Wake Up!
First, this might hit our instinctual fear of death and the prospect that we won't be able to be with people whom we cherish. How are we going to spend those remaining days of our life? It'll bring a nice shock to us to wake up from a complacency that might run our everyday life; a general human habit not to engage in important philosophical and existential questions.
Sojong Reminder 15/5 from Anam Thubten
Dear Dharma Friends,
Making plans for the future is part of the survival mechanism that is our daily affair. It involves everything from ruminating what one might cook for dinner to bigger things, like retirement projects. We're living in an era that requires more planning than ever. There were times and places in history where people had a more easy going life. It is said that some ancient Tibetan masters meditated in caves and did not take care of the dishes after meals due to thinking they might not get up the next day alive. Their life reminds us that we should not get too attached to our plans, dreams, and projects. We never know when we are going to go away from this world.
There is a reflection that we can do now and then. It helps us not to get too lost in our heads and to remember what life is all about. It is to ask ourselves, what would we do if we had a short time left to live in this world - let's say a few months or even shorter. First, this might hit our instinctual fear of death and the prospect that we won't be able to be with people whom we cherish. How are we going to spend those remaining days of our life? It'll bring a nice shock to us to wake up from a complacency that might run our everyday life; a general human habit not to engage in important philosophical and existential questions.
If we deeply contemplate in this way, our heart will open to see the futility of worry and anxiety. We might feel the exhaustion of this never ending cycle of self-cherishing. All of our attempts to achieve happiness often lead us nowhere. But it's hard to see this realty until we reflect closely on how we live. Above all, we want to live as meaningfully as possible: to show more unconditional love to those who are in our life, to appreciate the mystery and magic of life, to do things that help the world, and to live in peace and with more feelings of gratitude.
Death is always happening everywhere around us, but we don’t usually see it. It's not on the road, nor at the shopping center, restaurant, or the perfectly manicured lawn. Yet, it's happening behind walls all the time. When it enters our immediate world, like the sudden death of a relative or close friend, then the rug is pulled out beneath us and our own mortality becomes pronounced. Our denial strategy is exposed and we find ourselves on the shaky ground of illusion. This discomfort can open our heart to more meaning in life and allow us find true happiness.
On this coming Sojong, let me invite all of you to take time to sit and let your heart do this simple reflection that might move your whole being towards the Dharma in a powerful manner. Let's hold the aspiration that we will change our mind into something bigger and more profound.
With palms joined, Anam Thubten
五月十五日八关齋日 阿南渡登 <逺方捎來的信>
致佛友们，
为將來計劃在我们的日常生活中形成了一种習慣。從细小平凡的事，例如晚餐該煮些什么，到比較重要的事，像是退休計劃。我们生活在一個極须要規劃的年代。古代人們的生活显得比较清闲。有人説以往在山洞里修行的西藏大師吃过飯后都不洗碗，因为他们害怕自己在第二天死去而不能醒來。他们的生活方式提醒我们不要过于執著自己的計劃和夢想。我们无從預知什么时候會离开這個世界。
我们往往都能内观自省去避免自己迷失在妄心之中，而应当記住生命本然的意义。我们可以问问自己如果只能短暂在這世上存活，我们會想要做些什麽？首先，我们会对死亡心生恐惧，害怕和自己的至亲离别。我们會如何去过生命僅存的時日呢？當我们醒觉过來時，我们會发现自我意識在掌控我们的生命; 人們往往不去探究思考生存的意义。
如果我们如此深入去探究，我们的心會敞开而发現一切的担憂及害怕是如此没有意义。同时，我们也可能感受得到因自我而牵动的輪廻。我们拼尽努力去追求快乐，可是却往往沒有多大的意义。除非我们真正去反思我们的生活方式，不然我们將无法发現這個实相。究竟來説，我们想要活得更有意义，去与我们身边的人分享无限的愛，感恩生命的神奇及奥秘，对這世界作出奉献，以平静祥和及无限的感恩去生活。
死亡一直在我们的周遭发生着，可是我们却視若无睹，漠不关心。死亡並不在马路上，也不在購物广場、餐馆或是修剪得平坦美丽的草地上。可是它一直隐藏着而一再发生，如同我们的亲朋好友忽然传來死訊，我们才會再次被打击敲醒。我们一再逃避事情的技俩被揭发而驚然发现我们处在揺摇亦堕的夢幻世界里。這种不安的感觉將打开我们的心去迎接更有意义的生命及引領我们去找寻真正的快乐。
在這即将到來的八关齋日，让我邀請你们花一些時间静心打坐，去做如此简单的自我反思，它將发揮强大的能量，把你整個存在与佛法紧紧結合。让我们共同发心去譲我们的心得於开拓及变得更有洞見。
阿南渡登合十