Meditate on Death Daily

I was surprised today after meeting with Dr. M to feel feel the most sadness about my diagnosis of cancer. I decided to use my resources and luckily have this time to be alone with my thoughts. I knew there was a specific death meditation and so I found it and listened to Geoff Dawson: Sesshin Day 4: Death Meditations (April 19, 2024) It begins;

In traditional Buddhist teaching, it's referred to as Maranasati practice. Which is a very, very important part of Buddhist practice to meditate on death. In fact, to do it every day, every morning, every afternoon. Every day, every meditation, you know, is a reminder that everything is transcendent and passing away.

When I wrote about death recently, I didn't mention this Sesshin but did listen once lying on my back as I did today. I saw Dr. F first today who was serious but more upbeat. Dr. M said that third generation drugs were not that different. If I heard him right, he was saying that that is how one is treated when the cancer has metastisized. I think that was what shocked me. I probably needed that kick so I would take it more seriously and have now been prompted to follow Buddhist practice often if not daily.

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Well, not daily yet but I got another wake up when Dr. F ordered a test he previously said was unnecessary. He must have seen something in the mapping scan that was done today that made the other scan necessary before beginning the radiation.

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Bumping into Zen, while waiting for God 

May 2, 2015

I found this paragraph in "Following in the Footsteps of the Buddha" by Dr Barry Kerzin from One Dharma – Many Buddhist Traditions. 

"The Buddhist wisdom of selflessness is the unique character of Buddhism. This subtle understanding of our ego (egolessness), and the nature of reality in general, attract many educated people throughout the world. This subtle philosophy of life embedded in an ethic of happiness draws more and more non-Buddhists to the Buddhist way of life. Most non-Buddhists continue to follow their own religion inherited from their families. Yet many adopt a variety of Buddhist approaches to solving some of life’s more difficult challenges. The lay psychology literature, for example, is filed with Buddhist concepts and methods for training the mind and handling difficult emotions. If you look at the cover and table of contents of Psychology Today, one of the premier lay psychology journals in the United States, you will find many articles containing Buddhist principles used for psychotherapy."