QUESTION
Dear Robina Courtin,
Thank you very much for passing on your email and the offer to help in regard to how best to help my mother.
These past couple years, my mother has developed Alzheimer’s and has become extremely anxious and ever more confused.
So far I have encouraged her to hold her mala, I’ve given her a Tara booklet and practice with her reciting the mantra and holding the image of Tara in her mind. It’s a very simple mantra, and Tara has amazing qualities so I hoped this would ease her anxiety and if she has Tara’s likeness on her mind at the time of death, at least this could be beneficial.
Other than through me and the times I’m with her, she doesn’t have any contact with Buddhism.
Am I on the right track? I am very open to any advice you can give.
Kindest regards,
J
ANSWER
Dear J,
Thank you for explaining about your dear mother, J.
What you’re doing is good, but because she can’t hold much in her mind, it’s even more powerful to play Tara’s mantra, for example, so she can simply hear it. No effort is needed from her: she will strongly receive the blessings: just listening is so beneficial.
In fact, there is no better way to help her. The mantra also attracts Tara to be there, so as she gets closer to death, this can help enormously: feeling the presence of Tara and the other buddhas will calm her anxiety.
Here’s a link to the CD Devotion: Track 9.
There is much advice in Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s How to Face Death without Fear, so I’d recommend you get that book.
Love,
Robina
QUESTION
Dear Robina,
I greatly appreciate your advice in using the mantra. A few nurses have been helping and my family have also adopted using mantra/music from YouTube.
Thank you so much for your support.
I have also recently contacted a hospice service and hopefully a monk may be able to visit her and offer further support.
J
ANSWER
This is excellent, J. I am praying for your dear mother, as well.
Robina