Bhikkhu Analayo on Contemplation of Death

On the cultivation of insight/wisdom
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mikenz66
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Bhikkhu Analayo on Contemplation of Death

Post by mikenz66 »

Death Contemplation
Bhikkhu Anālayo
2017
Analayo wrote: I think it helps to clarify one’s priorities in life. What do you really want to do with your life? It also changes how you relate to others. If I meet you with the certainty that I do not know if you or I are going to live for another meeting, then at this meeting I want to be fully with you. I want to make the most of this meeting. I want to say what I have to say and learn what I can learn from you—to its fullest. Then I become fully alive to this moment with you.

That way, in case you do pass away, I won’t feel like there was something I wished I had said but didn’t. Instead, when we are together I am fully present and fully there with you. I’m not just partially here and partially thinking about all the other things I have to do later. At the back of my mind I’m not thinking that I can always tell you the rest next month. Death contemplation changes how we relate to others and how we live our lives. It has a profoundly transformative effect. It actually makes us come much more alive.

On top of that, according to the suttas the Buddha says that death contemplation leads to the Deathless, to Nibbāna. So it is also a way of practicing insight because death is the cutting edge of impermanence, and impermanence is a main avenue for the cultivation of liberating insight. The most frightening aspect of impermanence is death. Things end, and the most frightening thing to end is this I.
...
https://www.bcbsdharma.org/article/deat ... 0Interview
See also Bhikkhu Analayo's guided meditation here:
http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/439/talk/26718/

:heart:
Mike
SarathW
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Re: Bhikkhu Analayo on Contemplation of Death

Post by SarathW »

Buddha says that death contemplation leads to the Deathless
:goodpost:

If every person contemplate on death (with the knowledge) every morning, this will be a very pleasant world.
This is not easy though. We quickly forget about it.


https://dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f ... 1&start=20
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
SarathW
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Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:49 am

Re: Bhikkhu Analayo on Contemplation of Death

Post by SarathW »

Contemplation on death with the knowledge is very important.
A soldier in the battle field also contemplate on death but with ignorance.
See the following video, thousand of people listen to Sadguru about death contemplation.
What can you learn from him?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lJ37C_zj5U
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
User156079
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Re: Bhikkhu Analayo on Contemplation of Death

Post by User156079 »

Thanks OP,

I do it before/during/after body-part contemplation.

I tend to think about dead people, especially relatives, The Buddha and Sariputta as well as contemplating causes of death as instructed:
"in many ways can death come to me ..."

I also think how death is certain, life is uncertain, how concept of death is implied in birth.

Another good one is thinking, imagining or recalling fatal trauma, deadly disease and comparing destiny of elements of the body to the Great Ocean and the Earth (planet) etc, to see how even great elements are subject to death how much more so is this fragile body.

If somebody has more advice that is in the Tipitaka or Vsm please share:)

Also a warning to people who want to do it more than casually, as in putting alot of effort into using it (Body) to penetrate the nature of conceptual reality to understand elements, dont do it without receiving proper instruction and having abundant access to seasoned instructors.
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