The Buddha called sickness, ageing and death, the divine messengers. The Buddha called death the supreme teacher, containing all teachers just the elephant’s footprint can contain all others.
I know that I will become sick, that I will age, and that I will die. I know these things but rarely am I aware of them. I begin with an intention to be aware of that death.
I spark my mind with repeated recollections of death: This body of mine will age and die, and its remains will whither and fade. These memories of mine will fade and disappear, and all those with memories of mine will fade and disappear. Everything I own will decay and disappear. Everything I have seen will die. Everyone I know will die. There is nothing I may hold onto that will not die. I will be gone, and all that I hold onto so dearly will be gone.
At these times distractions may penetrate the mind. Thoughts and scenarios. Also fear of the terror of the unknown nothing.
I spark my mind with repeated recollections of momentary death: Everything that appears in my mind disappears, and the mind too will disappear. This thought that has appeared will die. This memory, this image, this sensation, this attraction, this sound, this understanding; these will die. These things will die, and these things are dying in every moment.
At times the mind may distract itself with questions of theory and existence. And these too will die.
This inhalation is born, expands, and dies. This exhalation is born, expands, and dies.
