Contemplation On Death & Impermanence

A contemplation on impermanence and death, ideally listened to in a quiet spot in nature, where you can sit and lie flat. Guided by Lucy Chan, teacher of mindfulness, self-compassion & Buddhism from Mindful Living Retreats - an organisation that offers courses and retreats throughout the UK.

Transcript

Hello,

My name is Lucy Chan and this is a contemplation on impermanence and death.

It is ideally listened to in a quiet spot in nature,

Somewhere you feel safe and where you won't be disturbed.

And also somewhere you would feel comfortable firstly sitting on the ground and later lying flat on the ground.

So choosing a spot and finding a comfortable seated position on the ground with your eyes open,

Casting a soft gaze on the landscape in front of you.

Noticing the points of contact with the body and the earth.

Perhaps having a sense of grounding,

Of arriving.

Perhaps taking a deep full breath in and when releasing the breath,

Feeling yourself sink a little bit deeper into the earth.

Being gently held by the ground and earth.

So as you look out to the landscape in front of you,

Does it appear unchanging,

Solid,

Immovable?

Or can you tune in to the true nature of things,

The true nature of life?

Can you see that the leaves on the trees will one day fall and as the seasons change new life will blossom?

Buds and leaves beginning anew?

Can you see that the clouds in the sky will eventually pass through and one day will become a part of us?

Perhaps a drop of rain will one day be transformed into a tear of grief or joy.

Every day the earth tilts,

Allowing the sun to rise,

Giving us a new day,

A new beginning,

A new start.

Can this fire from the changing sun be honoured by our fires within?

Perhaps you can ask yourself,

What does it mean for me to be alive right now?

As you sit here on the earth you can feel it gently holding and supporting you.

Can you sense the solidity of the earth reflected in the solidity of your body?

As one day your body will return to nourish the very same earth that once sustained you.

And so I would now like to invite you to close your eyes.

And as you are sat here start leaning back,

Leaning back so that eventually you are lying flat on the ground.

And as you lie back you can imagine time passing.

Time has passed to the unknown point where you are now lying on your deathbed.

Visualise yourself on your deathbed,

Peaceful and content.

And with this image in your mind you are now going to take yourself as you are today into the future to visit yourself on your deathbed.

You can cherish this limited time with your future self.

If it feels right you can hold your hand tenderly.

Use this time now to thank your future self for the full life they have given you.

Feel free to speak your thanks to them in your mind.

You can express your gratitude for all the gifts of life you have been lucky enough to touch and receive during your time alive.

Using this time now to thank your future self.

You can also give thanks to your body lying there,

Which has been your life's gift.

Which has been your loyal home and has allowed you to experience life the best way it knew how.

So using this time to give thanks to your body.

And now you can ask your future self for any wisdom they may have for you.

If there is anything important for you to look towards during your lifetime.

Ask your future self these questions.

What really is important to do with this one precious human life?

And as they look kindly into your eyes listen intently to what they have to share with you.

Once they have finished sharing you can give them your gratitude once again and say your tender goodbye whilst allowing this image to gently leave your mind.

Now gently bringing your attention back into your body.

Noticing the points of contact with the body and the ground.

Once again taking in a full deep breath.

Touching into the aliveness of the breath.

And when you feel ready gently opening your eyes.

And now gently bringing your attention back into your body.

Reviews

🙏

A beautiful meditation. I've never considered asking my future self for advice. Thank you 🙏.

Thank you for making this available. It is a godsend. Love Shuman

Absolutely beautiful. I love the shift from contemplating nature to watch impermanence, and then closing the eyes and lying down to contemplate your own impermanence.

A beautifully done and very important meditation. Thank you so much!

As this day may be the last for a mentor and friend, I am eternally grateful for you and this meditation. Thank you for providing me peace and greater understanding. 🙏🏻

BEAUTIFULLY Compassionate❣️🙏🏻💕

A truly beautiful and meaningful journey. Thank you Lucy. x

Very touching, profound and powerful. Will return. Thank you.

I found this visualization powerful. Thank you. 🙏

Bookmarking- a good practice to do more often

Thank you🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

It’s so good to hear death and impermanence spoken about so beautifully and easily (as it should be!). I find both oddly reassuring, that all things will pass away. Difficult things become more manageable and pleasant things are less clung on to. Thank you Lucy 🙏

I need more time with future me... I don't have the answers...

Interesting meditation. Namaste

Lovely practice. Very helpful and expertly guided me to observing the impermanence of all things without being at all depressing or dark. It is simply observing what we see, and as we are part of this impermanent world, so we too are impermanent.

In the last 18 months, I have had a series of losses, from the passing away of three close family members as well as one of my staff at work, to a major surgery, to (a joyful loss but still a loss in the lifestyle I once led) becoming an "empty nesters" as my only child graduated high school and left home for college. These events, combined with the need to sort through family possessions left behind after the deaths, have brought the nature of impermanence home to me in a very stark relief. Where once I was a "border hoarder," I now find that physical objects don't mean nearly as much as they once did. Even those objects, as I view items my aunt had inherited from her mother, who inherited them from HER mother (my great-grandmother), and so on, no longer retain their original luster despite best attempt to clean and restore them. They are impermanent too, just with a longer lifespan.

And so I have found my focus for my practice shifting to contemplating impermanence, death, and loss much more these days. It is freeing, which I did not expect. This former almost "border hoarder" is now starting to embrace the minimalist mindset and am working on clearing out old and unneeded/unusable items to make room for SPACE and breathing room in my life. The tree leaf cycle has been my touchstone throughout this time, with reflections in the family tree symbol (I am a semi-pro genealogist studying to obtain my certification), so I am frequently reminded when I see it.

I thank you for this clear and calm practice which was quite uplifting and centering for me. Though I practiced inside, I grew up in the mountains and forests, and have enjoyed my time walking, hiking, and camping my whole life. About a year ago, I took up the practice of shinrin yoku (forest bathing) to help me cope with the pain and overwhelming emotions of my losses. I continue that practice as well.

Today, I was able this morning, looking out the window at the sunrise just beginning, to visualize a setting described by you as ideal. On a more challenging day, I might close my eyes and play birdsong or a similar nature sound recording while inhaling the scent of pine trees or similar to assist me.

I thank you for sharing this practice with us here. I have bookmarked and downloaded it for use again. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I see the light within you. 🤲🏻❤️🤲🏻

Thank you for this gentle reminder of the truth and beauty of impermanence.