Embracing Death

After so many beautiful responses on the Insight Timer online course Embracing life, death, and impermanence, Ruben is continuing to offer guidance on this topic. In this guided visualization Ruben will slowly and softly guide you toward your last breath. If contemplating in this way, at some point during this meditation, doesn't feel comfortable, know that you can stop listening at all times. May you, as always, enjoy the soft, warm, and loving words spoken in these meditations.

Transcript

Welcome to this guided meditation.

Let us travel again.

For us as these human vehicles it's so helpful to know that life is impermanent.

And how many hours a day do we truly realize this?

How many times a day do you realize that this life is going to end?

Let's explore some more.

But first take a deep breath in and relax.

Another deep breath in and out.

Again nothing for you to do right now.

Just sit or lay down.

Whatever you like.

All is well.

You might want to return to this recording again.

It can be helpful to sometimes be fully present,

Very alert.

And other times just lay down and even gently fall asleep if you like.

But as with all these meditations it's very helpful to keep returning.

So one more time.

Deep breath in and out.

Nice.

So right now imagine this to be your last day.

Might be hard to imagine,

But for the purpose of this practice,

We'll slowly go towards your last breath.

Last night it became obviously clear for you that tomorrow,

Which is right now for you,

Would be your last day here on earth.

Wow.

Deep down you knew,

And right now you know,

It's inevitable,

This life,

Today,

At the end of this day,

Is going to end.

There might be still some resistance,

Sure,

That's okay.

Not knowing what is going to happen when leaving this body is kind of new.

In the upcoming minutes you've got time to contemplate about your life.

What exactly in your life stood out for you?

Which moments do you cherish?

Which precious moments can fill you up totally with this warm and beautiful feeling?

What in your life has always been so precious to you?

You suddenly realize that thinking about these precious moments,

Feeling them in the way you do now,

Will no longer be possible at the end of this day.

Thinking about your loved ones,

Experiencing all these feelings,

All these varieties,

Joy,

Sadness,

Doubt,

Insecurity,

The feeling of not being good enough,

This feeling of total bliss,

All will be totally different at the end of this day when your life will end.

Wow,

Suddenly it becomes so obviously clear that all you ever seem to experience is no longer going to be like it's being experienced right now.

Nothing.

All your stuff,

All that you've gathered along the way,

Your bank account,

Your mortgage or rent and all your paperwork will no longer be part of your experience.

Just by taking one last breath out,

Everything changes.

All that felt so real and so important will vanish.

And how beautiful that right now in this timeless moment you are sort of able to practice that you might leave this body.

Today,

Even right now,

Or tomorrow,

Or next week,

Or maybe in many years.

But we don't know,

Do we?

But knowing from deep within that life can be over instantly.

Knowing this from deep within will make you perceive life totally different,

Way more vibrant.

Knowing the impermanent nature of life will show you again and again the wonder of it all.

And we could say,

Practicing in this way is so important.

If we truly want to live fully,

We need to embrace death as part of this life.

And since this message came to you,

Somehow it's very clear that life is helping your human vehicle to be fully alive,

Totally.

So let's deepen and continue.

Five more hours for you to be here,

Breathing.

Wow,

Being here in this body,

It seems,

Wow.

Feeling,

Thinking,

Looking out through these eyes,

Experiencing.

All seems so familiar,

Doesn't it?

All seems to be so solid.

But is it?

Truly.

Practicing in this way,

Imagining yourself to be gone,

So to speak,

Is very helpful.

At the moment of death,

It's very helpful to be aware.

To be aware of awareness,

So to speak.

To know yourself from deep within,

To be this non-personal awareness.

Imagine yourself to be totally identified as being this person,

With all its stories and dramas.

Being totally identified with this body,

My body,

My life,

My family,

My work,

My home,

My money,

My car,

My bike,

My phone,

My computer.

All from me,

Me,

Me,

Me.

Imagine yourself to be in that state.

And the clock ticking.

Wow.

But it's mine,

It's my life.

And now imagine yourself to be fully relaxed,

Knowing that that which you are is okay,

Isn't moving,

Isn't trying to control things.

You as your listening right now,

Are totally open,

Spacious,

At ease.

And there might be sadness arising.

But there's no clinging.

And even when clinging seems to arise,

It's also seen as perfect.

There's this simultaneity again.

Ah,

There's this ease and peace.

And a deep trust.

A deep knowing that all is okay.

Peaceful.

Hmm.

So right now,

Four hours to go.

Try to imagine this fully.

Your whole life,

Your whole precious life,

Will be gone in four hours.

Only four hours to go.

No return.

Well,

You might.

You might return.

But probably won't remember any of this.

Nothing.

Isn't that somehow kind of shocking?

All you ever knew.

Gone.

Forever.

Ah.

Less than four hours.

There you are,

Right now,

Listening,

Knowing that it's going to be over in less than four hours.

Is it possible for you right now to tune in to that which will always be there?

Which is unchanging.

Open.

Spacious.

Loving.

You.

Can you be you?

Ah.

Can you sense this?

Let's keep on playing the game.

Three hours to go.

Hmm.

Whoa.

And suddenly you realize that it's truly time to let go of everything.

You deeply realize that holding on to anything isn't beneficial.

Two and a half hours to go.

And here you are,

As yourself.

Open.

Spacious.

You.

You as this unchanging mystery.

Huh.

This wonder.

Perceiving life as it is.

No longer clinging.

No longer trying to control.

Fully accepting the fact that in two hours,

This life will end.

You,

As this bodily vehicle,

Will no longer be breathing.

Your heartbeat will stop.

Full stop.

Ah.

And somehow there's this excitement arising.

Full stop.

Can you imagine?

Full stop.

Hmm.

Interesting,

Isn't it?

Ah.

Everything will fade away.

And more and more,

You feel ready.

Ready to let go.

Hmm.

Gratitude.

Can you sense this?

Gratitude for being here now.

For finding this peace within.

So much gratitude.

A very gentle smile on your face.

Hmm.

Such a warm feeling.

So ready to let it all go.

So obvious that all along,

Throughout your whole life,

It always,

Already,

Was totally fine.

Totally complete.

Life always has been okay.

Fully okay.

Even the most disturbing moments were,

In essence,

Truly okay.

Ah.

And there you are.

Half an hour.

Hmm.

Releasing all confusion.

All misunderstanding.

All fades away.

Totally.

And what is left is such a warm and tender feeling.

As if right now,

Love is shining forth.

As if this mystery,

The wonder of this beautiful life,

Is so palpable.

So palpable.

The energy in the room increases in such a beautiful way.

These beautiful vibrations are showing you that this precious moment is here to be fully embraced.

Can you sense this?

Ah.

How would it be to fully embrace the preciousness of this life,

Of this wonder,

In each moment,

Until your last breath?

For the purpose of this practice,

Ten minutes to go.

Ah.

Your last ten minutes.

Can you imagine this?

Your last ten minutes in this beautiful,

Mysterious life,

As this bodily vehicle.

You,

In your last ten minutes.

Can you imagine this?

Nine minutes.

And all will be different.

Hmm.

Fully surrendering.

Fully letting go.

Totally experiencing the unchanging truth of your own being.

This non-personal awareness.

You.

Love.

God.

Ah.

So beautiful.

Five more minutes.

Your last five minutes.

Imagine this.

There you are.

Ah.

Knowing that it's going to end in five minutes.

Four minutes.

Hmm.

Your whole body is ready to leave.

There's such a clear connection with this spacious,

Open,

Wide open,

Beautiful,

Loving space.

You are no longer identified as being this locked up person.

This little me is no longer feelable.

No longer sensible.

It's just you as this beautiful,

Loving space.

This loving awareness.

Ah.

Three minutes.

Two minutes.

Your last two minutes in this mysterious life.

Your last one hundred seconds.

Imagine this.

Ah.

Hmm.

Nothing for you to do right now.

So obvious.

It's okay.

It's okay to let go.

You,

As yourself,

Already complete,

Are ready.

Ready to let go.

Knowing that never ever before you were able to hold on to anything.

Never ever before were you truly holding on to anything.

Gratitude again.

Gratitude for all these beautiful beings you've known as friends,

Partners,

Family.

Thank you all for being.

And you're thanking yourself deeply.

Thank you for being able to experience this precious and mysterious life.

It is now time to take your last breath.

Ah.

All is well.

All is forever perfect.

Thank you so much for listening again.

And practicing.

Understanding life,

Death and impermanence is such a beautiful way.

You'll be more thankful for all that you're experiencing.

Also those difficult moments in life.

Everything is seen as being pure love.

Automatically you'll find yourself being more thankful towards others.

More gentle.

Less aggressive.

And when stepping into your car or on a bike or in a bus or a train,

You'll automatically be reminded that this life can be over in any moment.

And right there in that moment you might ask the universe to speak for support.

May we all be well.

May we all be safe.

And also you might notice when leaving somebody,

You'll be more sharp.

Remembering that this might be the last time you're going to see that being.

And this automatically will bring gratitude into your experience.

Thank you for being here.

I love you.

Thank you for supporting me in my life.

Thank you for being there for me.

Thank you for appearing within my consciousness.

Instead of rushing away,

Bye.

Ah.

In each moment you'll see the preciousness of that moment.

Can you see how important it is to practice that which we call death and dying?

To feel into it.

To imagine yourself to be leaving this body from time to time.

It's so helpful to just lay down and imagine,

Wow,

In five minutes this will be the end.

See what comes up.

And if all gets very emotional,

Which can happen,

Know that there's always this possibility to take a deep breath in and soften.

When you practice this all by yourself,

You might want to write a small note saying,

I can always take a deep breath in and soften.

That which I truly am is non-personal awareness.

Or if you feel more comfortable practicing,

Through guidance you can join the online course Embracing Life,

Death and Impermanence,

Which is available on my profile.

This online course helped many people already.

It's a very beautiful journey that will help you explore life,

Death and impermanence.

I remember one of the students sharing,

I wish it would never end.

It's an online course which is written by me and is spoken by Charmaine.

She's from America.

So if you feel like exploring this theme,

I would highly recommend joining this online course.

For now,

Since we're still here,

Hopefully so,

I wish you a very,

Very beautiful day.

Bye.

You

Reviews

I used this meditation in Maine while a friend was transitioning in California. Very moving. Thank you.

5/5 star ⭐
Great guidance. Made me cry and smile ., very beneficial to practice dying .. thank you 🙏

One of the best death and impermanence meditations on Insight Timer. Thank you 🙏🏽

Thank you Dearest Ruben🙏🏻
✨🩵✨ I am crying from the soft comfort of your warmly spoken words. And at the same time encouraged and re-energized to live each moment in gratitude and guided by love-no matter the concern or challenge. I consider it a true blessing to have been guided to find you here on IT. I love having your voice in my ear and messages nested in my heart now. Such peace and softness…ahhhh. 🩵