{"id":2059,"date":"2020-03-10T10:26:01","date_gmt":"2020-03-10T00:26:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/?page_id=2059"},"modified":"2020-03-11T14:10:24","modified_gmt":"2020-03-11T04:10:24","slug":"more-reflections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/index.php\/more-reflections\/","title":{"rendered":"More Reflections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Streamlining: More Reflections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In sorting through accumulated notes, books, journals,\nmagazines, personal items, letters and cards, as well as CD\u2019s \u2013 stored in boxes\n(from several moves), drawers, cupboards \u2013 I became mindful <\/em>of the\nfollowing further reflections. The two poems, at the end add, perspective to the\ntask of streamlining. (They are written from a Buddhist worldview.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accept New Realities <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
  1. Accept\n the realities of my life at 70 years of age! <\/li>
  2. Will\n I go back<\/em> to old notes? [No. Therefore, why keep them? They have\n served their purpose.] <\/li>
  3. Do\n I have the time<\/em> to go back to old notes? [No. Time is too short at 70.\n Also, I don\u2019t know when my life will end.] <\/li>
  4. Realise\n that knowledge has gone on! <\/li>
  5. Why\n cling to dated notes?! <\/li>
  6. Realise\n that taking the notes has served its purpose. <\/li>
  7. Realise\n that so much information is available on the Internet (which didn\u2019t exist\n when I took many of the notes). <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Question: Has My Life\u2019s Purpose Largely Been Fulfilled? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    1. At 70, this is an\n important question. Realize that my life is now largely behind me. <\/li>
    2. Focus on ONE THING only\n now: The opportunity afforded by this precious life! <\/li>
    3. Therefore, get rid of all unneeded,\n and even useless, items \u2014 items that will no longer support my precious\n opportunity. <\/li>
    4. Don\u2019t waste even a second!\n <\/li>
    5. Realise that I simply\n WON\u2019T BE HERE after a certain time period (which is unknown!). <\/li>
    6. I don\u2019t have unlimited\n years and years ahead! <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Think of My End of Life <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
      1. Cut\n needless activities and ties \u2014 that are not fruitful. <\/li>
      2. Focus\n on the journey ahead of me! Not this life only. <\/li>
      3. \u201cThis\n is it!\u201d A precious opportunity to still do what I can. <\/li>
      4. Be\n wise regarding (a) diet, (b) exercise, (c) sleep. <\/li>
      5. Stay\n alert, focused on my calling, and on the task(s) at hand. <\/li>
      6. Give\n up foolish perfectionism! <\/li>
      7. Realize\n that the hoarding that I have fallen prey to, can\u2019t go on! <\/li>
      8. Get\n rid of useless clutter!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

         Farewell<\/strong> <\/em>

         And so, Farewell, my friend 
         Your time comes to its end: 
         Departed once again through that greatest of doors, 
         To be, here with us, no more. 
          
         As you make your way alone 
         Into that vast unknown 
         Such deep prayers extend, 
         to serve you as a friend 
         When, as strangers, 
         We\u2019ll meet again. 
          
         As thanks and tears combine, 
         The turning water-wheel of time 
         That scooped us both up from life\u2019s long stream 
         Now empties out our dream. 
          
         From my heart, I wish you so well 
         In whichever forms you\u2019ll dwell 
         In every land or realm where you\u2019ll abide 
         May dharma ever be your guide. 
          
         With you goes some part of me 
         And, besides all these memories, 
         What you changed in me remains behind 
         Within this garden of my mind. 
          
         From my heart, I wish you so well 
         In whichever forms you\u2019ll dwell 
         In every land or realm where you\u2019ll abide 
         May dharma ever be your guide. 
          
         Source: Ken Holmes
         Ken Holmes is a Western Buddhist teacher at Kagyu Samye Ling Monastery and Tibetan Centre in Scotland. <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
         Turning the Mind Away from Samsara<\/em><\/strong>
         
         Death comes without warning! 
         It may come today, 
         Parting me from all that is familiar 
         And all those I love. 
          
         Now is the time to think 
         Of what heart connections mean. 
         Now is the time to think 
         Of what goes beyond birth and death. 
          
         Now is the time to discover 
         And learn to trust 
         The Openness, Clarity, and Sensitivity 
         Of my being, 
         The Indestructible Heart Essence of all beings. 
          
         I have today to prepare. 
         Worldly attachments are useless, 
         As are anger and delusion. 
         Now is the time to let them go 
         And rest relaxed in my own true nature. 
          
         What use am I to others 
         If I am no use to myself? 
         How can I liberate them 
         If I cannot liberate myself? 
          
         May I and all beings be happy 
         And have the causes of happiness. 
         May I and all beings be free from suffering 
         And the causes of suffering. 
          
         May I and all beings have the happiness of complete Awakening 
         That will never diminish or fail. 
         Thus may we abide in great equanimity, 
         Unruffled by attachment and aversion 
         And with equal love for all beings. 
          
         Source: Hookham, Lama Shenpen. There's More to Dying than <\/em>
         Death<\/em>. Windhorse Publications Ltd.
         (Written by Lama Shenpen Hookham for the benefit of students 
         attending a meditation retreat in the autumn of 2002.) <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
        \"\"
         Reflection:
        Writing a letter of instructions for our final arrangements affords a special opportunity to relieve our loved ones of difficult decisions and to respond to their sorrow with forethought and compassion. As we think about what we need or would wish in order to die in peace, as we envision our own funeral, the persistent tendency to distance ourselves from death dissipates and we gain an invaluable measure of equanimity.
         (Chagdud Khadro)  <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"reddit\"<\/a>\"pinterest\"<\/a>\"linkedin\"<\/a>\"mail\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
        Streamlining: More Reflections In sorting through accumulated notes, books, journals, magazines, personal items, letters and cards, as well as CD\u2019s \u2013 stored in boxes (from several moves), drawers, cupboards \u2013 I became mindful of the following further reflections. The two …<\/span> Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"spay_email":""},"yoast_head":"\nMore Reflections - End-of-Life Reflections<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/index.php\/more-reflections\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"More Reflections - End-of-Life Reflections\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Streamlining: More Reflections In sorting through accumulated notes, books, journals, magazines, personal items, letters and cards, as well as CD\u2019s \u2013 stored in boxes (from several moves), drawers, cupboards \u2013 I became mindful of the following further reflections. 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