Greetings. This last week we had the darkest and shortest day of the year. It got me thinking about life and death. I want to share a thought with you. I hope the longer days of the new year bring you increased feelings of joy and happiness, as well as deeper commitment to your practice.
Preparing for the End
Internal artists prepare daily for their own death. We do not welcome, nor hope for it, yet we prepare for any encounter, including death, with knowledge and trust. Internal artists spend most of their training time learning about themselves, their body, mind, and spirit, and translate this self inquiry into practical day to day applications.
This training brings confidence and with confidence comes the ability to trust. For death, we must learn from the elders, the wise ones, and traditional teachings. There are even some that have died and returned to tell about their experiences. Elizabeth Kubler Ross wrote an excellent book about his topic entitled On Death and Dying which was quite popular back in the 1970s.
One of my dear friends, a poet, saw his death approaching, and he made this awareness his work, his gift to others. He kept a close eye on his feelings and emotions, as well as his physical transformation, and he wrote about it. He left his body with a smile on his face, and the name of God on his lips. His love enabled him to trust, and this brought confidence that all that follows will go well, as it should.
So daily I train and prepare by doing my best, keeping my heart and mind open, and trustinig that there is some reason for me to be here, and a correct time for me to leave. I thank my dear friend for his guidance.
Best Wishes,