Death is in the Air

“Those who fear death; when death comes will not be afraid.
Those who do not fear death; when death comes, will be very afraid.”

Lama Tsong Karpa
Tibetan Monk in 14th Century

***

A trainee and translator for BodyChance died on Wednesday, Jan 6th, 2021. 

It was not a Covid-19 related death; it was cancer that she had been fighting for many years. At the end, she was reconciled and peaceful – you can say she was lucky that she had time to prepare her mind for death.

As the quote above suggests – considering your death may be imminent is a way to motivate you to live. You can easily search the web and read stories of people whose lives were transformed once they were told they had a deathly ailment.

Why wait to be diagnosed?

Transformation is available by making your death real - like a doctor just informed you you’re gonna die in 6 months.

Because here’s the thing – your death will happen. 

Death is not a fantasy, not rude or impolite. It is fact. Even the greatest saints that ever lived died. Your family members died, your dog, your friend – and one day you will too. And you do not know when that will happen. 

Why bother thinking this way?

You will be ready. You will not be afraid.

The Tibet monk from above put together a simple way to think about this. Remember two things and ask one question:

1. You will die.
2. You don’t know when.
3. What will matter to you most at death?

The irony of thinking about death is that it can cause you to live more fully !

This makes sense because people who explore Alexander’s Discovery are often most hungry to improve their lives.

Because you realise how precious your life is, you realise you want to take great care of your body: so you can do what you want to do; when you want to do it; and do it very well.