Who dies? The answer to this question goes straight to the heart of dzogchen, a 1200-year old school of Tibetan Buddhism that sees impermanence as the very essence of existence. Sogyal Rinpoche grew up in the last generation of Tibetans free to learn Buddhism as it was traditionally taught in Tibet. Schooled by his country's most reverend masters, and later educated at Cambridge, Sogyal Rinpoche is uniquely prepared to bring this ancient tradition to the Western World today.

On Tibetan Wisdom for the Living and Dying, Rinpoche presents a grand and transforming vision of life and death, introducing you to Tibetan practices that help anyone live fully, while preparing for the extraordinary adventure that death offers each of us. What we call "life" and "death," Rinpoche teaches, are merely shades of the same unbroken wholeness. By daring to see clearly the truth of our lives, and by exploring the part of us that is changeless and eternal, we can face the last moment of life without fear. Masterfully taught, Tibetan Wisdom for Living and Dying is both a guide to this "inner technology," and a sacred document for listeners of all faiths and traditions.

Tibetan Wisdom for Living and Dying, Sogyal Rinpoche, Sounds True, 9 hours/8 CDs, $69.95

Born in Kham in Eastern Tibet, Sogyal Rinpoche was recognized as the incarnation of Lerab Lingpa Terton Sogyal, a teacher to the thirteenth Dalai Lama, by Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, one of the most outstanding masters of the twentieth century. Jamyang Khyentse supervised Rinpoche's training and raised him like his own son. n 1971, Rinpoche went to England where he studied Comparative Religion at Cambridge University. He went on to study with many other masters, of all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, especially Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche and Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, serving as their translator and aide. With his remarkable gift for presenting the essence of Tibetan Buddhism in a way that is both authentic and profoundly relevant to the modern mind, Sogyal Rinpoche is one of the most renowned teachers of our time. Rinpoche has been teaching for over 25 years and continues to travel widely in Europe, America, Australia, and Asia, where he addresses thousands of people on his teaching tours and is a frequent speaker at major conferences. In 1993, Rinpoche founded the Spiritual Care Program which, under his guidance, aims to bring the wisdom and compassion of these teachings to professional and trained volunteer caregivers who work in end of life care.