{"id":362,"date":"2019-12-07T00:51:11","date_gmt":"2019-12-07T00:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/?page_id=362"},"modified":"2019-12-10T14:11:01","modified_gmt":"2019-12-10T04:11:01","slug":"p","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/index.php\/p\/","title":{"rendered":"Contemplation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The following contemplation, written by a Buddhist author, also has a universal appeal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, contemplate the importance of having a precious human birth endowed with all the freedoms and conditions necessary for spiritual practice. How rare! How uncertain it is that you will find it again, since the mind could easily lead you into a nonhuman realm or into a human birth without full endowment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflect\non how great your virtue and aspiration must have been previously for you to\nhave gathered these present fortunate conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contemplate\nuntil the exceptional opportunity afforded by this life, not to be taken for\ngranted or wasted, becomes clearly apparent. Then allow the mind to rest in\nnatural, non-conceptual meditation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When\nthoughts arise, direct them toward compassion. Consider those suffering in\nlower realms who have little possibility of obtaining a human rebirth because\ndense obscurations prevent them from generating merit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think\nof those who have a human body but who are not endowed with conditions\nconducive to spiritual development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflect\non those who attain a human birth but squander it on worldly pursuits or\ndestroy their opportunity by harming others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember\nthat, even for practitioners, the tenure of this lifetime remains as uncertain\nas that of a candle flame in the wind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When\ncontemplation leads to the deep-seated wish that all beings find liberation\nfrom spiritually impoverished circumstances, relax the mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When\nthoughts arise, \u2026 pray that this wish-fulfilling jewel of human birth not be\nthrown irretrievably into the ocean of samsara, that instead it be used well to\ncreate merit and gain recognition of mind’s true nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pray\nthat those suffering in other realms may find human rebirth, that those human\nbeings not endowed with spiritual conditions may find them, that those\nfortunate enough to be endowed with spiritual conditions may fulfill their\nhighest aspirations. Pray to attain the power to help them. Then rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally,\nas thoughts present themselves once more, direct them toward commitment. Think,\n\u201cIn my past lives altogether, I have had innumerable bodies, each of which I\ncherished, fed, and defended. If all of their corpses were piled up, they would\nform a mountain the size of Meru. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nblood that raced through those bodies, the tears shed in frustration would form\nan enormous ocean. Yet in those lifetimes I failed to accomplish enlightenment.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, through the accumulation of all my merit, I have attained this one extraordinary birth. This I will use well, for the greatest benefit of all sentient beings.\u201d Then, again, rest the mind in uncontrived meditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source<\/strong>: Tromge, Jane. Ngondro Commentary: Instructions for the Concise Preliminary Practices of the New Treasure of Dudjom.<\/em> Compiled from the teachings of H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche. Junction City, CA: Padma Publishing, 1995. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a PDF copy of the above text, please click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Strolling
Reflection: This human life is precious but it is also easy to be squandered.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"reddit\"<\/a>\"pinterest\"<\/a>\"linkedin\"<\/a>\"mail\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The following contemplation, written by a Buddhist author, also has a universal appeal: First, contemplate the importance of having a precious human birth endowed with all the freedoms and conditions necessary for spiritual practice. How rare! 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