Ideally, we need to have some understanding of the stages of dying and after death – that is, the whole process of dying, from the moment death begins to what happens after death. Based on scriptures of Tibetan Buddhism, there are numerous stages involved in living and dying. Additionally, there are teachings on how we should view and experience each step.

Death is a most crucial time for every one of us, a critical opportunity to affect our futures. When we die, all of us, rich or poor, await the same consequences.

At death, neither money, power, nor friends, not even our cherished body, can come to our aid. Only the habits and energies – the karma – that have been stored up in our minds will create the manifestations of our next life, our future experiences.

So, to prepare for death, our most important strategy is to gain spiritual understanding and experience while we are still alive. When death arrives, it will be too late to cry for help.

Source: Based on Thondup, Tulku. Enlightened Journey: Buddhist Practice as Daily Life. Shambhala. Kindle Edition.