Monday, January 01, 2007

Preparing for Death by Finding Meaning in Life

According to the wisdom of Buddha, we can actually use our lives to prepare for death. We do not have to wait for the painful death of someone close to us or the shock of terminal illness to force us to look at our lives. Nor are we condemned to go out empty-handed at death to meet the unknown. We can begin, here and now, to find meaning in our lives. We can make of every moment an opportunity to change and to prepare—wholeheartedly, precisely, and with peace of mind—for death and eternity.

---Sogyal Rinpoche

2 comments:

Lisa said...

I can say with almost certainty that Sogyal Rinpoche had not at the time of penning that faced a terminal illness. Accepting that the river flows into death is one thing when you are healthy. It becomes quite another when you are faced with the means by which you might die.

Keith "Nurse Keith" Carlson, RN, BSN, NC-BC said...

Emmy, you are the voice of experience and I certainly bow to your first-hand knowledge. Sometimes these spiritual teachers have interesting things to say that may or may not translate into the real world. All of my respect and warmth to you in this New Year.

Keith