How does one meditate on death?

[Ambivalent1]

I want to be able to ctb on any given day with complete calmness by meditating on death. I don't know how to do it or if it would even work.

 

[blacksand]

think of how recently you didn't exist and how peaceful it was. I fucking crave that nothingness and I think its what nirvana is.

 

[Eyris]

I want to be able to ctb on any given day with complete calmness by meditating on death. I don't know how to do it or if it would even work.

you can't have a single attachment to this world. nothing that causes you pain and nothing that causes joy and so on. it's something that takes time because it's alien to human nature. if you have no binds then you can't feel attached. good luck on your journey

 

[kwho]

I want to be able to ctb on any given day with complete calmness by meditating on death. I don't know how to do it or if it would even work.

Well, you can start by vividly imagining that you are about to die. Or are going to die in an hour. Not by your own hand, just natural death. All it takes is a bit of imagination. You will definitely die at some point, that is the only thing that is 100% certain in this life, so all you have to do is just transport yourself to a moment shortly before that, mentally. Don't give up until you really get into that state of mind, because most likely there will be resistance, your mind will try to distract you from really immersing into that thought and your body also. Persist calmly and ignore their attempts.

If you manage to do this really well even just a few times, it will quite likely be one of the most if not THE most transformative experiences you can have. You will not be a mere shadow of yourself that you are now.

 

[Ambivalent1]

Well, you can start by vividly imagining that you are about to die. Or are going to die in an hour. Not by your own hand, just natural death. All it takes is a bit of imagination. You will definitely die at some point, that is the only thing that is 100% certain in this life, so all you have to do is just transport yourself to a moment shortly before that, mentally. Don't give up until you really get into that state of mind, because most likely there will be resistance, your mind will try to distract you from really immersing into that thought and your body also. Persist calmly and ignore their attempts.

If you manage to do this really well even just a few times, it will quite likely be one of the most if not THE most transformative experiences you can have. You will not be a mere shadow of yourself that you are now.

Imagine I'm on death row about to be executed or what?

 

[kwho]

Imagine I'm on death row about to be executed or what?

Whatever is easier. Try out several scenarios, just don't make it too elaborate. Focus on the fact of death itself.

Death row is actually the least likely.... we don't live in middle ages. See, your mind is starting to eff with you already- death is literally the only thing that is a 100% proven fact and what is the 1st thing it comes up with? Some extremely unrealistic scenario.

People, even healthy ones, drop dead every day for seemingly no reason at all, aneurysm, stroke, whatever. I don't know what the cause of your death will be, you don't either. But you will die. So the beauty of this meditation is that actually, you don't need to use your imagination at all. No chance of self-deception or getting lost in some fantasy. Just immerse yourself into the state shortly before death.

 

[Ambivalent1]

Whatever is easier. Try out several scenarios, just don't make it too elaborate. Focus on the fact of death itself.

Death row is actually the least likely.... we don't live in middle ages. See, your mind is starting to eff with you already- death is literally the only thing that is a 100% proven fact and what is the 1st thing it comes up with? Some extremely unrealistic scenario.

People, even healthy ones, drop dead every day for seemingly no reason at all, aneurysm, stroke, whatever. I don't know what the cause of your death will be, you don't either. But you will die. So the beauty of this meditation is that actually, you don't need to use your imagination at all. No chance of self-deception or getting lost in some fantasy. Just immerse yourself into the state shortly before death.

So the kind of death doesn't matter for this? Just think "in one hour I will be dead"?
Do I dig into that dread feeling, stay focused on that and just sit with it for as long as I can bear it? If I can pull this off daily, how will it change me?

The fantasy that arises is a feeling of relief at the idea but I've felt that dread that comes with the prospect that I'm actually dying many times.

 

[kwho]

So the kind of death doesn't matter for this? Just think "in one hour I will be dead"?
Do I dig into that dread feeling, stay focused on that and just sit with it for as long as I can bear it? If I can pull this off daily, how will it change me?

The fantasy that arises is a feeling of relief at the idea but I've felt that dread that comes with the prospect that I'm actually dying many times.

I'd recommend 12 to 24 hours. "Visualising" death in 1 hour is not the right way for this, in my experience. But, i suppose it might work better for some. Try and feel your way around it, really.

*1. Dread feeling - don't dig into it but don't surpress it. Just think - most "dread feelings" we have in life are basically just a speculation on our part. This one isn't. If you are going to feel that dread before you die, it won't make the slightest difference. You will die anyhow, no matter how much you dread it. Feel the dread, but also its irrelevance. but the dread is a good start - it means you are on track and taking this excercise seriously. You are doing it right.

*2. Most of all - feel yourself ; not the way you do now - as someone with a kind of indefinite, seemingly endless stretch of time ahead, but feel yourself as one who is going to leave this life within the next 24 hours for sure.
How will it change you? If you get to *2, you'll know. Words cannot do it justice, so i'm not going to bother.

 

[Ambivalent1]

I'd recommend 12 to 24 hours. "Visualising" death in 1 hour is not the right way for this, in my experience. But, i suppose it might work better for some. Try and feel your way around it, really.

*1. Dread feeling - don't dig into it but don't surpress it. Just think - most "dread feelings" we have in life are basically just a speculation on our part. This one isn't. If you are going to feel that dread before you die, it won't make the slightest difference. You will die anyhow, no matter how much you dread it. Feel the dread, but also its irrelevance. but the dread is a good start - it means you are on track and taking this excercise seriously. You are doing it right.

*2. Most of all - feel yourself ; not the way you do now - as someone with a kind of indefinite, seemingly endless stretch of time ahead, but feel yourself as one who is going to leave this life within the next 24 hours for sure.
How will it change you? If you get to *2, you'll know. Words cannot do it justice, so i'm not going to bother.

Do it every day?

 

[kwho]

Do it every day?

oh, gosh, i dunno. Start by doing it once properly, don't chicken out and then yeah, you'll want to do it every day. It's kind of like a drug, only the effects are permanent. It isn't necessary to do it every day, but you can i suppose. If you've only experienced it 4-5 times it will last you a lifetime. But you will be the best judge.

Instructing people is really not my thing, so here is a quote from an expert, it's too brutal for my tastes, but here it is:

The Way of the Samurai is found in death. Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day, when one's body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears, and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku at the death of one's master. And every day, without fail, one should consider himself as dead. This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai. Yamamoto Tsunetomo

I know he says every day there, but i think he is just being overly dramatic. But it might be helpful to some, i dunno.

 

[Ambivalent1]

oh, gosh, i dunno. Start by doing it once properly, don't chicken out and then yeah, you'll want to do it every day. It's kind of like a drug, only the effects are permanent. It isn't necessary to do it every day, but you can i suppose. If you've only experienced it 4-5 times it will last you a lifetime. But you will be the best judge.

Instructing people is really not my thing, so here is a quote from an expert, it's too brutal for my tastes, but here it is:

The Way of the Samurai is found in death. Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day, when one's body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears, and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku at the death of one's master. And every day, without fail, one should consider himself as dead. This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai. Yamamoto Tsunetomo

I know he says every day there, but i think he is just being overly dramatic. But it might be helpful to some, i dunno.

Won't focusing on my immediate death a lot just exacerbate my anxiety disorder?

 

[deathLiberation]

you can't have a single attachment to this world. nothing that causes you pain and nothing that causes joy and so on. it's something that takes time because it's alien to human nature. if you have no binds then you can't feel attached. good luck on your journey

This is more important than we think.
But it´s very hard indeed.

 

[kwho]

Try and find out.

And, no, done right it will cure you from your anxiety. Death will happen. You know it will. Face it. Or at least admit to yourself that you actually prefer self-deception on account of you being a coward. It's ok, most people are. At least you'll have gained some self-knowledge.

The truth shall set you free. Basic principle of psychoanalysis too. But you have to want it and refuse to settle for anything less than that.

 

[Source Energy]

Go to YT and search Death Meditation. You will be surprised how many you find. Some are very good. You can accompany the meditation with affirmations "I am dying" throughout the day. If you are steady in your intention and focus, it might just happen by itself.

 

[georgecostanza]

I want to be able to ctb on any given day with complete calmness by meditating on death. I don't know how to do it or if it would even work.

it definitely would work, provided you practice correctly. but i have no idea how that would be. probably any kind of serious meditation practice has the potential to at least get you closer to your mental goal. there is footage of monks self immolating like it's a walk in a park. some buddhist branches practice systematic starving to death inducing mummification at the final stage. pulling the trigger probably is indeed a walk in the park compared to those feats.

i firmly believe a human can only truly live if s/he is ready to face death. that's why it's also my goal to prepare for the inevitable. but i didn't really tackle it yet. it's difficult enough to just practice regular zazen even though i know for sure it will make me feel better.

that's why i could think and i might speak for many people here that on some level i do want to suffer because on a deeper level i believe that this is what i deserve (thanks mom) ... and that's not good for anybody