Oh Death, No worries… I’ll See Myself Out
There are four great teachers, fear, love, life, and death. This week’s post concerns death as a masterful teacher. Of course, the lessons of fear, love, and life are embedded in death. Yet the opportunity to converse directly with death is an enormous fortune. The death and dying rabbit hole is only second to the life and living rabbit hole. This post is just a few thoughts now that we are in this time of great change.
The moment a person is born, one begins dying. Death gives context to life. If one is to live well, one needs to know how to… well die… lol. Back in my late teens, early 20s I noticed death through inadvertent brushes with death. Also in conjunct with an enthusiasm of the Grateful Dead, and the Tibetan Book of the Dead (W.Y. Evan-Wentz). Later found myself writing a cultural anthropology paper comparing the states of the soul after death; St. Thomas Aquinas versus the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Looking back on this endeavor was quite presumptuous and humorous. Here I was a snotty death defying 21-year-old kid in a small attic room with a mattress on the floor, a single light hanging from the low ceiling and 50+ books on death and dying which I had lugged to this small abode from darkened stacks of Love Library (UN-L); the irony.
The Boney Life
Spiritual traditions note death is a master teacher only to be approached at an advanced esoteric level. Are we ready, evidenced by the enormity of death and dying occurring on the planet? The simple instruction is to contemplate or meditate on death and dying. Visiting boneyards, funeral pyres, observing the worms eating the remaining fleshy parts, etc. The point is to observe the dying, listen to the dead speak of their tales and learn from the dead about life. The result is to suck the juice out one’s boney life. Of course, this is nothing new and is the basis of the well-known “A Christmas Carole” (Charles Dickens, 1843).
Take-A-Number
At the end of each person’s life, Death asks “what have you brought me?” Folks bring all kinds of stuff; burdensome bags of silver, gold, dragging bags of sorrow or self-indulged happiness, ignorance, or maybe a wagon full of testimonies noting one’s good deeds, etc. Death uproariously laughs and tosses the trinkets on the garbage heap. Then with a terrifying glare, points to the “take-a-number” machine. Showing one is doomed to another karmic “do over.” Being sucked into the “do-over” machine. What is one’s response to Death’s finger … lol? The relish or shutter at another opportunity for more gluttony, lust, greed, anger, sloth, envy, and pride? What is the riddle of death’s finger?
What can one show for their life? What is one’s existence of being? We connect, relate, exchange; we Love. Is it really about “what does one have to show for it” at the endless moment of one’s death? Is it not about what you got? Or is it about what you gave?… And in what order? Give to get or get to give? What happens when we have nothing to present to Death? Have we again wasted our opportunity of life? Or have we invested it wisely despite having nothing to show for it?
The Meat Wagon
Where are we going? Are we there yet? Is your meat wagon collecting dust? Or has it crashed and burned? Perhaps not realizing that you are existentially deceased without meaning or purpose? Essentially, being a hungry ghost, led around by lustful illusions and driven by karmic propensities. Or just worn out from the wear and tear of the road. And all that’s left are one’s gnarled bones, ragged pieces of flesh, and tattered wings.
Oh, what a lovely bag of rotting meat and bones. What can we take with us? A box of rain, dreams, experiences, gold? Looking into the box, is it dark and empty? Or is it empty with the faint light of joy which we shared along the way?
The Weight, Wait, Weigh and Way
Dropping the weight and wait, the weigh and way become clear. The scale of life’s review is a tool of measurement to help us figure out our lightness of being. Fear, pain, and suffering are burdens. Sharing makes the way lighter. Fear is the path of burden. Life is the path of a gambler. And love may lead to being eternally entrapped in the lessor lights. Which is more painful, the fires of hell or the unbearable lightness of being? Did we move forward… expanding or contracting? What do you want your way to weigh?
What is your Measure? Is it weighty or perhaps a measure of song that lifts all to the lightness of being for a single endless moment? How much does a measure of joy weigh? At the end, what can you carry with you? How much does it weigh? What if it gives you wings to fly? What have you done with your measure? It’s the wait and the weight… dummy!
But What Did You Give?
The four great and masterful teachers are Fear, Love, Life, and Death. They are like the four apocalyptic horses that pull your chariot of existence. All four are horrific, terrifying, and overwhelming. Each wants to pull you in different directions. Is there a way to get them to go in the same direction? How shall you drive and direct them? The secret is how you respond to each horse. If you ignore, fight, or love any of them you are doomed. The secret is to bow down and become a student of each one. All are master teachers and will give unspoken treasures… but you also must demand your gift from each one. Of these four horses, Death is the only master in which fear, life and love are all conquered in one fell swoop of the blade. Terrifying, horrifying, lovingly and gracefully, Death slices through the illusions. Death is the protector, gatekeeper, and liberator.
When one realizes the abundant flow of existence, it’s not a matter of what you have, it’s a matter of what you take in, transform and share. Is it only when we have crossed the abyss and reached the other side, when one recognizes the opportunity? One learns to be audacious and humble in being compassionate and graceful. Existence on planet earth is the opportunity to FEAST on all that IS; fear, life, love, and death. Life is the residency program to become the master. To see one, to do one, and to teach and to be one. It is the progression through fear, love, life, and death to become a master being.
Death is the opportunity to reflect on what you have learned. It is also the opportunity to discover more challenging opportunities. The Bardo is the in-between state between death and life. The “Gap” that is beyond death, where the opportunities are conceived… “le petite mort anyone? Bahahaha!”
“Oh Death has not failed me… yet!”
Once we are born, death begins.
Death sucks the sweetness from the bone!
The sooner one dies, the richer life becomes.
Death points, to the long march of life. Or to most direct way of life. Of course, it’s your life and your choice.
Death Space
Death creates space. Without space there could be no life, and without death there could be no life. Both life and death are constantly living and dying. They create the constant. The only constant in life and death is change. They are like twin stars circling around the other. Both are attracted, moving, and circling around the other creating the dynamic flow. Being simultaneously magnetic, kinetic and the constant flow of change. Most don’t go looking for Death and when they do, it is often too late. But don’t worry, Death is always keeping an eye on you! Bahahaha.
Death and Crisis
In crisis there comes a point where death occurs. If you have been following this blog, the questions are what, when, where, why and how are the immediate investigation. These questions are the contemplations which create the “gap.” Where the opportunity to change becomes clear. This in-between, gap, or Bardo is where new opportunities are conceived and become the path of renewed life. Once we figure out that “death” is the process of transformation, transfiguration, and transcendence. We are grateful that the old self has died. And recognize that Death becomes a close friend.
Blessings!
Tim