The Nine Contemplations of Atisha

The Nine Contemplations that follow offer a way to explore the inevitability of death and what is important to us in the light of our mortality. The practice asks us to question what we are doing in our life at this very moment and to see what is important for us to do in order to prepare for death. The contemplations come from Atisha, an eleventh-century Tibetan Buddhist scholar, who systematized the method for generating an enlightened mind. This practice is based on the work of Larry Rosenberg. – Joan Halifax Roshi

These are The Nine Contemplations of Atisha:

All of Us Will Die Sooner or Later
Your Life Span Is Decreasing Continuously
Death Will Come Whether You Are Prepared or Not
Your Life Span, Like That of All Living Beings, Is Not Fixed
Death Has Many Causes
Your Body Is Fragile and Vulnerable
Your Loved Ones Cannot Keep You from Death
At the Moment of Your Death, Your Material Resources Are of No Use to You
Your Own Body Cannot Help You at the Time of Your Death*

Here you can find the original practice by Joan Halifax Roshi.

Below are two practices—offering light and moderate guidance, respectively—based on Joan Halifax Roshi’s instructions, but with less text to allow more space for reflection.

The Nine Contemplations of Atisha - Light Guidance

The Nine Contemplations that follow offer a way to explore the inevitability of death and what is important to us in the light of our mortality. The practice asks us to question what we are doing in our life at this very moment and to see what is important for us to do in order to prepare for death. This practice is based on the practice by Joan Halifax Roshi which is based on the work of Lary Rosenberg.

Find a comfortable place to sit. Make sure that your body is relaxed and calm. If you want to, close your eyes. Let your mind settle. Bring your attention to your breath.

There are nine contemplations that remind us about the nature of life and death. Please consider them deeply. At each pause, please reflect on what was said.

1. All of Us Will Die Sooner or Later

There is no question that you will be met by death sooner or later. There is no way around it. death is the outcome of birth. It is inevitable. Not a single sentient being has escaped death.

2. Your Life Span Is Decreasing Continuously

Your life span lessens every moment that you live. There is the moment of your birth, and then the time of your death. Life flows between these two points of change. Your movement toward death never stops.

3. Death Will Come Whether You Are Prepared or Not

This contemplation, reminding us that death will come whether we are prepared or not, encourages us to take care of life now and prepare for death.

4. Your Life Span, Like That of All Living Beings, Is Not Fixed

Think of the many beings who died this day. How many of them really thought they were going to die today?

There is an essential uncertainty about the time of your death. Do you really think that you know how much time you have left?

5. Death Has Many Causes

There are so many ways to die. The causes of death are infinite. You can die because of a storm or an accident; you can die of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, old age, and so forth. Even if you have been diagnosed with a so-called terminal illness, it may not be the cause of your death.

6. Your Body Is Fragile and Vulnerable

Life hangs by a breath. Breathe in. After this next exhalation, consider the possibility that you might not be able to inhale.

When the wind has gone from your nostrils and the breath no longer enters your body, then your life span has ended, and you will die.

A heart attack or a stroke can bring you down in an instant. An accident, a moment of violence, a mistake can bring your life to a surprising and rapid end.

7. Your Loved Ones Cannot Keep You from Death

Your loved ones are essentially helpless and powerless in the face of your dying. There is nothing they can do for you at the moment of your death. Death will simply prevail.

8. At the Moment of Your Death, Your Material Resources Are of No Use to You

Imagine yourself on your deathbed. You are growing weaker and more frail by the moment. Short pause You have spent your entire life earning money, accumulating material possessions. On the threshold of death, what good are these things to you?

9. Your Own Body Cannot Help You at the Time of Your Death

You have spent so much time working on your body. You may spend hours just thinking about your body, viewing it in a mirror, evaluating its appearance, trying to make it look younger and more beautiful. Then what happens? It dies on you anyway. At the moment of death, you lose it.

These are the nine contemplations: Death is inevitable. Our life span is decreasing continuously. Death will come regardless of whether we are prepared for it. Human lifeexpectancy is uncertain. Death has many causes. The human body is fragile and vulnerable. Our friends cannot keep us from death. Our material resources cannot help us at the moment of death. And our own body cannot help us at the time of death.

The Nine Contemplations of Atisha - Moderate Guidance

This practice is based on the practice by Joan Halifax Roshi which is based on the work of Lary Rosenberg.

Find a comfortable place to sit. Make sure that your body is relaxed and calm. If you want to, close your eyes. Let your mind settle. Bring your attention to your breath.

There are nine contemplations that remind us about the nature of life and death. Please consider them deeply. At each pause, please reflect on what was said.

1. All of Us Will Die Sooner or Later

There is no question that you will be met by death sooner or later. There is no way around it. death is the outcome of birth. It is inevitable. Not a single sentient being has escaped death.

“Death is inevitable. I, too, will die.” Repeat this statement to yourself, for a while: On the inbreath, “Death is inevitable.” On the outbreath, “I, too, will die.”

When the mind wanders away from this contemplation of the inevitability of death, call it back. Bring your attention back to this contemplation—that you will die, that each being precious to you will die, that each person and each creature now on earth will die.

Can you feel it in your body, your blood, your bones; can you know it in your breath? The inevitability of death pervades every cell in your body. Death is inevitable; this is the first contemplation.

2. Your Life Span Is Decreasing Continuously

As you consider that your life span and that of all living beings is ever decreasing, notice what comes up in your mind. If the mind attempts to divert you, call yourself back to this truth that your life is limited.

Perhaps appreciate what you have now, and that there may be no tomorrow.

In light of your life’s ever decreasing span, what are you doing with this precious life now to live life fully and to support a sane and gentle death? What are you doing to help others?

What will give your life meaning and the lives of others meaning in the light of life’s briefness? Please ask yourself these questions as you remember that your life grows shorter each second. This is the second contemplation.

3. Death Will Come Whether You Are Prepared or Not

This contemplation, reminding us that death will come whether we are prepared or not, encourages us to take care of life now and prepare for death.

In light of the truth of your ever-decreasing life span, how do you want to spend your time, your energy, your resources? Is there a way that you can truly benefit others and yourself?

What really is important for you to do with this precious human life?

Is your capacity to give attention to the mind and body in this moment adequate to

meet the challenge of dying and death? What kind of practice will strengthen your mind? What can you do to wake up in this life?

Before going on this journey, please make the best arrangements possible. Prepare yourself for going to this destination that we call death. Consider the third contemplation that death will come whether will come whether or not we are prepared.

4. Your Life Span, Like That of All Living Beings, Is Not Fixed

Think of the many beings who died this day. How many of them really thought they were going to die today?

There is an essential uncertainty about the time of your death. Do you really think that you know how much time you have left?

Please consider this. Death can come at any moment. You could die this afternoon; you could die tomorrow morning; you could die on your way to work. You could die in your sleep.

Are you ready to die?

Abide in the cycle of your inbreath and outbreath, remembering that death can come at any moment. You do not know how long this life span will be. This is the fourth contemplation.

5. Death Has Many Causes

There are so many ways to die. The causes of death are infinite. You can die because of a storm or an accident; you can die of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, old age, and so forth.

Even if you have been diagnosed with a so-called terminal illness, it may not be the cause of your death.

Think of all the ways you could die today.

Watch what your mind does when you contemplate the truth that death can come through so many doors. Do you try to avoid this thought, or are you able to consider the possibilities?

There are many conditions that bring death and all life ends in death, one way or another. Consider this fifth contemplation that death has many causes.

6. Your Body Is Fragile and Vulnerable

Life hangs by a breath. Breathe in. After this next exhalation, stop breathing for a while and consider the possibility that you might not be able to inhale.

When the wind has gone from your nostrils and the breath no longer enters your body, then your life span has ended, and you will die.

Can you allow yourself to really know that your life is hanging by a breath? For a short while, on each inhalation say to yourself “My life depends on this in-breath.” On each Exhalation, “My life depends on this out-breath.”

The beating of your heart, the activity of your brain gives life to your life. A heart attack or a stroke can bring you down in an instant. An accident, a moment of violence, a mistake can bring your life to a surprising and rapid end.

Consider how vulnerable this body is. What does your mind do when you remember this?

Does knowing how vulnerable and fragile you are turn your mind toward living? Does it deepen your experience?

The sixth contemplation is a reminder to consider this human body. Your life is literally hanging by a breath.

7. Your Loved Ones Cannot Keep You from Death

The people whom you love cannot keep death from you, and these strong attachments may produce sorrow and clinging, which make dying more difficult.

Your loved ones are essentially helpless and powerless in the face of your dying. There is nothing they can do for you at the moment of your death. Death will simply prevail.

Since your friends will not be able to stop death from taking you, ask yourself, what really is going to help at the moment of your death?

Your loved ones cannot keep you from death. This is the seventh contemplation.

8. At the Moment of Your Death, Your Material Resources Are of No Use to You

Imagine yourself on your deathbed. You are growing weaker and more frail by the moment.

You have spent your entire life earning money, accumulating material possessions. On the threshold of death, what good are these things to you?

Every single penny, every single item must be left behind. all the comforts that you worked so hard for—you have to leave behind.

They will be utterly useless to you when you are on the threshold of death. In some sense they are worse than useless. They are impediments to fully surrendering to death. In order to die in peace, you will have to let go of everything.

Consider that all your cherished objects, all your money, will be in some way or another redistributed at the time of your death. Everything that you have accumulated over so many years will be given away to friends and relatives. Some of it may end up in a thrift store or a junk pile. You can take nothing with you.

For a short while, on the inbreath consider: "Material possessions will not help". On the outbreath know what it is to release the breath and attachment to all that you possess.

Now ask yourself, "What is a sound investment to make in this life?" What will be really important at the moment of my death?

This is the eighth contemplation; that your material resources will be of no use to you at the moment of your death.

9. Your Own Body Cannot Help You at the Time of Your Death

You have spent so much time working on your body—feeding it, watering it, exercising it, dressing and undressing it, beautifying it, enjoying and not enjoying it. You may spend hours just thinking about your body, viewing it in a mirror, evaluating its appearance, trying to make it look younger and more beautiful.

Then what happens? It dies on you anyway. At the moment of death, you lose it.

This is not to say that you should neglect this body. You should take care of it. The care you give your body may make a difference in your practice and your relationships.

Imagine what it might be like just before you die. You realize suddenly that you are losing your money, your friends, your loved ones, your status, your job. And at the moment of your death, in an instant, you will also lose your body. Consider this Abiding in the inbreath, and abiding in the outbreath, remember that even your body cannot help you at the time of death.

Can you understand how others may feel who are facing their deaths? Why there is so much fear, so much clinging to life, such anger in anticipation of giving up life?

Can you feel compassion for yourself and for others?

What can you do to make it more possible to really be present for yourself or another who is facing the loss of everything at the moment of death?

What can you do to strengthen your awareness and your capacity to surrender to death?

The ninth contemplation reminds us that our body will be of no use to us at the moment of our death.

These are the nine contemplations:

Death is inevitable.

Our life span is decreasing continuously.

Death will come regardless of whether we are prepared for it.

Human life expectancy is uncertain.

Death has many causes.

The human body is fragile and vulnerable.

Our friends cannot keep us from death.

Our material resources cannot help us at the moment of death.

And our own body cannot help us at the time of death.