Death
Contemplation
is Daily Routine:
The Blessed
Buddha once said:
Contemplation on death, Bhikkhus
and friends, when developed and frequently
practised, brings high reward and blessing, has the Deathless Dimension
itself
as goal and sweet fruit. And how so? Bhikkhus and friends, at every dawn
and
dusk the wise Bhikkhu thinks to himself: Truly, there are 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 for
reaching lasting happiness!
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 approach, and access to the
deathless state of
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, painful,
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 and disadvantageous
mental
states!
If, however, the Bhikkhu
by reflection notices that
there are not anymore
found in him any evil, and 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:
Anguttara Nikāya 8:74
More on the inevitable fact of Death:
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Death.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Deathless.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/amata.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/The_Deathless_Dimension.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Desireless_is_Deathless.htm
