Death
Contemplation is
Daily Routine!
The Blessed
Buddha once said:
Contemplation on death, Bhikkhus & friends, when developed & frequently
practised, brings high reward and blessing, has the Deathless Dimension
itself as goal & sweet fruit. And how so? Bhikkhus & friends, at every dawn
and dusk the wise Bhikkhu thinks to himself: Truly, there are many,
many
possibilities
of dying: a snake may bite me, or a scorpion or centipede may
sting me, and thereby I may lose my life. This would be an obstruction!
Or I may stumble and fall down; or become seriously sick, or bad men or
evil spirits may attack me,
and thereby I may die. That would indeed be
for me an obstruction blocking
Nibbāna!
Here, a Bhikkhu therefore considers by intelligent reflection: Are there
still found in me unsubdued evil and disadvantageous mental states, that if
I should die today or tonight, would lead me to a bad, painful, low, ugly,
poor or unsuccessful next life?
Now, if he by such reflection realize that there
are indeed still unsubdued
evil
and disadvantageous mental states found
in him, then he should use his
outmost determination, energetic effort, endurance, steady awareness,
and clear comprehension in order to subdue these evil
& disadvantageous
mental states!
If, however, the Bhikkhu
by reflection notices that
there
are not anymore found in him any evil
& disadvantageous mental states,
then
such Bhikkhu can dwell in pure blissful serene
joy, training himself in
all
advantageous things
both by day and by night!
Source: AN 8:74
More on the inevitable fact of Death:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Death.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Deathless.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/amata.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Deathless_Dimension.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Desireless_is_Deathless.htm
