How often do we contemplate the inevitability of our own mortality?

The Buddha taught that as humans, we are of the nature to grow old, to get sick, to die, to become separated from all things dear to us, and that our actions are our only true belongings. These teachings, called the Five Remembrances, point directly to the fragile and impermanent nature of life.

As Zuisei says in this talk on the Five Remembrances: “This is not a pessimistic teaching. It’s not meant to bring you down— quite the opposite. It’s meant to remind you of the preciousness of human life. It’s meant to give us a way to fully appreciate the gift that we’ve been given, so that we can live completely. So we can keep our eye on what’s most important.”

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