Betwixt and Between: Life, Death, and Rebirth

Translator’s Forward

This book is a record of Master Nan’s talks in which he answered questions about death and rebirth. In themodern world, both death and birth, more often than not, take place in a hospital rather than at home and so many people have not witnessed another human being entering or leaving this world. Many times our loved ones go through thesemonumental passages with only medical staff present. It is only through an understanding of what goes on during the transitions of death and rebirth that we can help others in the best way possible and prepare themor ourselves well for having children or to face death.

In secular terms, life is confined to the time between birth and death. Death is seen as the end of life, as if it were not part of life. Therefore it is feared, it is sanitized and hidden away, almost swept under the carpet. Master Nan laments how death and dying are treated in the modern age. When dying is recognized as just a phase of life, it is not so formidable. A person is considered dead when the heart stops beating and the brain waves go flat, but actually the process of dying begins long before thatmoment and continues on afterwards for quite some time. Master Nan guides us through the internal phenomena and processes of dying, from the earliest signs of the dissipation of the elements, to the point of clinical death, until the point when the consciousness leaves the body, which can take up to eight hours. With a better understanding of what is happening internally, we can more appropriately and respectfully care for the dying person.

Master Nan goes on to discuss fromhistorical and cultural perspectives, the interesting customs, traditions, and superstitions in regards to funerals and burials, including earth, water, fire, wind, and sky burials. From this wider vantage point, ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, etc. can drop away leaving behind all of the unnecessary worry, effort, judgment, blame, guilt, obsessions, sanctimoniousness, and so on that can complicate or mar family relationships while making arrangements for the deceased.

Birth, death, funerals, and burials all happen within our world. We can see, hear, feel and know—to a certain extent—what is going on. However, in regards to what happens between death and rebirth, this is outside of the scope of human experience, and yet still imperceptibly overlapping. It is only those with deep spiritual attainment who can give us a glimpse into that realm. Within the various schools of Buddhism, one can find teachings on birth, death, the intermediate state, and reincarnation into various life forms. Those engaged in more scholarly study of Buddhism may be familiar with Abhidharmakośabhāṣya, Yogacarabhumi Sastra, or Chinese Mahayana sutras describing the intricate details of these phases and processes. In general,Western Buddhists learn about the intermediate or bardo state from teachings on the book, Bardo Thodol, better known by the name given to its first translation, the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Master Nan talks about the intermediate state from first hand spiritual knowledge giving a unique window into the intermediate state of existence just ever so slightly outside of our range of perception.

Buddha’s teachings on pregnancy and birth are not commonly known. The Buddha gave detailed descriptions of human birth starting from conception, outlining all of the changes that take place week by week over the nine to ten months of pregnancy. Since these ancient Buddhist sutras written in terse classical Chinese can be very difficult to understand, most people are not familiar with them. Master Nan makes these teachings accessible and correlates them with modern terminology and knowledge.

Through an incredible mixture of personal stories, deep meditative insight, history, science, and Buddhist teachings from the Pali Canon, Mahayana sutras, Yogacara, Vijnanavada, and Chan, Master Nan guides the reader through death, the intermediate state, and rebirth into the human realm.

Master Nan is considered one of the greatest contemporary spiritual Masters. Born in China in 1918, Master Nan's profound understanding of the Dharma was verified by several Chan and esoteric Buddhist Masters. He is considered a foremost expert in Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese philosophy, history and other aspects of Chinese culture. He is the author of over 80 books that have sold over a billion copies in Chinese-speaking countries.

Everything changed when Pia Giammasi met Master Nan in Hong Kong in 1988. Her world turned upside-down, inside out, and expanded exponentially by being enveloped into the enlightened reality of Master Nan. Pia had the privilege of doing oral translation for Master Nan for nearly 30 years and is currently working on written translations of his books.