The Death Clock

A new computer application has just arrived on the scene called the “Death Clock”.  It claims to be able to predict the day of your death.  Its creators claim that it was built to motivate us to make healthier lifestyle choices.  The website says, “A new artificially intelligent app claims to be able to pinpoint your expiration date — all in an effort to motivate users to make healthier choices and lead longer lives.”  In some ways this is a wake up call to think about your life and how long you wish to live.

A couple of things come to mind as I think about this.  One is, even if this application is accurate would you want to know when you are going to die?  And if you did know, what would you do that you aren’t doing now?  Most of us live our lives day to day as if we are going to go on living forever, and seldom do we contemplate the end of our lives. 

The Buddha’s principal truth that he taught is that nothing is lasting and permanent.  This is a teaching that Buddhism has been sharing for thousands of years.  During the time of the Buddha life was much more fragile and fleeting than it is now.  Death was a constant shadow hanging over the heads of his contemporaries.  The Buddha and his disciples saw life and death as two sides of a leaf, not separate but one.  There was value for both, each enriching the other.

Today we value life more and ignore the truth of death.  One of our famous monks of Japan wrote, “In the morning we may have radiant health, but in the evening we may turn to white ashes.”  If you knew the date of your impending death, would you live your life differently?  Would you say “Thank You” with a depth of sincerity knowing that it may be your last words. Would you hug your children, your wife or husband with a passion like never before? 

The question is, why wait until you are told you are about to die?  The Buddha said that the moment you are born you begin to die.  So, live your life with a compassion and love each day as if it were your last.  Embrace each moment with those in your life, as if it was the last encounter. 

Finally, despite the often misunderstanding that Buddhist believe in reincarnation, there is only this one life that we live.  The Buddha emphasized this life, this moment.  Each breath that we take in is a new birth.  Each breath we exhale is the end of that life.  Birth and death in each breath we take. 

“First we lose our attachment to Life; at the same time we lose our fear of death.  Finally, we feel peaceful and serene inside.  Forgiving of all things, we enter a state where we hold all things in gratitude.”   Shinmon Aoki

Gassho,

Rev. Hosei Shinseki