Remembering that our bodies are but transitory temples in this world,
gives us the power to remember what and who we really are...
Death is near, much nearer than we ever usually think. But what is it in us that actually dies? It is not our true nature that dies, only the fragile body, our impermanent temple.
We tend to live our lives as if they will continue forever, even though we know that every single person on the planet will face death sooner or later, including us. Somehow our own death just does not register in our minds, as a reality. It is something we hear about, happening somewhere else, to someone else.
Some might think that it is morbid to remember the fact of death. However, it can also be empowering. The remembering brings us nearer to recognizing what we really are.
It gives our lives a perspective that is lacking when the mind is completely distracted by moment to moment happenings. We have countless chances to understand this inevitable transition before it actually arrives, yet we seldom choose to take them.
Death is the critical moment when we are bound to face the fact that we are not the body; not what or who we think we are. But why wait until that moment when the realization can no longer be of benefit to us?
Continue reading in Return to Forever