state of consciousness. Doing so has innumerable benefits to the human. One is a decrease in the natural fear of the Unknown.

Hello Cross2Bear,

Q: Does end-of-life care prolong life or does it prolong suffering? Should it be a part of health-care reform?

" Deepak Chopra probably did a good job of selling his next book and assuring some additional network face-time, but he didn't come close to answering either of the questions that were asked."

I actually do see him answering those questions, and doing so as he would. Each of these panelists have their own unique perspectives. I enjoy Mr. Chopra's all the more as he represents a more diverse perspective than many of the WaPo panelists. The majority of those are of some form of Christian background, a huge majority represent the Abrahamic traditions, and a great percentage are of 'Western' schooling and upbringing.

I cannot tell you how many Christian panelists have not even touched on the point of the weekly question at all.

"-- indeed, in most cases, suffering is actually diminished by the administration of pain medication."

End of life care does not amount to the administration of pain medication. It is not so meaningless and inconsequential as that. The value of end of life care is not in administering drugs, Cross2bear, and if those drugs have not been prescribed prior to end of life and hospice care then the medical care of the patient has been neglected.

As to Chopra's tangent, I'd encourage everyone to recognize that he knows absolutely nothing more about the afterlife than anyone else, which is exactly nothing (apart from what God has told us in the Bible)."

Oh, as long as you throw in the qualifier of the Word of the Unquestionable though Unverifiable God, through Divine Revelation, His Book, the Bible. THAT clearly tells us everything we need to know. And is TRUTH to boot!

" The author of feel-goodisms has certainly figured out what many are desperate to hear,..."

As have all them there megachurch pastors and their ilk. Serve it up every Sunday, and weekdays to boot.

Plenty of booting here, and lots of booty too.

Mr. Chopra points to raising consciousness as a tool for improvement of life and of end of life processes. He states:

"The general rule here is that whatever you do to raise your consciousness -- meaning, to acquire more clarity, peace, love, compassion, centeredness, and silence -- cannot be taken from you, even in death."

How that is a threatening proposition, or contrary to essential Christian practice, is very telling.

Just a quick question for Cross2Bear - who actually wrote the book? I'm sorry to tell you, it wasn't God. It was man. The bible, therefore, has no more insight into the afterlife than Mr. Chopra.

"Can dying be a peak experience?"

I don't know. Can voyeurism be a peak experience?

As a practicing Catholic, I certainly do not agree with the statement "In the Judeo-Christian tradition death has become a kind of risky lottery where the soul discovers, to its delight or horror, that it's headed for heaven or hell." While perhaps this is true in some forms of Christianity (the unconditional election doctrine of Calvinism springs to mind), I don't feel that it is the view of death that most people of Judeo-Christian belief have, nor is it the teaching or tradition of the Catholic Church concerning physical death and never has been.

We believe that your actions in this life have consequences in eternity. One's eternal fate or destination is not received by chance or the lottery. It is a result of how you live your life and therefore not random. Just because you believe in an afterlife that is earned by your actions does not mean you have to wonder about the outcome.

Q: Does end-of-life care prolong life or does it prolong suffering? Should it be a part of health-care reform?

To begin, I'll make a couple of observations: 1. The first of the two questions is poorly worded, as the options it presents are not mutually exclusive. In other words, the answer to each can be "yes," and the answer to each can be "no." Answering "yes" to one does not necessitate answering "no" to the other, though that is certainly possible, as well. 2. Deepak Chopra probably did a good job of selling his next book and assuring some additional network face-time, but he didn't come close to answering either of the questions that were asked.

As to the questions, I believe that in most cases, end-of-life care prolongs life without prolonging suffering -- indeed, in most cases, suffering is actually diminished by the administration of pain medication. As to whether this should be addressed by healthcare reform, I think it must be. I can only hope that, in so doing, the sanctity of every human life will be of paramount concern. Not likely.

As to Chopra's tangent, I'd encourage everyone to recognize that he knows absolutely nothing more about the afterlife than anyone else, which is exactly nothing (apart from what God has told us in the Bible). The author of feel-goodisms has certainly figured out what many are desperate to hear, but where eternity is concerned, pardon me if I place my trust in the Author who actually, shall we say, wrote the Book.