sense of pride in being young, in being alive, in being successful.
Unlike most people, those who regularly contemplate death don’t
delight in feeling self-important. Rather, they tend to see their
own faults, and gradually try to correct them, instead of merely
looking for and criticizing other people’s faults – a bad habit that
brings unpleasant consequences. This habit resembles a chronic
disease that appears to be virtually incurable, or perhaps it could
be remedied if people weren’t more interested in aggravating the
infection than they are in curing it.
Cemeteries offer those interested in investigating these
matters an opportunity to develop a comprehensive knowledge
and understanding of the nature of death. Cemeteries are the
great gathering places of the world. All people without exception
must eventually meet there. Death is no small hurdle to be easily
stepped over before a thorough investigation of the issue. Before
they finally crossed over, the Lord Buddha and his Arahant dis-
ciples had to study in the ‘great academy’ of birth, ageing, sick-
ness, and death until they had mastered the entire curricula. Only
then were they able to cross over with ease. They had escaped
the snares of Mãra,^11 unlike those who, forgetting themselves, dis-
regard death and take no interest in contemplating its inevitabil-
ity; even as it stares them in the face.
Visiting cemeteries to contemplate death is an effective
method for completely overcoming the fear of dying; so that, when
death seems imminent, courage alone arises despite the fact that
death is the most terrifying thing in the world. It would seem an
almost impossible feat, but it has been accomplished by those who
practice meditation – the Lord Buddha and his Arahant disciples
being the supreme examples. Having accomplished this feat them-
jacob rumans
(Jacob Rumans)
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