{"id":431,"date":"2019-12-08T10:05:06","date_gmt":"2019-12-08T00:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/?page_id=431"},"modified":"2019-12-10T14:39:34","modified_gmt":"2019-12-10T04:39:34","slug":"further-musing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/index.php\/further-musing\/","title":{"rendered":"A Contemplation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

Begin by contemplating suffering, focusing on the six\nrealms. Vividly imagine existence within each one. Your mind can enter other\nrealms through the power of visualization, which allows them to unfold in your\nexperience. The potential for any experience abides in the mind. In\ncontemplation, extrapolate from a moment of pain you have actually\nfelt\u2014scalding water, perhaps, or biting winter winds numbing your toes and\nfingertips\u2014to the extreme, all-encompassing pain of the hot or cold hells.\nMoments of hunger and thirst magnify into the famished, parched deprivation of\nthe spirit realm. So your mind can journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the experiences of other realms lie too far outside the\nscope of your imagination, contemplation of human suffering is enough. For\nexample, put yourself in the place of someone caught in a war zone, in constant\nfear of being maimed or killed, surrounded by devastation, separated from\nfriends and family, confronted by brutal inhumanity and hatred. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even to rejoice in violent victory over enemies creates\nterrible karma. How much more tragic the forced participation in the killing!\nNo one is exempt from the downward spiral\u2014not the leaders who will be\nkarmically accountable for every injury and death that occurs because of their\norders; not the soldiers who carry out the killing; not the victims who are\ncatapulted into the bardo<\/em> with their minds inflamed with anger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This human realm has no scarcity of suffering. The depth of\nyour contemplation depends on really placing yourself inside such situations\nand allowing yourself to feel what others have felt, to stand in their shoes.\nWhen this has been accomplished and the mind yearns for cessation, drop all\nthoughts and rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When thoughts intervene, generate compassion. Think of the\ncountless beings in the six realms. \u2026 They are caught in cycles of misery and\nhave no idea how to extricate themselves. Think of their predicament until\ncompassion wells up as the wish that their present suffering be alleviated\nimmediately and that ultimately they be liberated from the sorrows of samsara\naltogether. Then, again, drop all thoughts and rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When thoughts flood into your meditation, direct them toward\nprayer. Pray that suffering not sweep you away and that you see whatever arises\nas purification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the confusion that suffering brings, pray not to create\nkarmic causes for more misery. Pray as well that you attain the power to lead\nothers from the depths of samsara to a state beyond sorrow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pray that all beings be liberated from the endless cycles of\nsamsaric suffering. Relax in uncontrived meditation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When thoughts arise once more, make a firm commitment to\npractice the path until you attain liberation from suffering, for the sake of\nall beings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before,\nas you yourself were drowning in the ocean of samsara, you could not rescue\nothers. Now, by the skillful means of the path, there is hope of escape.\nResolve not to sink back, not to abandon others, and then rest in the peace of\nnatural relaxation.<\/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

\"http:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/CONTEMPLATION-Suffering-Tromge.pdf\"
Reflection: The reality of suffering needs to be understood; the origin of suffering needs to be abandoned; the cessation of suffering needs to be actualized; a reliable path needs to be relied upon.<\/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: Begin by contemplating suffering, focusing on the six realms. Vividly imagine existence within each one. Your mind can enter other realms through the power of visualization, which …<\/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":"\nA Contemplation - 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=\"http:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/index.php\/further-musing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Contemplation - End-of-Life Reflections\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The following contemplation, written by a Buddhist author, also has a universal appeal: Begin by contemplating suffering, focusing on the six realms. 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