Meditation: Speaking To The Dead

Communicating with the Dead Through Meditation

Meditation is a powerful tool that can help us connect with our deceased loved ones and gain a sense of peace and acceptance. In this guide, we will explore the steps to meditate and speak to the dead, drawing from various spiritual and religious traditions.

Preparing for the Meditation

Before beginning your meditation practice, it is crucial to find a quiet and distraction-free space where you can focus your energy. Sit in a comfortable position and take a few deep breaths to centre yourself. It is important to approach this practice with an open mind and a sense of respect for the spiritual realm.

Clearing Your Mind

The first step is to quiet your thoughts and clear your mind, just as you would in a traditional meditation practice. Let go of any anxiety, intense emotions, or unrelated thoughts. This step is crucial, as a cluttered mind can hinder your ability to connect with the spirit realm.

Visualising Your Deceased Loved One

Once your mind is clear, visualise the image of your deceased loved one. Choose an image that is significant and representative of your relationship with them. Hold this image in your mind for several seconds, focusing all your attention on it.

Asking Questions

After establishing a strong mental image, you can begin asking questions. Direct your queries to the spirit of your loved one and wait patiently for a response. Be aware that answers may not come in the form of words but could be feelings, images, or emotions instead.

Interpreting Responses

Pay close attention to any sensations or thoughts that arise during your meditation. If you feel a presence or receive responses, remain open and receptive. Remember that communication with the dead may not always be verbal, so be mindful of any subtle signs or impressions.

Seeking Outside Help

If you feel uncomfortable or unsure about meditating alone, you can enlist the help of a medium or spiritual practitioner. They can guide you through the process and provide support. Additionally, technologies like EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) and EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) can be used to detect spiritual energies and capture any spiritual communications.

Understanding the Benefits and Risks

Meditating on death and communicating with the dead can bring a sense of peace and acceptance. It can help you accept the cycle of life and death and develop a deeper appreciation for life. However, it is important to approach this practice with caution, especially if you have experienced trauma, severe depression, or psychological instability.

Remember, the steps outlined here are just a guide, and your experience may vary. Always trust your intuition and approach this practice with respect and an open mind.

Meditating on death as a murderer, since it takes away life

Death meditation is a Buddhist practice known as maraṇasati, or mindfulness of death. It is designed to remind practitioners that death can come at any moment and to encourage them to act accordingly. Meditating on death as a murderer can help individuals cultivate a sense of urgency and diligence in their daily lives, as they become more aware of the fleeting nature of life.

During a death meditation session, individuals may focus on their senses, reflect on their earliest memories, and imagine their last moments before death. They may also visualise the decomposition of their physical bodies after death, following the nine stages of corpse decomposition outlined in the Satipatthana Sutta and the Kayagata-sati Sutta.

It is important to note that meditating on death may not be suitable for everyone, especially those with trauma, severe depression, or psychological instability.

Additionally, some individuals may seek to communicate with the dead through various methods such as mirror gazing, séances, or consulting a medium. These practices are not limited to professional mediums and can be attempted by anyone seeking to connect with the spirit of a deceased loved one.

Meditating on death as the ruin of success

Death is the great leveller. No matter how successful we are in life, death will come for us all. Meditating on death as the ruin of success can help us to keep a clear head, stay humble, and make the most of our time on Earth.

The Inevitable End

Whether we are rich or poor, famous or unknown, death will come for us all. No amount of money or power can save us from this inevitable end. In the words of the Buddha, "This dead body was not some kind of chance occurrence, it was something to which we are all subject".

The Uncertainty of Timing

Not only is death inevitable, but it is also unpredictable. We never know when our time will come, so we must make the most of every moment. As the Buddha said, "We know lots about our relationship to sex, love, art, anger, food, money, clothes, politics but not very much about our relationship to a profoundly obvious and fundamental fact—that we could die at any moment".

The Illusion of Permanence

We often live our lives as if we will never die, pursuing success and accumulating possessions as if they will bring us lasting happiness. But death meditation forces us to confront the impermanence of life and the futility of chasing earthly pleasures. As American author Terry Tempest Williams wrote, "Our fear of death enslaves us to the illusion that we will live forever".

The True Source of Joy

When we meditate on death as the ruin of success, we realise that true joy does not come from external achievements or possessions, but from within. We learn to cherish the present moment and the people around us, knowing that nothing is guaranteed. As Thich Nhat Hanh said, "Life is impermanent, but that does not mean that it is not worth living. It is precisely because of its impermanence that we value life so dearly".

Living with Urgency

With the knowledge that death could come at any moment, we are motivated to live each day to the fullest. We no longer put off our dreams or take our loved ones for granted. We approach life with urgency, knowing that our time is limited. As Zasep Rinpoche said, "Life is too short. Death can happen at any time, you don't know".

In conclusion, meditating on death as the ruin of success can help us to keep a healthy perspective on life. It reminds us that success is fleeting and that true joy comes from within. By confronting our mortality, we can live more authentically, with gratitude, compassion, and urgency.

Viewing death by comparison with famous persons

Death is a difficult topic to approach, and many people avoid discussing it. However, by accepting our mortality, we can live a happier and healthier life. Maranasati meditation, or mindfulness of death, is a Buddhist practice that can help us achieve this mindset.

One of the eight ways of meditating on death, as described by Buddhaghosa, is to view death by comparison with famous persons. This involves reflecting on the fact that even the most renowned and enlightened individuals eventually died.

For example, consider the deaths of famous historical figures such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, or Albert Einstein. Reflect on the fact that despite their greatness, they too faced mortality. Their lives ended, just as everyone's will eventually.

By contemplating the deaths of famous people, you can put your own life into perspective. It can help you realize that death is inevitable and that life is fragile. This awareness can motivate you to live a more fulfilling life, with more vigour and appreciation for each moment.

However, it is important to note that meditating on death may not be suitable for everyone. If you have trauma, severe depression, or psychological instability, it is recommended to avoid this practice.

Meditating on the body as the abode of many

In Buddhaghosa's Visuddhimagga, there are eight ways of meditating on death. They are as follows:

• Meditating on death as a murderer, since it takes away life.
• Meditating on death as the ruin of success.
• Viewing death by comparison with famous persons, reflecting that even these great ones eventually died, even the enlightened ones themselves.
• Meditating on the body as the abode of many—many worms as well as the target of many others.
• Meditating on the difficulty of keeping alive.
• Meditating on death as without occasion, since beings die unpredictably.
• Meditating on the shortness of a lifetime.
• Meditating on the fact that, properly speaking, the lifetime of a being is a single moment of consciousness, that one dies every moment, so to speak.

The purpose of meditating on death in this way is to develop a sense of spiritual urgency and renunciation. It is a central teaching of Tibetan Buddhism and is regarded as the ultimate practice of meditation.

Tibetan Buddhist contemplations on death also come from the 11th-century Buddhist scholar Atisha. Atisha is said to have told his students that if a person is unaware of death, their meditation will have little power. Atisha's contemplations on death include:

• Death is inevitable.
• Our life span is decreasing continuously.
• Death will come, whether or not we are prepared for it.
• Human life expectancy is uncertain.
• There are many causes of death.
• The human body is fragile and vulnerable.
• At the time of death, our material resources are not of use to us.
• Our loved ones cannot keep us from death.
• Our own body cannot help us at the time of our death.

Meditating on the difficulty of keeping alive

Meditating on death is a common practice in Buddhist monasteries in Southeast Asia. In English, the word 'maranasati' refers to a series of early Buddhist practices that focus on mindfulness of death. The objective of these practices is to deepen the practitioner's appreciation of their mortality, thereby lessening death anxiety and enhancing their zest for living.

One of the eight ways of meditating on death, as outlined in Buddhaghosa's Visuddhimagga, involves meditating on the difficulty of keeping alive. This is a recognition of the fact that death can strike at any time, and that we should approach each moment with urgency.

How to Meditate on the Difficulty of Keeping Alive

If you wish to meditate on the difficulty of keeping alive, it is important to first assess your readiness for such a practice. Thinking and talking about death can evoke uncomfortable feelings, including anxiety, sadness, and even terror. Therefore, preparation is key. Even seasoned meditators might find this practice challenging.

It is also important to be gentle with yourself when contemplating your own mortality. Start with a short, gentle practice and gradually build up to more intense contemplations.

Recite the Five Daily Reflections or Five Remembrances each morning. These are:

• "Just like everyone, I am of the nature to age. I have not gone beyond aging."
• "Just like everyone, I am of the nature to sicken. I have not gone beyond sickness."
• "Just like everyone, I am subjected to the results of my own actions. I am not free from these karmic effects."
• "Just like everyone, I am of the nature to die. I have not gone beyond dying."
• "Just like everyone, all that is mine, beloved and pleasing, will change, will become otherwise, will become separated from me."

• Recite the following sentence with every breath: "This could be my last inhale. This could be my last exhale."
• Practice corpse contemplation or charnel ground contemplation. This involves observing a corpse in different stages of decay, either in person or through images. A specific Buddhist practice involves contemplating a corpse in nine stages of decomposition, as outlined in the Satipatthana Sutta and the Kayagata-sati Sutta.
• Keep a memento mori, such as a skull or skull bracelet, or draw a skull on a Post-It note and stick it to your computer monitor. The idea is to keep the idea of death constantly in your perspective.

Remember, meditating on death is not for everyone and should be avoided by those with trauma, severe depression, or psychological instability. If in doubt, consult a healthcare or mental health professional.

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