The Excerpts 55: Last Breath
BREATHE AS IF EVERY BREATH WERE YOUR LAST THEN YOU WILL NEVER BE BREATHLESS
Reflection on Death is a meditation - subject leading to the
bliss of Nibbana called the deathless. According to the Buddha the most
effective way of developing this meditation is to bring it in line with
the rhythm of our breath. He says that the one who is always keenly aware
that death can occur between two breaths, is steadily approaching the deathless
state. How can that be?
Death is the last thing we wish to think about, and when we think about
it at last we are too late. Very often when it knocks at our door we are
fully unprepared to receive it. The result is utter confusion and terror.
We are breathless and we have to depart with a heavy heart.
But on the other hand we become as familiar with death as with our breath
and hear its unavoidable approach with the tick tock of our clock we will
be better prepared to receive it. And when the time comes to depart, we
leave with a lighter burden and a lighter heart.
extracted from: www.lanka.com/dhamma