[Averti$ingGuru]

where does meditation on death figure in your practice? (i'm going to die. how do i feel about that?) some recent events have brought me to look long and hard at my mortality. it shakes me to the bone but it certainly clears away the bullshit.

[ViagraPriceBuying]

where does meditation on death figure in your practice? (i'm going to die. how do i feel about that?) some recent events have brought me to look long and hard at my mortality. it shakes me to the bone but it certainly clears away the bullshit.

Hi Inji,

It doesn't have a place in my practice. I don't fear the process of death itself, because dying is something we all have to do at some time or other - and it happens all around us in one way or another.....so hopefully I will be able to just let go when death arrives.

[AlistDakisa]

Hello Inji,

It is very healthy to reflect and contemplate about death. Along with illness, aging, attachment and the consequences of our actions, death is one of the main subjects the Buddha recommends as a contemplative issue. It helps to bring deliverance, pace, and stillness of mind:

"'I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death.' This is the first fact that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained.

[...]

"Now, based on what line of reasoning should one often reflect... that 'I am subject to death, have not gone beyond death'? There are beings who are intoxicated with a [typical] living person's intoxication with life. Because of that intoxication with life, they conduct themselves in a bad way in body... in speech... and in mind. But when they often reflect on that fact, that living person's intoxication with life will either be entirely abandoned or grow weaker...

[...]

"Now, a disciple of the noble ones considers this: 'I am not the only one subject to aging, who has not gone beyond death. To the extent that there are beings — past and future, passing away and re-arising — all beings are subject to death, have not gone beyond death.' When he/she often reflects on this, the [factors of the] path take birth. He/she sticks with that path, develops it, cultivates it. As he/she sticks with that path, develops it and cultivates it, the fetters are abandoned, the obsessions destroyed.

AN 5.57

[Laqswrnm]

Inji,
I convince myself that I'm ok with it and it's a natural process but if I'm completely honest it scares the shit out of me. I'm not sure it's healthy for everyone to meditate on death without some kind of support.
Gary

[toreesi]

AN 5.57 does offer it as one of five daily reflections for all, so I suppose it depends what's meant by "meditate on".

[PristisoliTer]

Yes... the issues are about "reflection" or "contemplation", not meditation. I
have changed it.

[swoluelvede]

where does meditation on death figure in your practice? (i'm going to die. how do i feel about that?) some recent events have brought me to look long and hard at my mortality. it shakes me to the bone but it certainly clears away the bullshit.

hi Inji

i often practise meditation on death

the various Buddhist traditions have various practises in relation to meditation on death

some Pali meditations are here and here

regards

[ImmimiFruff]

Hi Inji,

It doesn't have a place in my practice. I don't fear the process of death itself, because dying is something we all have to do at some time or other - and it happens all around us in one way or another.....so hopefully I will be able to just let go when death arrives.

As I have been a nurse all of my adult life and been involved around many individual's deaths in lots of different ways, including both of my parents and most of my birth relations now, I also do not have the type of fear which comes from the unknown, the unexpected or the unwanted. In terms of my practice, I do think that making and regularly updating preparations, such as wills, other legal considerations, any ceremony or specific details for remains, belongings or future responsibilties once I have died is skillful - for me it is an important part of trying to live each day as if it is my last, in that if it is, I do not have any regrets, as I have done, said and given to my best capacity at this time ... mind you sometimes this may leave a lot to be desired and my limitations may be oh so obvious - hopefully, I will have more time to practice.

[mirvokrug]

Meditation on death has been invaluable to me. Reminding myself of its inevitability helps me relax my grip on the particular stressors of the day or moment. All phenomena are fleeting, and in a universe of infinite time, this entire life, this entire species, is fleeting.

[Suentiend]

Hullo Element.

It seems a bit morbid to me to think of death too often.

However morning and night I consider the words of the Greek philosopher Epectitus.

"Who then remains unconquerable; he whom the inevitable cannot overcome"

Maybe on a lighter note the French dramatist Rabelais is alleged to have said...."Draw the curtains the farce is over, I'm waiting for a great perhaps"

[Senasivar]

Even your fear of death will arise and pass away like evrything else (when however is the question). Sometimes soup comes in a bowl we don't like - as long as its good soup we can enjoy it.

[JewJoleSole]

When I was a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, years ago I did a full Bardo retreat
(theTibetan Book of the Dead) and received all the teachings and empowerment and did all the practices. I never think about that these days, though.

I think in addition to what I said in my earlier post, regarding my own practice, I find that together with being aware of impermanence this is a good contemplation from SN22.95 Phena Sutta:Foam.....


Form is like a glob of foam;
feeling, a bubble;
perception, a mirage;
fabrications, a banana tree;
consciousness, a magic trick —

this has been taught
by the Kinsman of the Sun.
However you observe them,
appropriately examine them,
they're empty, void
to whoever sees them
appropriately.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipit....095.than.html

[seicslybearee]

Aloka, all I have to say is thanks for the quote from the Sutta it was beautiful.

[gluckmeea]

When I was a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, years ago I did a full Bardo retreat (the Tibetan Book of the Dead) and received all the teachings and empowerment and did all the practices. I never think about that these days, though.

I think in addition to what I said in my earlier post, regarding my own practice, I find that together with being aware of impermanence this is a good contemplation from SN22.95 Phena Sutta:Foam.....

Sure Aloka. Impermanence can result in another way to meditate or reflect or contemplate the reality of death and realize letting go, for those to which a direct contemplation of death can result quite uncomfortable.

[Ladbarbastirm]

One of these days, I should visit Bangkok and try out the famed coffin ritual....

[Wachearex]

To reflect on the impermanence of everything helps me with contemplating death. also the thought that, without death there can be no life.
What was you before you was born? This I believe is what you will be when you die.

Also on a lighter note, the sun will burn out in about 5 billion years time and I don't want to be here when that happens

[Pete789]

The most useful "meditation" -- really a contemplation -- on death I have seen goes like this: "Given the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of its time, what shall I do?"

[mudozvonf]

The most useful "meditation" -- really a contemplation -- on death I have seen goes like this: "Given the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of its time, what shall I do?"

Agree stuka.

I have also done the retreat and participated in teachings Aloka-D mentioned earlier and found it helpful at the time - as with all, for me it comes down to acceptance, letting go and getting on with living now.

[9enackivegliva]

[...] what shall I do?"

"I might live for the interval that it takes to swallow having chewed up one morsel of food... for the interval that it takes to breathe out after breathing in, or to breathe in after breathing out,

I might attend to the Blessed One's instructions. I would have accomplished a great deal' — they are said to dwell heedfully. They develop mindfulness of death acutely for the sake of ending the effluents.

Therefore you should train yourselves: 'We will dwell heedfully. We will develop mindfulness of death acutely for the sake of ending the effluents.' That is how you should train yourselves."

AN 6.19

"[...]reflecting, he realizes that there are evil, unskillful mental qualities unabandoned by him that would be an obstruction for him were he to die in the day/night, then he should put forth extra desire, effort, diligence, endeavor, undivided mindfulness, & alertness for the abandoning of those very same evil, unskillful qualities."

AN 6.20

[Who] often reflects on this, the [factors of the] path take birth. He/she sticks with that path, develops it, cultivates it. As he/she sticks with that path, develops it and cultivates it, the fetters are abandoned, the obsessions destroyed."

AN 5.57

[Uttephabeta]

The phrase “dwell heedfully “captures the sense of living with awareness of death. Knowing impermanence can be the inspiration and motivation to embracing the capacity we have to make choices in our lives that lead toward happiness and freedom, rather than feeling we’re just pushed by the power of our current confusion and our own misunderstandings towards some enforced conclusion.
As I see it, there can be right view or right understanding whether we see the process of pañicca-samuppàda as something taking place over three lifetimes, or as a way of understanding what happens in our own world on a moment to moment basis inwardly only or outwardly as well