The Grace in Dying

By: Kathleen Dowling Singh

Narrated by: Constance Jones

In this brilliantly conceived and beautifully written book, Kathleen Dowling Singh illuminates the profound psychological and spiritual transformations experiences by the dying as the natural process of death reconnects them with the source of their being. Examining the end of life in the light of current psychological understanding, religious wisdom, and compassionate medical science, The Grace of Dying offers a fresh, deeply comforting message of hope and courage as we contemplate the meaning of our mortality.

While the prevailing western medical tradition has seen death as an enemy to be fought and overcome, Singh offers a richer and more rewarding path of understanding. Combining extensive training and education in developmental psychology with profound spiritual insight, she balances expert analysis with moving accounts drawn from her experiences working with hundreds of dying patients at a large hospice.

Singh moves beyond the five stages of dying revealed in Kübler-Ross's classic On Death and Dying, and finds in the "nearing death experience" even more significant and forming stages of surrender and transcendence. These stages involve the qualities of grace: letting go, radiance, focusing inward, silence, a sense of the sacred, wisdom, intensity, and, in the end, a merging with spirit. Through this intense process, we come to experience at last the reality of our true self, which transcends our finite ego and bodily existence, and our merging with the source of being from which we originated. Dying is safe.

In clear, nontechnical language, Singh reveals the transformations that come with dying, using the vocabulary of growing western, as well as eastern, wisdom.

Written for those aware that their life is coming to an end, those who care for the dying, and, ultimately, for all of us who inevitably face our own death and the deaths of the people we love, The Grace in Dying reveals that dying is the most transforming, powerful, and spiritually rich of life's experiences.

©2000 Kathleen Dowling Singh (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

the greatest book I've ever read

To read this book should be a strong recommendation for all people who take care of the dying.

Empathetic

This book came to me at the perfect time. I m listening to it for the second time and probably will continue to listen to it several more. In order to grasp each sentence I suggest you do. It is so informative, educational, heart reaching. It helped me come to terms with the death of two dear people in my life. Both died within weeks of each other and the pain and suffering you experience is should and energy consuming. By listening to this book I still experienced my grief and anger and emptiness, but it helped me cope better. It helped me understand the whys and doubts, and anger, and disbelief. The more I listen to it the more I understand and the more comfort I feel. The voice of the narrator is excellent. Very soothing, clear, and loving. You feel every word, you relate to every sentence. This is why I recommend listening more than once. In case you miss something because it is all so important. Best grieving book I could have found. It has calmed me and offered me a vision I otherwise would not have thought about.

Deeply Thoughtful and emotional

Using existing psychological concepts/theories and the wisdom of traditional religious/spiritual insights, Dr. Singh explores the transition of human beings during and after the dying process. She not afraid to challenge current Western culture experience and understand to expand our awareness and acceptance of death as a grace-filled event of humankind.

One of the best books.

This is one of the best books I've ever listened to in my life. I've alwaya had fear of dying until this book taught me about death and dying.

Transformative

This book was placed in my path a few years ago but I did not begin reading it until my brother began his experience with cancer. The process of his dying experience was spiritually transforming for him, our siblings, his sons and myself. I am at a loss for words in explaining the importance of this book. I am ever-grateful to Kathleen Singh.

loved the work, reader not so much

This might just be me but I wish the author read her book, the reader is trying to sound transcendent with this breathy voice and I find it really annoying. The words are transcendent enough on thier own. This is one I would recommend reading the old fashioned way.