How can we let go of clinging to life, near the end of life?
“Be happy in every moment. … You don’t need to change anything. Let everything happen just as it comes. Just flow with it. It’s the process; everything dissolves into you, so change with whatever happens.”
“What practice makes it easier to let go of this life?”
“The best practice, is calm abiding. Remain with the breath. Develop calmness inside. Join awareness and the breath. Trusting these. Trusting the knowing. Trusting the calmness. Not pushing yourself to make any changes. And not paying attention to what others say about it.”
Khandro Rimpoche in: Olivia Ames Hoblitzelle. “Ten Thousand Joys & Ten Thousand Sorrows. A Couple’s Journey through Alzheimer’s.” Penguin, NY, 2008.
“If you accept life and death without any conditions, your life will become supple instead of rigid. You will not create strife."
Katagiri D. “You have to say something. Manifesting Zen insight.” Shambhala, Boston, 1998.
We need to establish awareness practice right now! It is more difficult if we wait until the sometimes overwhelming circumstances of final days hours and minutes....I'm not an expert on death, but I know that awareness is never a mistake...that it enriches what we have, even in some pretty lean and sparse circumstances. Every time I find myself wanting to hurry through an experience, (even meditation) I realize I'm rushing myself toward my own inevitable death. How's that for motivation to slow down and savor each moment of existence!!
ReplyDeleteI agree Geri. Rushing & irritation are reliable signs that I'm being mindless, which end as soon as I notice the rushing & irritation.
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