Certain images and the stories associated with them stand out very clearly in the death and dying work. In Larry Rosenberg's book, Living in the Light of Death, the story of a yogi who was dying and being attended on his death bed makes a profound impression. The yogi was a disciplined meditator. At 3 am every night he would meditate. As he got weak toward the end of his life the nurses would prop him up and he would recite his mantras, put sandalwood paste on his forehead and begin his meditation which lasted several hours. In his final days it became increasingly difficult for him to go through his ritual and it took some time...nevertheless, he did it with great care and full attention. On his final day when one of the nurses tried to assist him by quickly applying the paste to his forehead he became incensed claiming that it was no use to have the paste applied sloppily or incorrectly. Then, with great intention he applied the paste with his full concentration, grac
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What practices are going to help us to live fully to the end of our lives, and how much do we need to practice?
In this wonderful book, Larry Rosenberg gives us stories and clues so that we can answer this question for ourselves. Of all footprints, those of the elephant are superior, and of all meditations, the death meditations are superior. So, can you handle inviting an elephant into your living room? It will probably intensify your practice.
Learning how to live and learning how to die are inseparable. How can this be? In thinking about this "koan," or better yet making it an "essence question," one that we absolutely must answer, we might gain some understanding. Remembering his first teacher, Sivananda Saraswati, who was also a "fierce meditator" and who said "getting free is the only important thing in life," Larry goes on to detail how his experiences and teachers shaped his understanding of this question. Respect for the body is a part of this. Saraswati said that : "If you take care of your body and come to understand it you can have a relatively painless old age." Human existence is an ideal mix of bliss and suffering. It is ideal for spiritual development. Bodily care is an awareness practice, so be as attentive to your body as a calvary rider is to his horse.
As far as death goes, we normally do everything that we can to put it out of our consciousness. In life we are distracted by and concentrate on our acquisitions. So preparation for death involves one's outlook in life. As the Buddha taught: "Clinging to things, especially to a sense of self, is what creates suffering. The knowledge that we have to let go of our attachments in death might enable us to let go of them now and save us a great deal of suffering. If we die to our attachments now, we won't need to later and we won't feel so much fear of death when it comes. The shining light of death can liberate our life." ( p14).
Death accompanies us from the moment that we are born. It is here with us in life. "It is not waiting for us at the end of the road. It is walking with us the whole time." Acknowledge this and practice...this is true preparation for death.
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