And certainly every single one of us will die."

The new Wisdom Publications title, Sleeping, Dreaming and Dying,
allows you to listen in on a fascinating conversation among western
scholars and the Dalai Lama on those in-between states of
consciousness which modern science has done little to
penetrate. It is an annotated account of an intimate dialogue that
took place at the Fourth Mind and Life Conference in Daramsala, India.

The West is represented by a philosopher, a psychologist, a
psychoanalyst, a neuroscientist and a cultural
ecologist. The reader, along with the participants, takes away much to
ponder and savor from this exchange.

One can sense the participants' rapt attention as subjects such as
lucid dreaming and Tibetan dream yoga, Western and Tibetan ideas of
self, neuroscience and the subtle mind, and Buddhist and Western
perceptions of death and near death experiences
are each addressed in the mornings and then opened to freewheeling
question and answer sessions in the afternoons. The book allows the
reader to a participate in a group journey through aspects of these
"shadow states" as the capable editor, Dr. Francisco Varela, refers to
them.

There are surprising parallels between Western scientific data and
Eastern teachings, as well as expected and unexpected divergences.

For example, modern Western "near death experiences" and accompanying
phenomena are not corroborated by
Tibetan Buddhism's rigorous exploration and observation of death and
dying states over the centuries.

Sleeping, Dreaming and Dying is highly recommended for anyone
interested in exploring the breadth and depth of these subjects. In
view of the current fascination in the West with both dreaming and
death and dying, this book belongs on the shelf
of every good bookstore and library.