Death Meditations

All Eastern spiritual practices include meditations on death. This idea seems particularly abhorrent to us in the West, where we are basically taught to avoid the topic at all costs. Somewhere deep inside we know death is coming for us and everyone we love, but the unspoken human rule is to distract ourselves by any means necessary from facing the idea head-on. Unfortunately, research into people’s acceptance of death shows that avoiding the topic leads to increased anxiety about one’s death. What could it mean to our lives to stop this charade and meditate on death as a daily practice?

The Buddhists

Maranasati meditation is an early Buddhist practice of contemplating the idea that death could occur at any moment. Though this may seem depressing or even terrifying to us in the West, 2,500 years of practical experience has taught Buddhists that contemplating death actually reduces anxiety and yields a unique appreciation of our daily lives, enhancing life’s meaning and urgency. Other benefits include:

  • An increased acceptance of change in our lives

  • An increased sense of gratitude for our lives, regardless of outward circumstances

  • An increased awareness of human vulnerability that leads to greater compassion for oneself and others

  • An increased zest for life and ability to remain present in life

  • An increased likelihood of having a peaceful death instead of an agitated and fearful one

Below is a link to a death meditation chant, sung alternatively in Pali and English. Listening and watching it  is an easy,  gentle way to start this practice:

https://youtu.be/D2cR0V_ftVk?feature=shared

The Stoics

The ancient Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus is credited with coining the concept “amor fati,” or “remember one’s fate.”  It is said that he also taught his students that when they kiss their children, they should remind themselves that their children will die someday, and that they should remind themselves that they are mortal. This may be the origin of the phrase “memento mori,” or “remember that you will die.” When there was a Roman triumph, the victorious general, riding on horseback in a parade, would be followed by a walking slave as a reminder that the general would also die one day. 

European Art

In the 16th and 17th centuries, many paintings contained the idea of death meditations, featuring skulls with hourglasses or other time pieces. But somewhere along our way toward the modern age, it seems humans of the Western World decided to distract themselves from death, rather than remind themselves of it. Nowadays we are all socialized to fear death, and avoid talking about it. Yet, we know inside that death is approaching. 

We believe that this sets up a basic conflict in our existence. To deny or distract ourselves from such a basic fact of life takes a lot of energy, and likely causes much misery. A return to the tradition of death meditations will head us back in the right direction. Paradoxically, a few thoughts on death may be just what you need to get the most out of life.


Until next time

Scott and Lennart


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