Consciousness

      I am a member of a Buddhist support group for seriously ill people.  In the time I have been involved with the group, perhaps 5-6 members of our group have died. ( i have been a member almost since its inception as it was formed by others coincidentally shortly before my Parkinson's diagnosis).  Our group is headed by a retired psychologist and another psychologist (Rob,also a grief counselor in his spare time) is a member.   
   It is difficult to cope with people that you like/love dying.  Buddhists don't believe in permanence and though I may carry that wish inside of myself, I certainly know that life is full of transitions and I believe that death itself is another form of transition.  We cannot hold on to anything or anyone too tightly as it simply isn't under our control.  I like to think, however, that our spirits can still access each other to offer help, loving-kindness, etc. 
   In a strange way, I almost feel it's a type of gift to be part of the circle of someone who is dying.  Not necessarily easy as you know you will miss that person and it's pretty hard to deny the reality of death when you're seeing someone approach it.  In fact, you (I) may want to hide in a cocoon more than anything.  But there is no hiding; there is only the truth and the understanding (imo) that what we need from ourselves and others, more than anything else,is unconditional mercy and kindness.  It may come in many forms, not all of them pleasant.But i think all of them involve the best of intentions.  Somehow that leads me to the concept that we are all (hopefully) trying to be our best selves and we all have things that we're learning.  Death is merely some type of transition.
   Needless to say, these are beliefs/opinions.  Rob, the grief counselor, sent out a link this morning to a video of a Harvard neurologist who, having had a near-death experience, has written a book called "Proof of Heaven."  Dr. Eben Alexander describes his experiencesand offers us his insights into the concept of "consciousness."

consciousness |ˈkän ch əsnəs| (Oxford dictionary)nounthe state of being awake and aware of one's surroundings : she failed to regain consciousness and died two days later.• the awareness or perception of something by a person : her acute consciousness of Mike's presence.• the fact of awareness by the mind of itself and the world : consciousness emerges from the operations of the brain.

It's lengthy (45 minutes) but fascinating, to say the least.