Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Death Before Death

 


Today, I watched "The Amazing Spider-Man" on TV. Once again, I found myself in tears when the protagonist's uncle was shot and died.

“Departure from the beloved one is painful.” - Buddha

Death comes without warning. We must live with both caution and carefree. Life, in its defiled or sinful state, is filled with sorrow. Until one can root out both positive and negative forces deeply ingrained in the mind, they remain as unwelcome guests. Remember, the mind is originally pure and radiant. The natural mind is not dirty or sinful. Buddha taught that the mind becomes unclear and unclean due to defilement and sinfulness, which arrive as unwelcome guests. When the mind is cleansed, it shines again as it truly is. Do you see who is truly dead?

With the first death, bit by bit, one's body and mind are nothing but name and form. No one is anyone, any being, any spirit, or any soul. Arising and ceasing—only name ceases, and only form breaks, as this is the true nature of things.

From the beginning to the end, there is nothing permanent. In between, it is empty and constantly changing, with no true self. Do you see who is dead as the final course unfolds?

“Tranquility of all conditionings is mostly peaceful.” - Buddha



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