I started reading this after Mom died trying to find a way to help cope with the grief. I read it slowly at first because it does talk a lot about death. But it goes beyond that and talks about impermanence, no self, and nirvana, basic Buddhist concepts. My favorite analogies were about the wave and the water, the candle, and the clouds. ( )

very helpful and comforting to me ( )

I love and admire Thay, and the essential teaching in this book is a powerful one. In fact, it's a life changer if one can apply the philosophy into regular practice. However, it's a point that is made repeatedly, chapter after chapter, often using the same two or three recurrent metaphors. At 208 pages, I felt the message could've been conveyed in a book half the length...or perhaps the book could have been designed to be read in short, devotional-length chapters. Just the musings of someone who read the book quickly over 2-3 days and felt I was treading over the same content.

Of course, there's the old story about the preacher who gave the same sermon four Sundays in a row, and when questioned by a concerned parishioner, he replied, "Glad you noticed. Once everyone starts putting the sermon into practice, I'll stop giving it." Perhaps that's what Thay is gently offering up here. After all, it's a lesson that can change how we approach the biggest challenge we will ever face: accepting the inevitability of our - and our loved ones' - impermanence. ( )

Undoubtedly Thay’s book has a universe of wisdom for those approaching or experiencing an end, but, to someone picking up the book not living in so poignant a context, it’s halting style of writing and it’s broad-minded comforts can be tough going. ( )

a must read ( )