Celebrating Life by Contempleting Death

Making death your friend to awake to your life. Contemplating death is a powerful pointer to what is really important. Celebrate your life by remembering death.

Transcript

I now will lead a contemplation on death.

And in the Buddhist tradition we meditate on death not to make us afraid but to increase the appreciation of life and to make ourselves ask what is really important.

So when I lead through the different points of this meditation I invite you to become aware of the feelings and the mental images and thoughts which arise.

And when you notice that your mind strays away gently bring it back to your body,

To your breath and then open to the mental images and the phrases and the suggestions I will make.

Just we take a few moments to settle down,

To connect with your body and your breath.

The first point in this meditation is that death is certain.

This is the one thing you know about your future that you are going to die.

No power in the universe can stop death.

Every person born will have to die.

So you have to die.

You cannot run away from your death.

There is nowhere to escape to.

If you are very wealthy you cannot bribe death.

If you are very strong and powerful you cannot defeat death.

In one hundred years from now everyone who is alive these days will be dead.

Death is certain.

You get closer to death with every minute,

Even right now with every breath,

With every move,

With every hour,

With every day.

You get closer to your death.

Knowing that you are going to die,

What is really important in your life?

What is the most important thing in your life?

Knowing that you are going to die,

What does really matter?

Knowing that you are going to die,

What is your song,

Your poem,

Your contribution?

Knowing that you are going to die,

Why hold you back?

What are you afraid of?

The second point of this meditation is that the time of death is uncertain.

You know that you are going to die but you don't know when.

Age is no guarantee.

Young people die before old people.

Health is no guarantee.

Sick person die before sick person.

Future plans are no guarantee.

There's many unfinished books,

Music,

Paintings,

Projects.

Death can happen at any time,

In every place.

There's many things which can be the cause of your death.

Just walking the street,

Being at home.

You don't know how much time is left.

And thinking it will happen later is a mistake.

The time of death is uncertain.

And soon many of the things which are very important to you right now will not matter at all.

Many of the hopes and worries which seems to be so important will not matter at all.

Why do we have to move Hampstead?

Okay,

Then let's come back.

If you would know that you are going to die in a week or in a month or in a year,

What would it change?

Feel into your body,

Into your heart,

Into life.

You are alive.

You are it,

You are the biggest wonder in the universe.

You are alive.

You can feel and hear and see and move.

And the biggest wonder,

You can be kind.

You can be decent.

You can help.

You can heal.

You can love.

You are alive.

And it's a gift given to you.

There never was a person like you.

There was never a moment like this.

You are alive.

Come on,

You are alive.

Just as you are,

You are it,

You are the biggest wonder in the universe.

Receiving the biggest gift,

Your life,

Mysterious.

You will never figure it out,

What it means to be alive.

You will never figure out what this is.

You can celebrate it,

Open to it,

Being an awe,

But you will never figure it out.

You are alive,

Breathing,

Having feelings,

Even the difficult ones.

You have hands to touch others.

You have a body which can taste,

Which can eat,

Which can breathe,

You are alive.

Death is certain and the time of death is uncertain.

You are going to die.

What is really important?

Money,

Reputation,

You kill you.

Or that you have to leave behind.

Knowing that you are going to die,

Why are you here?

So,

Now sliding out of this meditation,

Just being with whatever feelings and insights arose,

Looking around,

Extending your awareness into your environment,

Particularly into your relationships,

Your family and your friends,

Your neighbours and the people you work with.

You are unique.

This is a unique moment.

Allow yourself for a moment to celebrate the beauty.

And then throughout the day,

Allow yourself to return to one of your best friends,

Your death.

Looking and observing how acknowledging death can help you to set priorities,

Be more at ease and take things more lightly.

Reviews

This was excellent! Thank you so much. Such an important and orienting practice.

Loosing contact with family and friends is soething i have real problem to accept. IT frightens me, cause dispair. Difficult topic.

Thank you. It is so important to stop and get in touch with our own death! Not something most of us want to do.

This is one of the best meditations out there. It has been so powerful for me to revisit this regularly. So liberating and empowering. I am inspired daily with this meditation.

Very, very profound and helpful in clarifying how to live the moments we are alive.

Beneficial for understanding the preciousness of our life. A reflection to help bring what is important to the forefront and let go of what is not. A reminder of the importance of this moment.

What an amazing way to celebrate life, I wish you all the best🙏🙏🙏

“Knowing you will die, why are you here?” Great question and great meditation. Thank you

Unique meditation that helps to accept and deal with death, and become aware of what’s really important. Very grateful that this meditation is available at Insight Timer. Many thanks Stephan!

Confirms my way of living with the consciousness of death. I ‘died’ briefly in 1992 from a freak fall. I was lead back by those I imagine to be my spirit guides. The experience transformed my perception and relationship to the concept and reality of death. I don’t want to die, as such, and I certainly wouldn’t wish for another violent death. I am happy to be alive. But having been on the other side, so to speak,
my perception is that the transition, long or short, presents the greatest challenge.

One of my all time favourite meditations. Thank you.

I must practice Dharma! I must celebrate life now! What am I waiting for? 🙏🏼📿🙌🥸🌈🧘‍♂️⚰️

Thank you so much for this important practice!

The meditation is truly beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.

Thank you for the meaningful perspective

Great meditation

one to keep going back to, very enlightening

You are such a gift. Thank you for sharing this.

Gratitude to you once again! Thank you

Thank you for your guidance and insight, Stephan! 🙏