Review Dying A Transition by Monika Renz Prabuddha Bharata December 2018

The very thought of death brings to mind fear and the prospect of facing something unknown. The average person is seldom prepared for death. Encountering death is the worst nightmare for most, only this is the last nightmare. We have funny notions about death. We feel it is alright if a person dies at an advanced age, particularly if without any long-term illness. We call this a ‘good’ death. Deaths after prolonged illnesses or at a young age in tragic circumstances like accidents or suicides are considered ‘bad’ deaths. We associate goodness with less suffering. With the knowledge of impending death, the idea of ego gets attenuated. We take less and less interest in possessing or performing. Our sense of worldly attachments weans away. This book first came into being in the form of a paper in a journal on palliative medicine. The original book in German has been translated as the present book. Monika Renz, the author, has a rich experience of attending to terminally ill patients, and giving them counselling and spiritual guidance