Science Museum of Minnesota Public Forums
Body Worlds: Beneath the Surface
Religious Views of the Human Body and Soul In and After Death
Tuesday, 16 May 2006, 7 to 9 PM
Lama Pamela Holtum

BUDDHISM FOR BODY WORLDS

Tibetan Buddhism is Non-Theistic

Buddhism is not about God.
It is about Sem, a Tibetan word that has no adequate counterpart in English and is usually replaced in the West by the word Consciousness.

Tibetan Buddhism -
  • Meditation practices that rapidly shift consciousness to higher and higher spiritual planes
  • Intending to relieve suffering for all sentient beings
  • Living life relieving suffering for all sentient beings

    • Compassion, Non-Ordinary Wisdom, Non-Violence

    The Psycho-Physical Attributes of a Human Being

  • Form - physical body and senses
  • Feeling
  • Discrimination
  • Motivational Tendencies
  • Consciousness


    • Buddhism and Soul

    Soul - Buddhist philosophy does not accept the existence of an independent, autonomous entity such as a soul existing independently from the body and mind of the person.

    Dependent Origination - Nothing exists in its own right, independent of other factors. Things and events come into being only on the aggragation of multiple causes and conditions. This lies at the very heart of Buddhist philosophy.

    The Importance of Dying Well

    Mindfulness of death is crucial. Contemplate that you will not remain long in this precious human life, then reincarnation. Appreciate this opportunit to perform many important spiritual practices.

    Daily meditation practice. Group meditation practice. Time in retreat.

    Daily meditation practice example from the Karma Kagyu Lineage -
    Four Ordinary Foundation Practices
    1. The human body so difficult to obtain.
    2. Impermanence
    3. Karmic cause and effect
    4. The defects of samsara

    What Happens As One Dies

    Signs of extremely near death - gradual withdrawal of consciousness.

  • Sense facculties of eyes, ears, nose, tongue and body dissolve sequentially.
  • Five elements dissolve.
  • Patterns of conceptual thought cease.
  • Sense faculties, memory and perceptions cease.


    • What Happens When One Is Dead

    The moment of death is not when outer breath ceases.

    Four final phases of death - Subtle movement inside the body.

    The real moment of death.

    (And then)

    How To Treat Dying People Before & After Their Last Breath

    Peaceful room without crying, wailing, distressful sounds.

    People in the room should be near the head of the bed.

    Touch only the head of the person.

    Powa when the outer breath ceases.

    For those who meditate - Leave the body unmoved for 3 days or more. Stay with the body.

    Death and Spirit in Tibatan Buddhism

    The person goes on but the spirit remains with the body (bones or ashes.)

    Spirit is not you, but it remains with the body. Like a shadow isn't part of your body but is inseparable, spirit is like a shadow of mind.

    Organ Transplants & BODY WORLDS

    As long as you are totally dead when organs are harvested, or for other educational use of the body, it's good because it's an act of generosity.

    When there's a declaration of brain death but the heart is still beating, if it's 100% certain that the person can not be revived then it would be better to benefit someone who could use the organs - if it is 100% certain. The ripening of the karma of this lifetime must not be cut short.

    BODY WORLDS is excellent for Buddhism. It is a wonderful antidote to attachment, which is one of the three poisons of Buddhism.