Many would be surprised to know that what they refer to as the teachings of Gautama are mere derivatives (simplified and easy to accept versions) to give hope of a paradise after death without much effort or cultivation other than devotion on the part of followers.
Thus the popular schools of Buddhism based on the Bodhisatva ideals came into being to offer simplicity and there is no need to do more than just being good and calling on to the name of a Bodhisatva who is one who forgoes full enlightenment to help sentient beings be reborn in Heaven and only then while in Heaven learn the Way.
This is indeed good for the many and out of compassion for the many. But the flip side is that such approach may limit the more serious from going the mile while in the life of flesh and blood.
It is also more like the other faiths that teach the need to worship and to be good. To many this is an excuse not to go further but the great men at the helm of faiths will tell us that there is more than just worship and being good. This is because they are wise and indeed good and worthy leaders.
Only a finite number of beings can go the mile because doing so is against the current or flow of the majority. This was stressed by the Buddha who wanted to share with us that we handle the stark reality of life head-on even if this means going against the current.
So while many who are religious in their respective religions do not think of death and even circumvent this issue by promising no death if reborn in their faith, the Buddha emphasized on daily mindfulness of death as a routine. This is appalling to many and will put them off. But to those who know better, this is good.
This will moderate them from indulgence and act as brakes or even pull them away from more attachment to worldly life. With understanding of the inevitable occurrence of death, they will value life and not run away from life. They will value every minute of life and live it purposefully, gainfully and wholesomely without denying life at one extreme or indulging in life at the other extreme.
They will of course naturally even direct every bit of life in more full measure towards enlightenment here and now and not go for the offered twig of paradise in afterlife. Meditating on death should be integral to every moment of the serious seeker of enlightenment.
The fruits are realised in every moment in that he finds himself more calm and not be given to fear and apprehension of demise in any form.
But for the many, they need to take up the offer of Bodhisatva and that will be the best option for them till they realise that they should not waste time but as put in the Buddha's own words, "Transient are all component things. Strive on with diligence."
It is of course better to do what we need to do now and not wait till afterlife to do so. Do be aware that life in Heaven too is not eternal but transient. If this is true, make haste while the sun shines and the moment of life is now.
Meditating on death or mindfulness of our mortality is the way to go. But do it correctly and under guidance and we will have more peace. It is however against the flow or current as the Buddha put it. We must live life the Buddha Way and be on the way even while in life of flesh.
By inculcating the awareness of death as universal and inevitable, we wake up to the world of peace and treasure every second of life. We will be more goal directed and aspire to be like the Buddha and to be buddhas ourselves.
Please note that cultivating mindfulness of death in daily life is just one of the requirements to be on the path to enlightenment. It will enhance inner peace or Upekkha - equanimity or peace amid the ups and downs of life.
But inner peace is not the end all as enlightenment must be without attachment not even to the jhanas or ecstasies from inner peace absorptions that the formless ones - the pure ones or brahmas have. Enlightenment is even beyond this.
For the vast majority, the promise of heaven is good enough - never mind that this is not realisable in this life and cannot be verified till next life. On top of that uncertainty, eternity in afterlife is debatable and perhaps even a myth.
But to many, it matters not as long as they can have life in heaven in after life. That may be the choice that Heaven bestows and we have God and the many saints to thank for.
But eventually all will know better and want to go beyond Heaven - beyond rebirths and promises that we cannot verify now but only in after life. Those in Heaven knows that their immortality is relative and death is a certainty to them. Gotama was in the heavens in the few rebirths before his descent to Earth to attain the deathless.
Those in Heaven too must cultivate mindfulness of death in daily life though they have long life spans which by comparison to earthlings seem to be eternity.
But many don't mind and relish in their good fate to be in Heaven. Perhaps we too don't mind though the more perceptive like Gotama will think differently.
The ones up there think they are immortals and indeed they are in a way as their lifespans are in the thousands of years and more. Our life span as man is a mere fraction or decimal of one percent of their lifespans. Their capabilities far surpass that of men and men do need their patronage and blessings. They extend loving kindness to beings not as fortunate in relative sense.
But however long the lifespans and however majestic they may be, they will come to abrupt ends and this can be hard to accept. It is better that all beings cultivate mindfulness of death in the life of the moment - for every moment of life.
This will enable them to transit into purity that is enlightenment where there is no clinging or attachment of all sorts - not even to the very refine mental absorptions or jhanas that come from inner peace cultivation.
Whatever beautiful and seemingly perfect is like the flower. It will not last. Lord Bo Tien said so in one of his past annual messages. He added that the flower as a whole is beautiful and seem perfect but the parts of the flower taken separately are not perfect and may even be ugly.
Well, our life is like the flower and the flower will die. We too will but our lifespan is many fold longer than the flower. We do live like in eternity compared to the flower.
But we will come to the end like the flower at least physically. We do need to cultivate mindfulness of death in daily life. That way we live more wisely and have no apprehension of death and will not be taken aback when death comes knocking at our doors.
Be at peace. Live without fear - not even of death. Peace comes from within us and cannot be found without. Who said so? The Buddha and no less... We must have inner peace and this is the stepping stone to enlightenment - the raft to cross to the other shore where there is no death, let alone disease and old age.
By inculcating the awareness of death as universal and inevitable, we wake up to the world of peace and treasure every second of life. We will be more goal directed and aspire to be like the Buddha and to be buddhas ourselves.
Please note that cultivating mindfulness of death in daily life is just one of the requirements to be on the path to enlightenment. It will enhance inner peace or Upekkha - equanimity or peace amid the ups and downs of life.
But inner peace is not the end all as enlightenment must be without attachment not even to the jhanas or ecstasies from inner peace absorptions that the formless ones - the pure ones or brahmas have. Enlightenment is even beyond this.
For the vast majority, the promise of heaven is good enough - never mind that this is not realisable in this life and cannot be verified till next life. On top of that uncertainty, eternity in afterlife is debatable and perhaps even a myth.
But to many, it matters not as long as they can have life in heaven in after life. That may be the choice that Heaven bestows and we have God and the many saints to thank for.
But eventually all will know better and want to go beyond Heaven - beyond rebirths and promises that we cannot verify now but only in after life. Those in Heaven knows that their immortality is relative and death is a certainty to them. Gotama was in the heavens in the few rebirths before his descent to Earth to attain the deathless.
Those in Heaven too must cultivate mindfulness of death in daily life though they have long life spans which by comparison to earthlings seem to be eternity.
But many don't mind and relish in their good fate to be in Heaven. Perhaps we too don't mind though the more perceptive like Gotama will think differently.
The ones up there think they are immortals and indeed they are in a way as their lifespans are in the thousands of years and more. Our life span as man is a mere fraction or decimal of one percent of their lifespans. Their capabilities far surpass that of men and men do need their patronage and blessings. They extend loving kindness to beings not as fortunate in relative sense.
But however long the lifespans and however majestic they may be, they will come to abrupt ends and this can be hard to accept. It is better that all beings cultivate mindfulness of death in the life of the moment - for every moment of life.
This will enable them to transit into purity that is enlightenment where there is no clinging or attachment of all sorts - not even to the very refine mental absorptions or jhanas that come from inner peace cultivation.
Whatever beautiful and seemingly perfect is like the flower. It will not last. Lord Bo Tien said so in one of his past annual messages. He added that the flower as a whole is beautiful and seem perfect but the parts of the flower taken separately are not perfect and may even be ugly.
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| Lord Bo Tien |
But we will come to the end like the flower at least physically. We do need to cultivate mindfulness of death in daily life. That way we live more wisely and have no apprehension of death and will not be taken aback when death comes knocking at our doors.
Be at peace. Live without fear - not even of death. Peace comes from within us and cannot be found without. Who said so? The Buddha and no less... We must have inner peace and this is the stepping stone to enlightenment - the raft to cross to the other shore where there is no death, let alone disease and old age.
