Autumn Reflections on Death
As the Autumn leaf falls I know that I too shall fall. but as the leaf, let me do so gracefully singing God's praises with all the colors of my being. Let this heap of minerals return to the earth. And in my dying, let me dance the dance of eternal life in the body of God Knowing whatever shape I take or place I land there goes a child of God residing in the Kingdom. Mike McMahon |
Looking Deeply at No Birth and No Death
Thich Nhat Hanh When we begin to understand that we are everything, our fear begins to disappear. We have deeply touched the dimensions of space and time. But to really be free of fear, we must look deeply into the ultimate dimension of no birth, no death. We need to free ourselves from these ideas that we are our body, and that we die. This is where we will discover the place of no fear. Here is a guided meditation to help you prepare for it. Breathing in, I know that I am breathing in. Breathing out, I know that I am breathing out. Breathing in, I am aware of a wave on the ocean. Breathing out, I smile to the wave on the ocean. Breathing in, I am aware of the water in the wave. Breathing out, I smile to the water in the wave. Breathing in, I see the birth of the wave. Breathing out, I smile to the birth of the wave. Breathing in, I see the death of the wave. Breathing out, I smile to the death of the wave. Breathing in, I see the birthless nature of the water. Breathing out, I smile to the birthless nature of the wave. Breathing in, I see the deathless nature of the water. Breathing out, I smile to the deathless nature of the water. Breathing in, I see the birth of my body. Breathing out, I smile to the birth of my body. Breathing in, I see the death of my body. Breathing out, I smile to the death of my body. Breathing in, I see the birthless nature of my body. Breathing out, I smile to the birthless nature of my body. Breathing in, I see the deathless nature of my body. Breathing out, I smile to the deathless nature of my body. Breathing in, I see the birthless nature of my consciousness. Breathing out, I smile to the birthless nature of consciousness. Breathing in, I am only aware on my in-breath. Breathing out, I am only aware of my out-breath. |