Published Thursday, 04 May 2023
It is a fool who indulges in dreaming
about the most comfortable
place to live, saying
"here it will be warm,
there it will be cool" -
unaware of impending death.
Dhammapada v.286
The Buddha wanted us to set our priorities right. Hence his encouragement to regularly reflect on the inevitability of our death. This encouragement is not about being morbid, nor out of a disrespect for life. It is out of a concern that less important matters, such as whether or not our superficial preferences are being met, might dominate. Obviously we enjoy feeling physically comfortable, but what matters more is the cultivation of our spiritual faculties: faith, energy, disciplined attention, collectedness and wise reflection.