Now in my seventies, the following reflections and
contemplation have taken on deeper meaning for me than previously:
(1) Having a Precious Human Life
(a) Do I take my present favourable life’s opportunities
for granted?
(b) Am I grateful for the well-being I have at this
time?
(c) Am I appreciative for the conditions conducive for
spiritual practice that I have?
(d) Am I thankful for the supportive group of spiritual
friends that I have?
(e) Do I realize that nothing happens without a cause
– therefore, the freedoms and fortune I am enjoying today must be due to
accrued merit in the past. And so, I must not waste the opportunities I have
today!
(2) Accepting Impermanence and Death
(a) Know that death is definite and inevitable – for every
person alive.
(b) Realize that the time of death is uncertain – I don’t
know when I’ll die.
(c) Understand that my material possessions, as well as
friends and relatives, cannot help to prevent my death.
(d) Prepare for death now, seeing my mortality and transient
nature.
(e) Let me know and understand the importance of making my
life meaningful.
(3) Understanding Karma (Cause and Effect)
(a) Do I deeply know that karma is definite?
Happiness always comes from useful and beneficial actions – and pain from
unhelpful and damaging ones.
(b) Do I realize that karma is expandable? A
seemingly small cause can lead to a large outcome or result. And small
negativity can likewise lead to a large effect.
(c) Do I appreciate that if a cause has not been produced,
then an effect or outcome will not be experienced?
(d) Am I sobered by the fact that karmic latencies will
not get lost – and that I will experience their results at some stage?
[However, negative latencies can be purified by the four opponent powers –
power of regret, (not guilt); power of the foundation; power of turning away
from faults; power of remedial behaviour – but, positive latencies can be
impaired by our getting angry or generating distorted views. (Chodron, Thubten.
Guided Buddhist Meditations, p. 87. Shambhala. Kindle Edition.)]
(e) Am I determined and resolute in watching and observing
my motivations and actions from now on – so that I can create the
causes of happiness and avoid the causes of suffering?
(4) Recognizing the Inherent Suffering in Life
(a) Can I imagine myself as an old, frail person – with the
unavoidable decline of my physical and mental abilities?
(b) Have I experienced getting sick without choice, or even
control, on my part – or, the sickness of others in the same predicament (such
as those suffering with Parkinson’s Disease or dementia)?
(c) Have I encountered problems, even though I did my best
to avoid them?
(d) Have I not worked so hard in trying to obtain something
– and yet did not acquire or achieve it?
(e) Have I not found it difficult to contend with strong
negative emotions at times, that seemed to arise from nowhere?
(5) Having Equal Love for All
(a) May I and all beings be happy and have the causes of
happiness.
(b) May I and all beings be free from suffering and the
causes of suffering.
(c) May I and all beings have the happiness of complete
Awakening that will never diminish or fail.
(d) Thus may we abide in great equanimity, unruffled by
attachment and aversion and with equal love for all beings.
(Source: Hookham, Lama Shenpen. There's More to Dying
than Death. Windhorse Publications Ltd. Kindle Edition.)
(e) Another expression of the Four Immeasurables (or Four
Boundless Emotions) is:
May all beings have happiness and its causes.
May all beings be free from suffering and its causes.
May all beings know pure joy untouched by suffering.
May all beings live in peace untroubled by anger or
clinging.
(Source: Neale, Miles. Gradual Awakening. Sounds
True. Kindle Edition.)
(6) Being Prepared for Death
(a) Have I made all the practical preparations for before
my death approaches?
(b) Have I taken care of the practical preparations for after
my death?
(c) As far as spiritual preparation, have I given thought as
to what to do for myself before I die?
(d) As far as spiritual preparation, am I prepared for what
to do for myself as I die?
(e) As far as spiritual preparation, have I given thought
for what to do for myself after I die?
(7) Fulfilling Responsible Stewardship
(a) Do I have an up-to-date will in place?
(b) Have I streamlined and simplified my possessions?
(c) Have I organized my living space for neatness and
simplicity?
(d) Have I simplified my expectations, activities (including
social involvements and relationships), and pace of life?
(e) Having downscaled and decluttered my life, am I able to
now devote more time toward lasting, spiritual pursuits – in preparation for
peacefully leaving this life?
(8) Embarking on a Spiritual Path
(a) Have I given thought to the value of a spiritual path – whereby
“suffering, its causes, their cessation and the path must in turn be understood,
eliminated, realized and relied upon” (Maitreya, Sublime
Continuum, VI, 55)?
(b) Do I grasp the parallel thought to the one above:
“Illness must be understood, its causes eliminated, well-being
must be attained, and medicine taken” (Maitreya, Sublime
Continuum, VI, 55)?
(c) Do I see the wisdom of listening and hearing?
(d) Do I understand the wisdom of contemplation and
reflection?
(e) Do I appreciate wisdom of meditation and
application.
Alexander Peck (February 8, 2020)
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| Reflection: The inspiration from these four reminders about life -- (1) having a precious human life; (2) accepting impermanence and death; (3) understanding karma or cause and effect; (4) recognizing the unsatisfactoriness of life -- can lead to these four actions -- (5) having equal love for all; (6) being prepared for death; (7) fulfilling responsible stewardship; (8) embarking on a spiritual path. (Alexander Peck) |