Mindfulness of Death (Marananussati)

The below is an extract of a dharma talk by Pa-Auk Sayadaw & Dr. Mehm Tin Mon, published in the book “Breakthrough in Samatha Meditation and Vipassana Meditation”.

According to the instructions given in Visuddhi Magga and Mahasatipatthana Sutta a meditator, who has successfully developed the first jhana by reflecting on the foulness of a corpse, can easilychange his meditation to mindfulness of death. 

The meditator first recalls the acquired sign or the counter sign of a corpse which he has developed before. He then reflects on its foulness to develop the first jhana in asubha-bhavana. He then emerges from this jhana and reflects on the nature of death thus, “This body of mine has the nature to disintegrate; I will surely die; I cannot escape from death.”

He should constantly focus his attention on the nature of his death, establishing mindfulness of death and developing a sense of urgency together with the knowledge od death. Soon he will observe with his mind-eye the disgusting corpse of his dead body in place of the external corpse. Then he discerns with his wisdom the nature of the cutting of life-faculty in his dead body. 

And focusing his meditative mind on the object of the cutting-off of life-faculty or in other words the cessation of bhavanga consciousness which is associated with life-faculty, he reflects repeatedly in one of the following ways that he likes best.

1. My death is certain, my being alive is uncertain.

2. My death will certainly occur.

3. My being alive has only death as its end.

4. Death, death.

He should ardently strive to concentrate his meditative mind on the object of the cutting-off of life-faculty in his dead body for one hour, two hours or more. If he is successful, he will find that the jhana factors become distinct. As the object of meditation is the nature of death and frightening, awaking the sense of urgency, only access jhana arises.

As the benefits of marananussati, the yogi acquires the perception of disgust and disenchantment with all kinds of existences; he cuts off attachment to life and properties; he avoids evil doing and much storing; he develops the perception of impermanence, and consequently the perception of suffering and the perception of not-self. Finally, he develops the sense of urgency to undertake meditation promptly. 

- end of extract –

My question to my readers: do you understand what is meant by “sign” and “counter-sign” mentioned above? Have you experienced it? Answer to yourself and you will know where you are in the meditation journey. You should know that marananussati is a stronger and deeper meditation than the Lam Rim contemplations taught in the Tibetan Buddhist schools. This Mindfulness of Death is really deep diving into it. It is not just touching on the surface of understanding we are going to die. 

Try to read the earlier blog posts I have posted. A suggested post is this one – https://buddha-and-me.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-make-mantras-work.html

#marananussati #mindfulness #death 

Chapter 14: Issuing of Bodhisattvas from the Gaps of the Earth (extract)

This is from the English translation of the Sanskrit version of the Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapundarika Sutra) translated by Dutch scholar Hendrik Kern. Apparently Mr Kern translated direct from the palm leaves, and not from the Chinese translation of the version of Kumarajiva. So, this translation is unique…. although there may be many parts of the text whereby it seems like it is a mistake or error. But I will leave it as it is, assuming that it is correct. (Note: the sequence of the chapters are different from those conventional Lotus Sutra translations)

Chapter 14: Issuing of Bodhisattvas from the Gaps of the Earth (extract)

Out of the multitude of Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas who had flocked from other worlds, Bodhisattvas eight (times) equal to the sands of the river Ganges then rose from the assembled circle. Their joined hands stretched out towards the Lord to pay him homage, they said to him: If the Lord will show us, we also would, after the extinction of the Lord, reveal this Dharmaparyaya in this Saha-world; we would read, write, worshp it, and wholly devote ourselves to that law. Therefore, O Lord, deign to grant to us also this Dharmaparyaya. And the Lord answered: Nay, young men of good family, whi should you occupy yourselves with this task? I have here in this Saha-world thousands of Bodhisattvas equal to the sands of sixty Ganges rivers, forming the train of one Bodhisattva; and of such Bodhisattvas there is a number equal to the sands of sixty Ganges rivers, each of these Bodhisattvas having an equal number in their train, who at the end of time, at the last period after my extinction, shall keep, rea, proclaim this Dharmaparyaya.

No sooner had the Lord uttered these words than the Saha-world burst open on every side, and from within the clefts arose many hundred thousand myriads of kotis of Bodhisattvas with gold-colored bodies and thirty-two characteristic signs of a great man, who had been staying in the element of ether underneath this great earth, close to this Saha-world. These then on hearing the word of the Lord came up from below the earth. Each of these Bodhisattvas had a train of thousands of Bodhisattvas similar to the sands of sixty Ganges rivers; (each had) a troop, a great troop, as teacher of a troop. Of such Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas having a troop, a great troop, as teachers of a troop, there were hundred thousands of myriads of kotis equal to the sands of sixty Ganges rivers, who emerged from the gaps of the earth in this Saha-world. 

- end of extract – 

I hope you would go on to reach the complete Lotus Sutra, not just this chapter but the entire text. The Lotus Sutra is one of the Mahayana Scriptures that I considered my key Sutras, apart of Sanghata Sutra and The Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra. Why is it my key Sutra? Well… it is the primary Sutra whereby I understood Bodhicitta means and what a Bodhisattva stands for. Somewhere in this Sutra, it is mentioned that when you have read this Sutra, a Bodhisattva is born. Indeed, in some small ways, a small bodhisattva was born inside of me after I read this Sutra. This particular chapter, the chapter on the Burning House and the chapter whereby the Bejewelled Stupa arose from the ground were amongst the chapters that struck deep into my heart. “Mahayana” was born after I read this Sutra and that is why I have a connection to this Sutra in no small ways. The Chapter on He Who Hears the Cries of the World is particularly dear to my heart.

I hope you guys will appreciate this Sutra too, although some teachings in this Sutra may not be that easy to understand. And it may even be contradictory (e.g. the Chapter on the Lifespan of the Tathagata). But in time, we will be able to understand it bit by bit. So, this is my small contribution to be a preacher of the Lotus Sutra and spreading the good word of the Buddha. 

Namo Miao Fa Lian Hua Ching.

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

#Lotus Sutra #Mahayana #HendrikKern

Do read this post if you have the time - https://buddha-and-me.blogspot.com/2011/08/pain-is-emptiness-emptiness-is-pain.html