Ab Immemorabili

195 - Memento Mori - How Death Awareness Transforms Life

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What did the Stoics, the Buddhists, and the ancient Mexicans all know about death that we've forgotten?

Drake and Holly explore humanity's oldest spiritual practice: the conscious contemplation of mortality. Far from being morbid, memento mori was understood across cultures as a technology for becoming more alive. This episode traces death awareness practices from Marcus Aurelius writing by candlelight to Buddhist monks meditating in charnel grounds, from the vibrant celebrations of Día de los Muertos to the vanitas paintings of medieval Europe. Along the way, they examine why modern psychology is confirming what ancient wisdom knew all along: that our relationship with death fundamentally shapes our relationship with life.

Key Topics:

  • Marcus Aurelius and Stoic death practice
  • Seneca's teachings on the preciousness of time
  • Buddhist charnel ground meditation and the nine cemetery contemplations
  • Tibetan Book of the Dead and preparation for dying
  • Día de los Muertos and Aztec attitudes toward death
  • The ars moriendi tradition and medieval memento mori art
  • Terror Management Theory and Ernest Becker's insights
  • Modern death denial and its psychological costs
  • Physical practices that invoke mortality awareness
  • How to begin working with death awareness safely

    • Featured Concepts: Memento Mori: Latin phrase meaning "remember that you will die," used as a spiritual practice for cultivating presence and proper priorities Maranasati: Buddhist mindfulness of death practice, including formal contemplation of corpses at various stages of decay Premeditatio Malorum: Stoic technique of visualising potential misfortunes, including death, to reduce their power and increase gratitude Ars Moriendi: Medieval "art of dying" manuals that prepared people for death as a spiritual passage Terror Management Theory: Psychological framework explaining how awareness of mortality shapes human behaviour and culture

    Essential Quote: "Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what's left and live it properly."

    Practical Takeaway: Try a simple evening reflection this week. Before sleep, review your day and ask: if this had been my last day, would I be satisfied with how I spent it? Not to create anxiety, but to let mortality clarify what actually matters. The question does the work.

    Key References:

    • Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
    • Seneca, Letters from a Stoic
    • Ernest Becker, The Denial of Death
    • The Tibetan Book of the Dead (Bardo Thodol)
    • Philippe Ariès, Western Attitudes Toward Death
    • Sheldon Solomon et al., The Worm at the Core

      • Related Listening: For a complete deep dive into Marcus Aurelius, check out our sister podcast The Primary Texts, currently exploring the Meditations book by book.

      About Ab Immemorabili: Ancient wisdom meets modern minds. Join Drake & Holly for explorations of philosophy, consciousness, and transformation.

      Contact: [email protected] | www.maaoot.org

      The wisdom you seek has always been within you. You're not learning it. You're remembering it.

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