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I was born and raised in a Buddhist family. In uni, I received a post-grad degree in Eastern Philosophy and Ancient Languages (a long name, but that's what it was. My curriculum was included but not limited to Sanskrit and Chinese, Buddhism and Taoism, Confucius and Zhuangzi.) For five years, I did not learn about Buddhism (and other brands of Eastern philosophy) as an intellectual theory, but as part of the daily breaths and thoughts. I don't have any comment on the books you mentioned because I had never read them. I never thought I need to do so, for the same reason I had never thought I need to learn how to breathe. Now, knowing what the books say, I am glad I ignored them all.
From what I deducted from my education, the "letting go" concept was not designed to practice dying, but to apply on the living. In Buddhism, one is taught not to allow oneself to be tied down to all life attachments in hope that one would be free of the cycle (birth, age, sickness, and death) and be able to follow the road to enlightenment. The attachments in Buddhist philosophy, unfortunately, include love, marriage, and procreation. They also include hope, dreams, and planning.
Thus, to practice dying is an active planning that verges on longing, and that's not what the true Buddhist teaching is about, or at least, that's not what I had learned anyway. If that so-called Buddhist practice is touted in the books you read, it could be that the highly educated authors who wrote those books gave the true Buddhist philosophy an interpretation that is not just completely foreign but totally opposite of what I had learned. If that's the case, you should ignore this comment. What do I know, I was only born into Buddhism, being educated on its philosophy, and spent 59 years of my life living with it. The foundation of my life, my education, and my belief could be nothing but a big error (NOT!)
Glad you wrote this. I ran the concept by my wife, who is a Buddhist, and she said she'd never heard of it. Acceptance, yes. "Practicing," no.
Honestly, I am so sick of people who do not like a particular subject trashing it - why can't people just "live and let live?"
I told you about a practice with which I am familiar. I did not ask people to vote on it's legitimacy - I did not try to convince anyone that they "should" take up the practice. I just shared the practice and how I am applying it today.
Reread your original post and tell me its not trolling for comment on a retired forum. Just do what you want and do not put it up for discussion on a discussio forum if you don't want comment.
Honestly, I am so sick of people who do not like a particular subject trashing it - why can't people just "live and let live?"
I told you about a practice with which I am familiar. I did not ask people to vote on it's legitimacy - I did not try to convince anyone that they "should" take up the practice. I just shared the practice and how I am applying it today.
*bold/color mine
LIVE and let LIVE? Maybe because you're practicing dying because you have a cold.
Reread your original post and tell me its not trolling for comment on a retired forum. Just do what you want and do not put it up for discussion on a discussio forum if you don't want comment.
I don't know what you are alleging, but I posted it in Retirement because of the subject of sickness and death, which is more prevalent in an older population.
Nowhere did I indicate I do not want comment - people should not claim that the practice doesn't exist or mock the practice - if it doesn't appeal to you, why would you feel compelled to comment? Why not just pass it by?
I was sharing . . .as in FYI . . . it wasn't intended to be a debate of any kind.
I think it is extremely abusive to accuse someone legitimate of "trolling."
Last edited by imcurious; 04-04-2012 at 07:17 PM..
I am sorry I cannot quote the source of this teaching. I have read a lot of Buddhist texts including The Tibetan Book of the Dead, lots of books by the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hahn, Cheri Huber, Pema Chodron, Stephen Levine, Jack Kornfield, and many, many others. I can't remember in which book I read of this practice. I think it may have been Thich Nhat Hahn, but I am not sure. The Dalai Lama does write about preparation for death in many of his books . . . he teaches it is important to contemplate one's death, for many reasons.
I said nothing about "planning" - that is your interpretation. I am exclusively talking in this thread about the practice of dying when one is sick - taking the opportunity to contemplate death and practicing letting go.
First, Thich Nhat Hanh was one of my professors in uni. After I stopped being his student, I became one of his acquaintances for many years. I had never heard him said anything about practicing dying. However, Prof. Thich Nhat Hanh has turned his back on his original belief recently and is no longer a Buddhist. He has gotten himself a wife (not allowed in Buddhism) and called himself founder of a new religion.
Second, practicing is planning for what you would do when things come, and practicing is longing for the day things come. That definition might not make sense to a Western mind, but that's precisely what it is in Eastern way of thinking and living. Not just my interpretation.
Third, one does not practice letting things go when one dies, but when one lives. That's the Buddhist way.
Fourth, contemplating one's death only works when one has lived one's life being free of all attachments, and death is the bridge that connects the temporary journey (life) to the more permanent one (enlightenment.) One cannot contemplate death when one has not done with life. Done, in this case, means being free of all -- materials, emotional, hope, dreams, etc. Contemplating and preparing for one's death while one is still attached to everything one has achieved in life (job, family, home, comforts, etc.) would be the same as planning to/longing for/dreaming of becoming Mrs. George Clooney (change name to your heart's desire) while still being married to Joe Smith. It's not illegal, but it's impractical.
First, Thich Nhat Hanh was my professor, even though it was for only one class in one semester. I had never heard him said anything about practicing dying. However, Prof. Thich Nhat Hanh has turned his back on his belief recently and is no longer a Buddhist. He has gotten himself a wife (not allowed in Buddhism) and called himself founder of a new religion.
Second, practicing is planning for what you would do when things come, and practicing is longing for the day things come. That definition might not make sense to a Western mind, but that's precisely what it is in Eastern way of thinking and living. Not my interpretation.
Third, one does not practice letting things go when one dies, but when one lives. That's the Buddhist way.
Fourth, contemplating one's death only works when one has lived one's life being free of all attachments, and death is the bridge that connects the temporary journey (life) to the more permanent one (enlightenment.) One cannot contemplate death when one has not done with life. Done, in this case, meaning free of all -- materials, emotional, hope, dreams, etc. Contemplating and preparing for one's death while one is still attached to everything one achieved in life (job, family, shelter, comfort...) would be the same as planning to/longing for/dreaming of becoming Mrs. George Clooney (change name to your heart's desire) while still being married to Joe Smith. It's not illegal, but it's impractical.
1) Can't comment on Ticht Naht Hahn's current lifestyle and it has no relevance to his brilliance or teachings, from my perspective. Whether or not he was your professor has no bearing on anything.
2) "Practicing" is associated with "practices" which are part and parcel of Buddhist tradition. Even sitting meditation is practice to still the mind. The Dalai Lama talks about "death practices" - did you read the link?
3) You can let go when you live AND when you die.
4) I completely disagree with your last analysis that you can't contemplate death until you're done with life. You can contemplate it any time you want, and according to the Dalai Lama, you should do it often or you can't actually appreciate your life. Read the link (it's obvious that you haven't).
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