In Buddha's Dying Words, author Erik Knud-Hansen offers a condensed personal view of the Buddha's enlightenment and what he himself regarded as the most essential elements of practical wisdom to preserve after his death in 486 BC. His insights into the true nature of mind and the root cause of human suffering had profound effects on many people from all walks of life and many were inspired to practice and share his teachings. Buddha's Dying Words focuses on the timeless spiritual knowledge that the Buddha left as guidance to help us see through the confusions and illusions within our own minds to see for ourselves what is true without needing to take anyone else's word for it.

The Dharma he taught elucidates a way of awakening intuitive insight from the inside out, liberating the mind from all that hinders clarity in our true heart of consciousness. This empowers faith and confidence in our inner refuge of deep presence even when we face our own dying moments. Ultimately, it is compassionate to share this wisdom and wise to practice kindness and compassion.

Buddha's Dying Words: Finding Refuge in Dharma: A Way of Presence, Erik Knud Hansen, Balboa Press, Paperback, 118 pages, $16.99

Erik Knud-Hansen became devoted to spiritual practice in 1972, beginning years of intensive meditation, monastic training, and helping to establish several retreat centers. As a teacher in the Buddhist lineage since 1985, he shares ways of awakening reflecting the primary traditions in which he trained namely Buddhism, Taoism, and Advaita Vedanta. Erik currently lives quietly in Hawaii and is learning to write.