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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 21

We cannot know when, where, and die anywhere. We may imagine
how we will die. dying someday from cancer, or
another illness, but every day
When death comes, we will have to beings die from any number of
let go of everything. different causes.

These contemplations can be done The final step is reflecting,
while sitting in meditation, while “When I die, I will have to let go
walking, while lying down, or of everything—my family, my
Abhayagiri Monastery, Ukiah, CA, July 2022,
Ayya Anandabodhi and I meeting with Ajahn whenever we think of it. We can possessions, my accomplishments,
Sumedho and Ajahn Asoko from Amaravati begin by taking a few breaths and my body, even my name. I will be
Monastery, UK. grounding in the body. We might separated from everyone I love and

say to ourselves, “Every being that care about. I can only take with me
has ever lived has died—humans the karmic tendencies that I have
and non-humans, rich and poor, been cultivating.” When we die,
influential and powerless. I cannot everything must be left behind.
be an exception. I cannot possibly
escape this fate.” We often think Once we are familiar with all of these
that death lies somewhere far off steps, we can use just one short
in the distant future, but really our phrase that represents the essence
death arises with our birth. Just as of this entire practice, something as
a thrown ball will reach a certain simple as “Death is inevitable.” This
height and then begin to fall back is the core—the central notion that
to the ground, when causes and needs to be understood, accepted,
conditions are right, this body will and fully integrated.
also return to the Earth. Every
moment the ball rises, it is getting Many believe that thinking or
closer and closer to the time when it speaking about death will make
will begin coming back down. Just so, us depressed or afraid, keeping us
Dhammadharini Monastery, Penngrove, CA, with every year—every hour—every from really living. But often it is the
February 2023, meeting Ajahn Brahmali from fear of death itself that is making
Bodhinyana Monastery, Perth, Australia. minute—I am moving closer and
closer to my death. This reflection us depressed and afraid, keeping
works best if we come up with our us from really living. Once the truth
of maraṇasati (contemplation of
own images and wording. We must of death is embraced and digested,
death), we come to realize that we
make this practice our own in order those difficult emotions will
are just one tiny process within
to take full advantage of its potential. dissolve by themselves.
a vast universe of processes, all
intermingling and unfolding,
Next, we bring to mind that we Just as we don’t like to think about
expanding and contracting—a great
cannot know when, where, and our own death, it’s also distressing
sea. This practice not only prepares
how death will come. We might to think about the death of the
us for our own inevitable death, it
picture it happening when we are planet as we know it. We might
also helps us to truly live.
old and gray, but people of all ages avoid images or thoughts or
die. We might picture death coming discussions about climate change,
The practice of maraṇasati consists
when we are lying in a hospital or we might go to the other extreme
of three primary reflections:
bed or at home surrounded by our and fixate upon those images
Death is inevitable. loved ones, but actually beings can and reports, and talk about them