Living in the Light of Death : On the Art of Being Truly Alive

This book presents the Buddhist approach to facing the inevitable facts of growing older, getting sick, and dying. These tough realities are not given much attention by many people until midlife, when they become harder to avoid. Using a Buddhist text known as the Five Subjects for Frequent Recollection, Larry Rosenberg shows how intimacy with the realities of aging can actually be used as a means to liberation. When we become intimate with these inevitable aspects of life, he writes, we also become intimate with ourselves, with others, with the world—indeed with all things. From the publisher... This Book Is The Fruit Of Larry Rosenberg's Years Of Practicing And Teaching Death Awareness. Using A Text Known As The Five Subjects For Frequent Recollection, He Shows How Intimacy With Aging And Mortality Can Be A Means To Liberation: When We Become Intimate With Death, He Writes, We Also Become Profoundly Intimate With Ourselves, With Others, Indeed With All Things.--jacket. Introduction: Aging And Death, Our Lifelong Companions -- The First Messenger: Aging Is Unavoidable -- The Second Messenger: Illness Is Unavoidable -- The Third Messenger: Death Is Unavoidable -- The Fourth Messenger: Heirs To Our Actions -- The Practice: Intimacy With Living And Dying -- Meditation And The Practice Of Awareness. Larry Rosenberg With David Guy. Originally Published: 2000. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [173]-174). This book presents the Buddhist approach to facing the inevitable facts of growing older, getting sick, and dying. These tough realities are not given much attention by many people until midlife, when they become harder to avoid. Using a Buddhist text known as the Five Subjects for Frequent Recollection, Larry Rosenberg shows how intimacy with the realities of aging can actually be used as a means to liberation. When we become intimate with these inevitable aspects of life, he writes, we also become intimate with ourselves, with others, and with the world. MY MOST memorable learning experience about aging took place when I myself was still rather young, in my early thirties. JUST TO SPEND some time with this contemplation every day would be instructive, ti see it and really penetrate it.