"Since death is inevitable, we believe that if we begin to prepare for it and an earlier point in time, on the day of our death it will be easier to accept it." H. H. Dalai Lama

According to the Dalai Lama, death is neither good nor bad, but an inevitable part of life. Therefore preparation is imperative. “The Readiness is all.” as Hamlet stoically reasoned.  The Dalai Lama explains the necessity of building a Ship of Death:

“Death will definitely come.  If you spend your life overly concerned with the temporary affairs of this lifetime and make no preparation for it, then  on the day when it comes you will be unable to think about anything except your own mental suffering and fear, and will have no opportunity to practice anything else.

When death is near it is essential to turn your thoughts to spiritual practice, since the mind at time of dying is a proximate cause of the continuation into the next lifetime.  No matter what happened in terms of good and bad within this particular lifetime, what happens at time of death is particularly powerful.  Therefore it is important to learn about the process of dying and prepare for it through meditation.  I do this myself.  Six or seven times a day, I go through the eight phases of dissolution that occur at death in my meditation practice.”   -H.H. Dalai Lama Dalai Lama’s Little Book of Inner Peace, 2009.

The Dalai Lama has indicated his reincarnation will occur outside of Tibet if he is unable to return there during his lifetime.  China, however, is attempting to control his reincarnation process.  China has issued regulations which prevent his followers in exile from choosing his reincarnation and require approval of his reincarnation by various levels of Chinese officials.

The reincarnation of pre-eminent monks, including the Dalai Lama, would require the seal of approval of China’s ruling cabinet. Common sense, however, would dictate that reincarnation should only be determined by spiritual, not governmental authorities.  Officials at China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs declined comment.