January 22 – I lovingly remember

Dear Friends,

Continuing with Sally Armstrong’s talk, “Facets of Equanimity,” looking at equanimity as an expression of wisdom.

One of the lists Sally includes in this section on equanimity and wisdom is the five remembrances. This is the version she shared:

I am of the nature to age, I have not gone beyond aging.
I am of the nature to sicken, I have not gone beyond sickness.
I am of the nature to die, I have not gone beyond dying.
All that is mine, beloved and pleasing, will become otherwise, will become separated from me.
I am the owner of my actions (kamma), heir to my actions … Whatever actions I shall do, for good or for ill, of that I will be the heir.

~ based on AN 5.57

As Sally mentions, “There’s a real power to this kind of reflection. That’s why it’s very traditional in Buddhist practice: there’s actually a lightness or freedom that comes – because we’re not resisting, even unconsciously, these deep and profound truths.”

Later, she adds, “When old age, illness, death come – it doesn’t mean there won’t be suffering, or that we won’t have pain or angst about that, but … we won’t have the delusion that something’s wrong here – this shouldn’t be happening. It’s the nature of this body.”

Caroline Jones has given talks on this reflection. She has said that like the metta phrases, it’s sometimes useful to find ways to make these reflections your own. She has shared her phrases, which I find quite beautiful:

Breathing gently, I lovingly remember, this body is aging.
Breathing gently, I lovingly remember, this body is vulnerable to illness.
Breathing gently, I lovingly remember, this body will die.
Breathing gently, I lovingly remember, that loss is part of life.
Breathing gently, I lovingly remember, to meet this moment with wisdom.

~ Caroline Jones, The five daily recollections

Reflection: In a talk by Caroline, she suggests this question. “How are aging, sickness, and death showing up in my life at present?” If that seems a fruitful reflection for you, I invite you to drop that kind of question into your practice.

If you’re interested in exploring this topic some more, both Sally and Caroline made a reference to a book by Larry Rosenberg, Living in the Light of Death: On the Art of Being Truly Alive.

Feel free to share your reflections or comments below, or by email.

With warm wishes,
Andrea