Five daily re-collections (3) - Death

It is challenging to contemplate our own demise.  

What is the most amazing thing in all lives?

ANS. That human see all things die around them, but we live our lives as if we are never going to die.

Mindfulness of death - 7 days retreat 

Sunvega - a sense of urgency.

The days are passing. How well am I spending my time? misalignment problem - the way we live our lives tend to misalign with our values.  spending ]most of the time watching TV, movie, surfing web.

We embrace this reflection as enlivening, supporting us waking up during life, waking up during the moment of death to prepare for it, to let go into death, into deathless (anavana).

Keep this reflection close with you, with a sense of aliveness, with a sense that we are going to die. We are all going to die.  Keep death on your shoulders.

1. I am of the nature to grow old; there is no way to escape growing old.

2. I am of the nature to have ill health; there is no way to escape having ill-health.

3. I am of the nature to die; there is no way to escape death.

4. All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. 
     There is no way to escape being separated from them.

5. My deeds are my closest companions. I am the beneficiary of my deeds. 
    My deeds are the ground on which I stand.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reliving history in London

Image
We had a great day in London. There is so much, so much history to touch and to feel in London. We pretty much spent our entire day in the Parliament area. We first took a guided tour in the Westminister Abbey. It is a beautiful abbey, and it was such an experience at present with all the great people, kings and queens, who we read about... Now, we can actually touched their tombs, or walk on their burial ground. You felt so much connected to these very special historical figures, felt so much being part of history, and a living history rather than one you read from the books. It was such an experience. After the memorable Westminister Abbey visit, we went across the street, and queued up for a tour at House of Commons. We waited in line for an hour and a half, then waited inside for another hour. Lo did not wear enough clothes. He was freezing waiting in the line. It was a long wait. But, it was really worthwhile. After a sitting at the House of Commons, we sat at the...
Read more

Mindfulness of Breathing

16 stages/ approaches to mindful breathing  https://www.mindfulnessbell.org/archive/tag/16+exercises+for+mindful+breathing Day 1 Basics of mindfulness meditation. breathing is one of the core practices of Buddhist meditation practice. Two ways street - as the world around us changes (mood, intention, mind), our breathing changes, as breathing changes, our relationship to the world changes.  As we got trapped in our thoughts, our breathing changes.  As we relax our body, our breathing changes. Breathing sitting in the crossroad of all aspects of our life.  Fight/flight mode, breathing changes. When we change our breathing and relax, fight/flight response changes. Sitting there in breathing and watches the world goes on. Easy breath - be in touch with the breathing.  how your breathing changes is related to how your mood/ mind is changing. Area of control - the front part of the body.  focus on the back of the body is easier. not to be concern of a controlled...
Read more

Tea meditation - Plum Village

Image
  This cup of tea in my two hands,  mindfulness is held perfectly.          My mind and body dwell in the very here and now.  Wherever you are drinking your tea, whether at work or in a café or at home, it is wonderful to allow enough time to appreciate it. If the weather is cold, you can feel the warmth of the cup in your hands. Breathe in and recite the first line; breathe out and recite the second. The next inhalation is for the third line, and the next exhalation is for the fourth line. Breathing mindfully in this way, we recuperate ourselves and the cup of tea reclaims its highest place. If we’re not mindful, it’s not tea that we’re drinking but our own illusions and afflictions. If the tea becomes real, we become real. When we are able to truly meet the tea, at that very moment we are truly alive. There is no way to home. Home is the way. There is no way to happiness Happiness is the way to us. A day to return to ourselves, to...
Read more