Impermanence and Death
This has three parts:
(1) Contemplation on the certainty of death.
(2) Contemplation on the uncertainty of the time of death.
(3) The realisation that at the time of death the Dharma is the only saviour.
The Certainty of Death
Milarepa said:
Impermanence is like the spreading shadow of a mountain at sunset. No matter how hard you run from it, the darkness will finally overtake you. Therefore, I find no escape.
As a result of previous Karma, you have obtained this human life. It is not within your power to add even a minute to its span.
Milarepa said that our body is like an old house with a leaking roof which gradually deteriorates under the rains of years and months, and the drops of days and hours.
Although this body is not a strong edifice, you must use it for the achievement of enlightenment.
Some may not find these teachings very pleasant, but to limit explanations to subjects which are agreeable does not lead to the real meaning of the Dharma.
These aspects of death are clearly evident but until now this knowledge has not acted as an impetus for the practice of Dharma.
The Uncertainty of the Time of Death
When you understand the uncertainty of the time of death, you will develop the necessary inner motivation to begin practising at once.
If it was possible to forecast the time of death, you could establish a programme for your life. But this is not so. Even age is not a guarantee. Generally, the old die before the young, but this does not necessarily hold true when you consider individual cases.
Life is as unsteady as the flame of a butter lamp in the wind, and even those very things which maintain and facilitate life may turn out to be causes for death. People can die from eating harmful food or become victims of car accidents, and so forth.
Milarepa said:
When you, young people are together,
You have absolutely no awareness of death,
Yet it strikes like a thunderbolt.
When you hear news of war, you fear for your life but in fact the danger of death is always present. To witness the sudden death of a healthy person reminds you of life’s uncertainty and gives you a momentary glimpse of the possibility of your own death since you are no different.
Gyalsä Thogme Sangpo said:
Despite the fact that you cannot be certain of living throughout the night, you make preparations as though for eternal life. This is a sure sign that fear and regret will arise at the time of death.
Nagarjuna said:
Life is so tenuous and beset by many dangers, it is more fragile and unsteady than a bubble blown to and fro by the wind. How truly astonishing is someone who believes that after breathing in he will breathe out again or that he will awake from a night’s sleep.
The Practice of Dharma in this Life Is Essential
The proper practice of Dharma during your life is the only real help. When you realise this, then the decision to practise purely and whole-heartedly will arise. You should be aware that your death will one day come and therefore you should begin to prepare immediately.
Through acquaintance with the practice, you will have the strength to face the fears and sorrows that arise at death.
If you can keep the mind firmly on the necessary practices at the time of death or if you can remember with strong awareness the form of the Buddha worshipped during your life, then the chances for freedom or for a favourable rebirth are good.
However, if you have neglected the Dharma, you will experience strong regret and distress and will die utterly confused.
The Dharma exhorts you to make use of the experience of death for the attainment of liberation. Therefore, in it you will find your greatest help.
The results obtained depend on the capacities of the individual; a very intelligent person can attain Buddhahood and a man of medium intelligence will be able to obtain a favourable rebirth in order to continue the practice.
To strengthen the former contemplations, you can recite the following prayer:
To all the Buddhas I pray:
“Please grant your blessings to enable me to realise that this perfect rebirth, acquired only once, is quickly destroyed, and is hard to find again. May I be able to take the essential meaning of this life without being distracted by purposeless actions.”
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