Emily Horning from Sweden writes: “In the beginning of 2006, I received the feared diagnosis that I would be loosing what was left of my sight within a very short period of time. Other traumas were pressing down, and I succumbed to depression. Lying on the hardwood floor, surrounded by the thick Scandinavian darkness, especially abundant in Sweden that time of year, I pleaded the question “Haven’t I suffered enough? Please help me!” I didn’t know who, where, or if this request would fall on receptive ears.

Shortly thereafter, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying dropped into my lap. This book is for those who truly wish to wake up. It is hard to refer to it as a book, as it seems more like a mirror reflecting truths we just need to uncover. When I first started to read the text, it felt as if a voice was resonating deep within. These were not facts or information, but a revealing of innate qualities that were hidden. With many a page turn, tears ran, and often it felt like my inner core kept saying “Of course!”. The prose was direct, humorous, and simply poetic. The compilation of stories, poems, and anecdotes crossed cultures and eras, serving to validate these realizations and opening the thought that others had gone before.

I felt clarity, immense gratitude, and a longing to realize the possibilities presented in the book. My heart was singing and devotion welled up in me. Devotion to all the Compassionate teachers, who generously transmitted down to Sogyal Rinpoche, this wisdom so that this humble being might encounter such a precious jewel. It quickly became a dream to one day meet the author, whom I revere as a sacred teacher. This dream came true in Berlin, 2012.”

Sogyal Rinpoche teaching in Berlin, May 2012

What is your story about The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying? To share it, follow this link: Share your story.