Meditation on Death

[WayBackHome83]

After watching a teaching by Rinpoche on meditating on death, along with recitations of the Lamrim, I've come to gain an experience of the saying, "Truth is scary!"

In our every day living, although we understand intellectually that we won't live forever, that we will die and we have no idea when, we really don't realise deeply enough the truth of these things. If you think you do, the acid test seems simple: if you find yourself wasting time on the inessential, chances are that - on an emotional level - you think you'll live forever or that death is a long way off.

The interesting thing about meditating on death is that, unlike many other meditations, it seems to work immediately. It really gives you a heavy sense of mortality. That's the scary bit. The less scary (but no less profound) lesson the meditation teaches you is that, in order to progress in spiritual practice (or in anything, for that matter), you have to embrace a sense of urgency. Why? Because the meditation provides you with the real sense that you actually could be dead by the weekend and so you’d best get your skates on…

As I’ve said in a previous post, this kind of thing appears to be quite morbid, but it isn’t at all. It’s a simple truth. It only becomes morbid when we try to resist these kinds of truths, which is about as effective as a non-swimmer fighting against a strong current.

Meditating on death, from a personal viewpoint, is a must for any spiritual practitioner. Especially from a Buddhist view, a human rebirth is like an honest politician – you don’t come across one often and so it’s important to make full use of your opportunity. It would seem that not meditating on death would be like going on a grand holiday and spending the entire time in your hotel room: the holiday is bound to come to an end, yet you have sat still and done nothing. When the end is near, you only wish you had done more, but the opportunity has sadly gone.

Through Rinpoche’s teaching, he gives a clear and simple instruction on how to perform the meditation and if you have the fortune to have a copy of the Lamrim in your possession, the advice contained within its pages on the subject of the human rebirth and death do so much to reinforce the need to extract as much from life as possible.

For anyone who has yet to come across Rinpoche’s teaching, I’ve provided the link at the bottom of the page. The video is under 20 minutes long and Rinpoche gives such a fascinating talk; definitely worthwhile watching for that reason alone. However, the meditation itself (should you choose to try it) will be immensely beneficial to you in your practice. I’m sure anyone who performs meditation on death will agree.

Kind regards,
Sandy 

Rinpoche's teaching: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4j5RJfu5X0

[SharpPudding]

 I love meditating on death.
 For years it was just so depressing but unavoidable. But now it gives me such a sense of freedom because I know it's all going to be swept away by time, all that really matters is directing my mind towards liberation and being a useful human being. I don't always think this way, I don't always meditate on death, maybe I should.

 Meditation on death and understanding emptiness are tied together, if we don't face our mortality and the transience of our aggregates we won't see through them.

[Kaivalyananda]

Namaste,

I find I have a different thought about life after death meditation. (Pun intended.) Life becomes a cruise. Ever been on one? They're quite enjoyable. People are usually much nicer than they are at home. Almost everyone tends to take things in their stride, especially those on their first cruise. There is usually much less bickering. People help each other. Often, people trust each other more; at least, those on the ship do. Friendships are easier to start up, but they lack the attachment that normal friendships have. A person's "Stuff" just doesn't matter as much, almost like there is a suspension of negativity. Again, this is what it is like for those new to cruising. Usually, after that 3rd or 4th cruise, people begin to get a bit jaded--losing their Beginner's Mind.

Well, before I was born, there seems to have been quite a bit of time. After I die, it seems that there will be quite a bit of time. I don't remember what happened before I was born, and even if I did remember, how do I KNOW that it isn't just my mind playing tricks? I don't, if truth be told. I can believe anything I want, but the only way to KNOW is to be aware as it is happening.  So, I am aware that I became aware at some point in this lifetime, in this body. I have a working hypothesis that this body will cease and my awareness may continue on, but I don't KNOW that as I am AWARE now and I won't be aware then until then becomes now.

****Here are a few interesting videos to help drive home our mortality. Both of these videos feature soccer players - young, healthy as a person can be, seemingly. They are stark reminders that there is only one heartbeat, one breath, between this awareness and whatever comes next - if anything. These guys likely had dates after the games they were in. Chances are, they recently bought a car, or got into meditation, or...or...or...perhaps they were reading a post like this one a few hours before they found out what lies on the other side of the curtain of unknowing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42klb5HjvBk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VVZQWx7rac&feature=related

So, I can choose to believe Buddhism, but it is a choice of a belief. I can choose to believe any darn thing I wish, but again, it is all just a choice of a belief. What really matters is THIS; the feel of the keys beneath my fingers.  The sound of the clicking. The feeling of cold in my feet and fingertips. And, the feel of my heart beating in my chest.

Because there was no awareness that I know of before I was born into this form (despite what I might believe or even remember, memories have been proven to be able to be manipulated) and I am not sure of awareness after I die--though I have a belief, something that might even be called a "knowing"--then these few years embodied is a vacation from the unknown. I am conscious! How cool is that!!?!!

Since we are all on this cruise (but few know that it is a cruise), what do I have to be worried about? We are all perfectly safe - there is no way to get off the boat alive, as far as I KNOW. So we are safe in our mortality.

Ah, but then, what's the use of living? Why not? Hence, the Assurances. It is very late here and I am very tired. I'll let someone with a memory post the Assurances.  If not, I'll do it another time.

Yes, meditation on our deaths really changes the way we live our lives. For me, I now know that there is not a single wasted moment...as long as I am aware of the moment that passes. Otherwise, I might as well be sleeping and having a dream. Hmmm...I wonder...naw! ;-)

Om Shanti

[unofficialsamurai]

I use to be terrified about death. I use to avoid any Buddhist teachings that dealt with Death.  But as I continued to practice, and study I realized that all I was doing was running away from the editable.  I finally watched Rinpoche's videos  dealing with death, and I did my first Meditation on Death.  Everything changed for me after that.  To really sit there with the thoughts on Death and to see first hand that Death will come really helped me in dealing with everyday life.  I seem to get less angry, and when I do get angry it doesn't seem to last that long.  The thought "If I died today, would this really matter?" comes back to my mind.   

Meditating on Death can be scary at first, but I think it is important for any practitioner