Lessening Fears & Anxieties Around Death

A guided death meditation which creates space to experience the non-dual state of Spirit, while lessening our fears and anxieties around death.

Transcript

Death meditation.

So this is a really great practice that helps us to loosen our identification with our bodies and our sense perceptions.

Not that there's anything wrong with them,

But it's beneficial because as we do this we're able to create a space to experience the non-dual state of God or stillness,

Buddha mind,

Cosmic Christ spirit,

Whatever you choose to call it.

And in doing so,

Lessening our fears and anxieties around our inevitable death.

I've also found that practicing these sorts of death meditations can help us to deepen our appreciation for everyday life,

The simpler things,

Our families and friends and the sunrises and sunsets or a good cup of coffee,

The smell of freshly cut grass,

Whatever the case may be,

Just really becoming more grateful and aware of all of it.

And we're able to then enjoy it from a place of greater reverence with the respect and knowledge that nothing on this material level is going to last forever.

One thing I like to be very clear on before we move any farther into this practice is that I'm not saying that in any way death is the answer.

If anything,

It's the complete opposite of that.

And really this practice may not even be suitable if you are struggling with depression or issues like that.

That's for you to decide,

But I want to be very clear on that.

And I just also want to be clear that this is not a glamorization of death or something that would lead you to believe that death in and of itself in any way is the answer because it's not.

So if you're listening to this and you're struggling with depression and you haven't talked to someone on a professional level about it,

Whether it's a doctor or a psychiatrist or a counselor,

Please do so and do that ASAP.

Your mental health is very,

Very important.

And I speak from firsthand experience about this,

But also that life does get better and there's really no need for you to continue living from a place of sadness or hopelessness if that is your experience.

All right.

And so now with all of that said,

We're going to move into this meditation,

This practice.

It's an interpretation that I've put together based on one that was taught by Laura Huxley,

Who is the wife of the brilliant writer Aldous Huxley.

So we begin by,

If possible,

Doing this in a darkened room.

You can do it if the room is not dark,

But that does help to set the mood.

So lie down and get comfortable and as you do so,

We're going to begin by letting go of our body and imagining that we're dead,

That our body is lifeless and having served its purpose,

It is no longer ours.

So we'll go ahead and take a couple of minutes to really explore that.

As you lie there,

Explore this empty and alone sensation of no longer having a body and allow this experience to take you wherever it goes.

It might result in screaming or crying or even swearing,

Or it might be peaceful.

Just go into it without any preconceived notions and allow it to unfold naturally.

And no matter how comfortable it is,

Just do your best to stay with it.

And if it's pleasant,

That's great,

Continue to stay with it.

And now we're going to imagine ourselves as a person.

And now we're going to imagine ourselves at our actual funeral.

Picture what the room may look like,

Or if it's outdoors,

What that may look like,

Or if you don't go the traditional funeral route,

Whatever kind of gathering there may be after you are gone amongst friends and family.

See who would be there.

Really take a moment to explore what it may look like.

And as you do,

Begin to talk to some of your friends and family that are in attendance.

This is a really powerful part of this practice.

Take the time to tell them everything you ever wanted to,

But for whatever reason,

Felt as though you couldn't before.

Now this can include all of your fears,

Your mistakes,

Your suffering,

Your embarrassments,

Your joys.

Let all of it out because you no longer have to fear what anyone else thinks.

This is your final goodbye,

So don't hold anything back.

We'll take several moments now to go ahead and allow you to do this.

And don't worry if you don't talk to everyone you would like to because again,

You can do this practice daily or weekly or monthly,

Whatever feels right to you.

And the next time you do it,

You can go back and talk with whomever you didn't have a chance to today.

So we'll go ahead now and take a little time to explore this part of the practice.

And now for this next part of the practice,

Even if you weren't envisioning yourself at a traditional funeral,

I will ask you to go ahead and try to imagine yourself in a coffin,

Your body that you laid aside in a coffin.

And make your way over to this casket or coffin and look at your corpse lying there lifeless.

Take a moment to allow whatever emotions that come up to come up.

Perhaps you might feel like crying and if that's the case,

Go right ahead and cry and do so for as long as the need be.

If there is pain or resentment or bitterness,

Fear,

Hurt,

Sadness,

Any of these emotions,

Feel free to let those out as well.

And so we'll go ahead and just take a couple of moments to explore what it feels like to look at yourself lying lifeless in a casket.

And now what we're going to do is take our lifeless hand in the casket and raise it up to our lips and with love and reverence,

Kiss it,

Saying goodbye.

And once we've done that,

Allow yourself to imagine the entire room disappearing.

So all that's left is a sense of I am-ness or stillness or being.

We're going to take a few moments to explore this place of I am-ness and really get to know what it feels like being bodyless yet still existing in a very real way.

Now,

Gently bring yourself back to your living body.

It may help to wiggle your fingers and toes just to reorient yourself back into your physical body.

As we're doing this,

Cultivate a feeling of loving freedom within yourself and then allow it to spread from your heart to every single part of you.

And that includes your atoms and your molecules,

Your cells and bones and muscles,

Skin and tissue,

So that it embodies your entire sense of being.

And then as you move forward in your waking life,

Do your best to continue cultivating this feeling of love,

Respect,

And gratitude in every moment,

Allowing it to emanate through you and into the world for all beings to enjoy.

Reviews

I have a lot of fear about this topic and this was a really great way for me to expose myself to that fear and work thru some things. Very emotional, but amazing as well. Thank you 🙏🏼💗

I have been dealing with a panic disorder rooted in my fear of death and the unknown of after passing. This visualization was amazing in how it allowed me to let go of that fear. This meditation has truly been a blessing!

Right stuff for returning practice and one of the methods to train clear view. Those who have resistance and objection to it, better go find some other ego-massaging meditation "dope" and keep themselves deluded. Thank you for your guidance.

Not quite ready for this

First time doing a death meditation. I found it to be very useful. Helps cultivate an appreciation for life and lessens fear associated with death. Will definitely be integrating as a regular part of my practice.

Gratitude for this meditation. Thanking so much for posting it. I appreciate the silences, the guided narrative and the bell ringing out and not being cut off at the end. Namaste

Thank you Chris Grosso. That was a meaningful medtation. The exploration of not having a body showed me how valuable it is to use my body well, connecting with others in love and understanding while we can.

Great. About your own death, not the death of others. Can definitely help with identification and/or attachment with form and the body.

Woah there were so many times in the beginning where i wanted to turn this off but man am i glad i stuck with it. Very powerful meditation. So many tears. But the realization that you continue to exist on a non material plane is quite liberating.

thank you! i have tried this meditation so many times but would give up after the first 2 minutes. too much anxiety. today i felt ready. and the amazing thing happened. no anxiety at all. no fear of eventually being forgotten. the love was there and the realization that i will always be there for them in their hearts. there was detachment which was surprising. a joyful detachment. lots of tears of love and gratitude. some unanswered questions. thank you again.

Very powerful. I was unaware of the strong connection I have to my physical body and all the fear I have around life/living and death. I need to work with this often. Thank you

I have really profound and meaningful experience thank you.

An excellent contemplation to be done frequently.

Powerful and emotional experience. Great voice and quality recording. Thank you!

My favourite meditation on death! That's the first one that brings me close to the feeling of dying/being dead. Thanks

Soothing, thoughtful voice. Gentle instruction. Plenty of spaciousness. Thank you

Peace, love, light, energy, posativity, prosperity in abundance in all ways, always