January 10 – Learn to live well

Dear Friends,

As we pay attention to our breath, we can start to notice that each breath has a beginning, middle, and end. As we pay attention to sensations in the body, we can also notice how they too have a beginning, middle, and end. Thoughts, emotions, difficulties, pleasantness – have a beginning, middle, and end. Your favorite tea mug, your job, even the sun.

Bhante Gunaratana reminds us, “everything that exists has three moments: a rising moment, a living or peaking moment, and a moment of cessation.”

And so to with life… And rather than that being some kind of bummer, I find that remembering this helps me get less fussed about the “small stuff” and opens my heart to greater compassion and caring.

Here’s a reflection that I try to recall each day:

The Five Remembrances

I am of the nature to grow old.
There is no way to escape growing old.

I am of the nature to have ill health.
There is no way to escape ill health.

I am of the nature to die.
There is no way to escape death.

All that is dear to me and everyone I love are the nature to change.
There is no way to escape being separated from them.

My actions are my only true belongings.
I cannot escape the consequences of my actions.
My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

In regard to this reflection, Thich Nhat Hahn says, “The Five Remembrances help us make friends with our fears of growing old, getting sick, being abandoned, and dying. They are also a bell of mindfulness that can help us appreciate deeply the wonders of life that are available hear and now.”

BJ Miller has a powerful TED Talk, titled, What really matters at the end of life. From his experience, he says, “you can always find a shock of beauty or meaning in what life you have left,” and then advises, “If we love such moments ferociously, then maybe we can learn to live well — not in spite of death, but because of it.”

With gentle wishes,
Andrea