This week’s topic for reflection is, what happens when you die? It is often said, “No one knows what happens when you die.” There are many koans that address this important question of life and death. If you look closely all koans address this question. Buddha was asked, “What happens when you die?” and he responded, “You’re better off asking what happens when you’re alive?”
The body is constantly dying in small ways with things being repaired and replaced enabling the body to continue alive. Last Saturday my dear brother Ron died. One important way to see this is how his body and mind changed over time with progressive Alzheimers. With this disease and others, eventually essential body functions fail. We call this change death. What happened to my brother when his body died? I’m now seventy-one and I’m well aware that my body is changing in ways different from when I was twenty-one. My body is becoming frail and it’s ability to repair can’t keep up like it used to. There is no escaping this natural process. Last year I nearly died due to a gall stone and a rapid series of events.
What happens when your body dies? Many people look at death with fear. Fear of the unknown. It’s true I don’t know what happened to Ron when his body died. When my mother was dying one of the last things she said was, “I had no idea dying would be so interesting.” She did not seem afraid but was curious in the wonder of this change. She clearly did not feel as if she was alone and being extinguished.
When we ask the question what happens when I die, we are really asking who am I? What happens to “me” when my body dies? The Buddha answered us, “What happens when you’re alive?” Who you are when you are alive is essentially the same as who you are when you die. Becoming more present, open and alive in this endless moment, you will be ready for what comes next.
Please join us on Zoom for morning zazen from 7:00 to 7:30 Tuesday and Thursday, in person Zen meditation in Eugene Saturday morning at the McNail-Riley house from 9:00 to 11:00 and Sunday morning Zoom zazen and discussion from 8:00 to 9:00 Pacific Time. Here’s the Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 811 6100 3357
Passcode: 278259
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