Blog 2: Death Meditation
My life reached an inflection point: Stay on the traditional path, or risk “failure” in pursuit of opportunity, freedom, and adventure.
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"Do not wait until the end of your life to realize the beauty and wonder of existence. Embrace the reality of death, and let it inspire you to live with mindfulness, compassion, and deep appreciation for the present moment."
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Nine-Point Death Meditation: Key Lessons
· Truth 1: Death is certain.
1. No being has ever escaped death.
2. We are constantly becoming closer to death.
3. There is not much time to practice “Dharma” (defined as our calling).
Conclusion: We must practice Dharma.
· Truth 2: The time of death is uncertain.
4. The lifespan of human beings is not fixed.
5. More conditions endanger life than support it.
6. The body is extremely fragile.
Conclusion: We must practice Dharma now.
· Truth 3: Nothing can help us at the time of death except our Dharma.
7. Our money can’t help when we die.
8. Our friends and family can’t help when we die.
9. At the time of death, even our body can’t help.
Conclusion: We must practice Dharma with pure intentions.
I grew up low-income in New York City, and by the time I was 10 years old, I was convinced that money was the key to everything. College was my first chance to finally make money and I couldn’t wait.
When I learned of lucrative careers on Wall Street, I was immediately hooked. From that point onwards, I devoted myself to the future which compelled me to forgo the joys of the present. Thankfully, the seeds of change were sowed during my first trip to Thailand in 2019. This was part of my first trip to Asia.
In 2019, my friends hosted me in their homes for winter break, which included Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Despite being far from family, I had a blast.
In Bangkok, we feasted, partied, and shopped. This was payback for our late-night studies.
One parent also wisely booked us tours at some of Thailand’s 40,000 Buddhist temples. 93% of Thais are Theravada Buddhists, so these tours were particularly formative for my understanding of the country and evolving value system.
At the temples, my friends shared lessons from Buddhism, and for the first time, a religion resonated with me. Despite this milestone, I was still a prideful, unenlightened New Yorker. For fear of looking “soft,” I hesitated to express my interest in the teachings. That’s who I was back then.
By 2021, I considered myself an official Buddhist, which led me to experiment with the “Death Meditation.” The death meditation taught me to accept the certainty of death and the uncertainty of life. This exercise forced me to make use of our most precious asset, the present, by pursuing what I believed to be my “Dharma” or calling.
"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” – Rumi
Fast forward to 2023, I had a prestigious job, and for the first time in my life, my career and financial needs were met. In the eyes of many, I was “living the dream.” I thought “success” would feel better, yet to my surprise, I found myself desiring a different life.
Working on Wall Street sharpened my business acumen and dissipated my fear of poverty. However, my life reached an inflection point: Stay on the traditional path, or risk “failure” in pursuit of opportunity, freedom, and adventure.
From 2019 to 2023, the strange allure of life and business in Southeast Asia was both a corrosive and constructive force. During this period, I accomplished a lot professionally, yet eventually, I felt life begin to pass me by. Not embracing my passions made me feel hollow inside.
By age 24, I decided major changes were essential to live a joyful, fulfilled life, which I valued more than money and stability. Armed with a valuable skillset, resume, and network, I felt a duty to make use of our Defining Decade, our twenties.
Being obligation-free, I view the pursuit of my passions in the developing world as the highest and best use of the opportunities and training I’ve received.
Location: New York City
Date: June 24, 2023