Sleeping lion's posture
As at night, it was the Buddha's habit to lie in the lion posture (sihasana) on his right side, with one hand under his head and the feet placed on each other. The Buddha recommended a posture he called "lion's pose" which is simply lying on the right side with the right arm cradling the head, the left arm along the side, and the left leg bent at the knee, with the left foot lying in the arch of the right foot. Shivasana is lying flat on the back with legs about shoulder width apart and arms by the sides, with hands about a fist distance from the body, and palms turned up. This is the same position that Guru Shakyamuni Buddha had when he passed away. Keep the right side perfectly on the bed, then put the right hand under the right cheek. Keep both of the legs straight, then stretch the left arm along the left leg. If there is an altar, the legs should not be stretched towards the altar. The head should be towards the altar. Usually it’s better not to have altars completely all around the bedroom in our house. That way it’s difficult to stretch the legs, because it prompts disrespect and we are committing negative karma. Wherever we stretch our legs, don’t put an altar on that side.
Traditionally the position generally recommended for dying is to lie down on the right side, taking the position of "the sleeping lion," which is the posture in which Buddha died. The left hand rests on the left thigh; the right hand is placed under the chin, closing the right nostril. The legs are stretched out and very slightly bent. On the right side of the body are certain subtle channels that encourage the "karmic wind" of delusion. Lying on them in the sleeping lion's posture, and closing the right nostril, blocks these channels and facilitates a person's recognition of the luminosity when it dawns at death. It also helps the consciousness to leave the body through the aperture at the crown of the head, as all the other openings through which it could leave are blocked.
lion posture’ (sīhāsana)
