Death is
certainly eventual.
Dying is not certainly gradual
[as it can be sudden].
When you are only mindful of life,
you might not be mindful of death.
When you are also mindful of death,
you will be more mindful of life.
- Stonepeace
In the Maranassati
(Mindfulness of Death) Sutta, the Buddha reminded the monks that
they should reflect at dusk, of how there are many possible abrupt causes of
death, such as by being bitten
by a snake or stung by a scorpion… which thus obstructs spiritual
practice. Or one might die from a fall, food-poisoning or other
ailments. One should therefore investigate if there are any
defilements in the mind, that will impede one if one dies in the
night, so that one can exert additional aspiration, mindfulness and
effort in abandoning them, with urgency as if one's head is on
fire. If there are no defilements in the mind, one should dwell
blissfully, and further one's skilful qualities instead. Likewise,
one should reflect so at dawn, on the possibility of death in the
day, and practise accordingly. This is how mindfulness of death
when developed is of great benefit, even leading to the deathless
(Nirvana; liberation).
In another discourse with the same name, the
Buddha remarked similarly to the monks that mindfulness of death is of great
benefit, to which a monk says
that he had already developed mindfulness of death. When asked how
he did so, he replied that he reflects that if he might live for
but a day and night, to practise what the Buddha teaches, he would
have accomplished much. A second monk says he reflects in the same
way, but in terms of a day. A third monk says that he reflects in
the same way, but in terms of the interval it takes to eat a meal.
A fourth monk says he reflects in the same way, but in terms of the
interval that it takes to swallow after chewing four morsels of
food. A fifth monk says he reflects in the same way, but in terms
of the interval it takes to exhale after inhaling, or to inhale
after exhaling.
The
Buddha then remarked that whoever develops mindfulness of death, as
according to the first four monks, are said to be dwelling
heedlessly, as mindfulness of
death is developed too slowly to end the effluents (mental
fermentations of sensuality, views, becoming and ignorance, that
'flow out' from the mind to sustain the 'flood' of rebirth).
Whoever, however, develops mindfulness of death with reflection
that one might live for but for the interval it takes to chew one
morsel of food, or as according to the fifth monk, for the interval
it takes to exhale after inhaling, or the inhale after exhaling, to
practise what the Buddha teaches, one would have accomplished much,
by dwelling heedfully, as mindfulness of death is developed acutely
to end the effluents.
In
Section 38 of 'The Sutra in 42 Sections', a similar dialogue was
recorded. 'The Buddha asked a Shramana [monastic], "How long is the
human life span?" He replied, "A few days." The Buddha said, "You
have not yet understood the way." He asked another Shramana, "How
long is the human life span?" The reply was, "The space of a meal."
The Buddha said, "You have not yet understood the way." He asked
another Shramana, "How long is the human life span?" He replied,
"The length of a single breath." The Buddha said, "Excellent. You
have understood the way." This
is the most immediate mindfulness of death, about the fragile and
fleeting nature of life, and the importance of living moment to
moment with Dharma practice as much as we can. Although we do not always have a morsel of food
in our mouths, we are always breathing, and with each breath, life
shortens; the next breath might not come. As in the first Sutta
above, death can be sudden too, with or without
illness.
是日已过 命亦随减
如少水鱼 斯有何乐 大众
当勤精进 如救头燃
但念无常 慎勿放逸
- 普贤菩萨警众偈
This day has just passed, and life
has shortened accordingly.
Like fish with lesser water, what joy is there?
All! Endeavour with diligence now, as if extinguishing fire on your
head!
Be mindful of impermanence, and be careful to guard against
laxity.
- Samantabadra Bodhisattva's Admonition for the Masses