This human life is rare and valuable, more precious than any material possessions. Wasting this life without Dharma practice is the greatest loss we can experience. Even a moment spent without engaging in Dharma practice is a greater loss than losing all the wealth in the world or wish-granting jewels.
Delusion, such as attachment, obscures our perception of reality and prevents us from recognizing the empty nature of phenomena. When we look at our own body with attachment, it obscures our ability to see its impurities. Similarly, attachment obscures our understanding of impermanence and prevents us from recognizing the empty nature of phenomena. Ignorance obscures our minds from seeing the truth, and delusions prevent us from recognizing the impermanent and unsatisfactory nature of things.
Fear of death can be overcome by letting go of attachments and purifying negative karma. A happy death depends on everyday life and our ability to practice patience and control anger. By living in vows and precepts, we create less negative karma and protect ourselves from ongoing suffering.
The most important aspect of preparing for death is cultivating a good heart and the sincere intention to benefit others. When this motivation is present, purification happens naturally, and the fear of death diminishes.
Meditating on emptiness does not mean simply observing space or ordinary emptiness. Meditation should go beyond the conventional truth and focus on the emptiness of inherent or true existence. When one realizes emptiness, it can be similar to the appearance of nihilism, where there is a sense of losing oneself and fear may arise.
Fear arises because of our strong belief in a truly existent self, which has been ingrained in us since beginningless rebirths. The fear indicates that the meditation is heading in the right direction. Falling into actual nihilism does not generate fear because it does not harm the object of ignorance, the truly existent self. The I does not become nonexistent. The aggregates and consciousness continue to exist, even after realizing emptiness.
From this point, one should develop one-pointed concentration and continue daily sessions to stabilize the concentration in emptiness. This leads to the renunciation of samsara and progress on the path towards wisdom, directly perceiving emptiness, and eventually ceasing the defilements through bodhichitta.
This teaching was given at Institut Vajra Yogini, France as part of a Four Kadampa Deities Retreat from April 18-May 11, 2003. You can see all the teachings from this retreat here:
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