Recollection/Death (maraṇassati)
Meditation / Recollection / Recollection/Death
Part of tag cluster Death in key topic The Human Dillema
Also a subtag of Mindfulness of body
35 excerpts, 2:46:52 total duration

All excerpts (36) Most relevant (25) Questions about (17) Answers involving (12) Stories (4) Quotes (2) Readings (2) References (1)

Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 28 – Feb. 12, 2014

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2. “In the Pure Land tradition, there are practices that prepare one for death. Are there are specific recommendations that yourself or Ajahn Chah would give for preparation for that last moment before death?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pure Land] [Ajahn Chah] [Death] [Recollection/Death] // [Buddho mantra]

Story: Family members try to encourage a drunkard to recollect “Arahaṃ“ in his last moments. [Mantra] [Humor]

Story: Ajahn Chah’s response to Paul Breiter’s desire to teach meditation to dying people. Told by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Paul Breiter] [Meditation] [Fierce/direct teaching]

Story: Ajahn Karuṇadhammo advises Iris Landsberg to recollect “sorrowless, spotless, secure.” Told by Ajahn Kaccāna. [Ajahn Karuṇadhammo] [Recollection]

Sutta: Sn 2.4: Maṅgala Sutta (English chanting translation).

Story: A couple asks Master Hua what kind of dog they should get. [Master Hsuan Hua] [Animal] [Rebirth]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 46 – Mar. 10, 2014

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10. “How can we interest the mind in the recollection of death?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Death] [Desire] // [Mindfulness of breathing] [Sickness] [Death] [Poo Jum Gom] [Mindfulness of body] [Spiritual urgency]


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11. “Is recollection of death useful for laypeople?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Death] [Lay life] // [Human]


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12. Comment by Ajahn Ñāṇiko: There is a belief that contemplating death can call death to you. [Recollection/Death] [Death] // [Fear]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno.


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13. “How do I keep the mind from proliferating about what happens after death?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Death] [Rebirth] [Proliferation] // [Progress of insight]


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16. Comment: Comments about bringing death contemplation into the present moment. [Recollection/Death] [Present moment awareness] [Rebirth]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Vajrayāna]


Abhayagiri 2014 Winter Retreat, Session 52 – Mar. 18, 2014

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3. “In the reading, did it say that he [Chao Khun Nor] slept in a coffin?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Chao Khun Nor] [Recollection/Death]


Death and Dying, Session 1 – May. 9, 2014

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12. Comments about uncertainty, impermanence, and denial of the reality of one’s own death. [Impermanence ] [Culture/West] [Heedfulness] [Virtue] [Death] [Recollection/Death]

Response by Ajahn Pasanno.


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23. “In Vajrayāna you visualize a column of light and going out the top of your head in preparation for death. Is there a related practice in this tradition?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Vajrayāna] [Visualization] [Recollection/Death] [Theravāda] [Death] // [Tranquility] [Mindfulness]

Reference: “Our Real Home” in Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, p. 145.


2014 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 2 – Nov. 23, 2014

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3. “This has happened a few times only but I’m puzzled, please help. When my mind was very calm, a sudden sort of energetic feeling is all over the body and my spine feels very cold. And then suddenly I have a flash of memory from childhood of drowning in the tank in our backyard. On a different occasion I saw the dead putrefied face of an old woman, horrific, mouth wide open. How do I deal with all this? I get a shock and concentration stops, sometimes sending shivers.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Meditation/Unusual experiences] [Concentration] [Rapture] [Recollection/Death]


2014 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 4 – Nov. 25, 2014

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9. “I have an autoimmune disorder of undiagnosed origin. I was wondering if it was worth this precious time of practice to send mettā and thoughts of healing to the body. If so, how do you recommend approaching it? Also, is this compatible with seeing this ailment as a heavenly messenger (and as a contemplation of the body’s demise)? As symptom management reduces it to a mild physical irritation should I also contemplate unpleasant feelings? Or is it best to just stay grounded in the breath and mettā and not risk proliferation. Much gratitude.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Sickness] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Recollection/Death] [Proliferation] [Goodwill]


Abhayagiri 2015 Winter Retreat, Session 10 – Jan. 17, 2015

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1. Comments by Beth Steff about the Lam Rim teachings. [Vajrayāna] [Bhikkhu Bodhi] [Recollection/Death]

Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo.


2015 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 4 – Nov. 24, 2015

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14. “One of the books I have read suggests to practice the last moment of life every night. What would you suggest for practicing marananussati?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Death ] // [Purpose/meaning]

Sutta: AN 10.48 Ten Reflections (Chanting book translation)


Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 7 – Nov. 25, 2016

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1. “Can you please say a little more about using the contemplation of death to gladden the mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Recollection/Death ] [Gladdening the mind] // [Purpose/meaning] [Heedfulness]


Abhayagiri 25th Anniversary Retreat, Session 16 – Jun. 13, 2021

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2. “Are monks in the forest tradition required to meditate near dead bodies in cremation grounds? Is that to uproot defilements of fear of death? Is it considered psychologically safe?” Answered by Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Thai Forest Tradition] [Recollection/Death] [Fear] [Death] // [Ascetic practices] [Wat Pah Nanachat] [Naturalness]

Quote: “Death is the most ordinary thing in the world.” — Ajahn Liem. [Ajahn Liem]


28th Anniversary Practice and Study Day, Session 4 – Jun. 1, 2024

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3. “Could you say more about recollection of death and the healthy desire to have something fall away?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Craving not to become] [Recollection/Death] [Relinquishment] // [Cessation] [Middle Path] [Right View]

Sutta: MN 26.19: The Buddha doubts whether anyone will understand. [Buddha/Biography]


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4. Comment: Sometimes when I contemplate maraṇassati, a strong sense of saṃvega will come over me and work seems pointless. But I’m currently in lay life, so if I get so much saṃvega that I don’t want to work, this is a problem. [Recollection/Death] [Spiritual urgency] [Work] [Lay life]

Response by Ajahn Karuṇadhammo and Ajahn Ñāṇiko. [Right Effort] [Discernment] [Skillful qualities]