Third, we should work on developing a good relationship not only with a qualified spiritual teacher but also with a group of what Rinpoche calls Entrusted Dharma Friends. These are people who we have practiced with, ideally for many years, who will know what to do at the time of death. They, along with our spiritual friend, will be able to support us as we die, helping us to do our final practices as well as assure our loved ones that they need not worry about our spiritual well-being.The suggestions in the blog (and in the book it advertises for) seem very compelling to others belonging to minority religions in the United States. Like many in Tricycle’s demographic, most Hellenists in the USA and abroad are converts, and all of us have family members who really don’t want to research how to appropriately manage our funerals when they are in the middle of bereavement.
I know that I haven’t spoken about my final wishes or about the people my parents and family should contact in the event of my untimely demise. (The most I ever broached to my mother ended with a sarcastic comment from her about a coin for Kharon.) Hopefully, at this place in my life, the Fates will see fit to give me many, many years during which I can cultivate these kinds of relationships and engage in other life passage ceremonies that will solidify ritual-based relationships with other Hellenes before I need to rely on someone else to say and do all of the appropriate postmortem actions. It worries me sometimes that people won’t respect my wishes for cremation or take the time to honor my remains with periodic tokens of affection. Then again, we can only do our best to plan for when we’re not here.
Of course, we may have more to look forward to:
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