The Wave and the Drop: Wisdom Stories about Death and Afterlife, Paperback/Cindy Spring

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Contributor(s):Author: Cindy Spring Sometimes we need a story more than food. That is never more true than during our dying time, or when we're taking care of people we love. A few months before she passed away, the author's mother-in-law asked her: "What do you think happens after you die"? In response, Cindy Spring shared stories from three different traditions. Sylvia chose the old Hindu tale - the wave and the drop -- as the one that carried her through her final days. The Wave and The Drop is a small book of stories that help us consider the mystery of life and death, and start conversations about life's ultimate questions. The Foreword was written by Dr. Charles Garfield, internationally recognized for over 40 years as a leader and teacher in the field of death and dying. Each chapter draws from a different tradition and addresses two essential questions: What happens when you die? What happens after you die? The Wave and The Drop is a kind of Aesop's Fables for the dying time. Every tribe, religion, and culture on the planet has evolved its own stories. In this book, the sources are referred to as wisdom traditions, and their stories as wisdom stories. Some describe entering a white light, others foretell a reuniting with loved ones, or promise a new dimension such as heaven or nirvana. These are tales of joining the beloved community, dropping back into an ocean of love, and going home. They suggest that we can temper the sadness and fear that often accompany death with grace and a deep sense that there is an afterlife. Sometimes the dying person sees escorts: deceased parents, or a spouse, or angels ready to assist in the transition from life to what comes next. Alongside traditional stories about heaven, you'll find recent accounts of near-death experiences describing a personal version of heaven. In the chapter on the ancient belief in reincarnation, the reader will find several contemporary stories about children who seem able to recall past lives with amaz