Buddhist Practice: Day 13 - The Five Remembrances (Special Episode & Series)

Day 13:  The Five Remembrances

"There are these five facts that one should reflect on often, whether one is a woman or a man, lay or ordained." ~ The Buddha (Upajjhatthana Sutta)

The Buddha said we should contemplate and accept “the Five Remembrances”. Why? Because when we reflect on them, we are setting down the road of the Noble Eightfold Path! And when we set down this road, we are dropping all the baggage of “fetters” and abandoning “obsessions”.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are faced with our health, mortality, and loss of family, friends, and everything else. This is original fear exposed to all of us.

The Five Remembrances are not meant to be a “sad” thing, but instead reality. A reality we like to think “of course that will happen”, but we never really contemplate or accept it. By reciting the Five Remembrances daily, we are taking a hammer (figuratively) to this wall of fear. Slowly, we are breaking it down so we can see the beauty on the other side. When we truly accept them…and that all things are impermanent…we can live as genuinely happy and peaceful people.

Focus

What parts of the Five Remembrances causes me discomfort? 

Have you lost anyone to an illness? What “wall” has that built that the Five Remembrances can help you bring down. 

What are you afraid of? Write it down and begin the journey to find the root cause.

Practice

Continue to recite the Five Remembrances. Although you have been doing this for these past 13 days, you are now learning more about it. 

Continue to Meditate, at least once a day, starting with being mindful of the breath. For today, focus on what is causing you the most fear. Impermanence is a not just a central Buddhist concept and teaching, but a fact of life. However, it is one of our original fears. The Five Remembrances help us to understand and accept impermanence so that fear dissipates. 

The Five Remembrances: 1. I am subject to aging. There is no way to avoid aging. 2. I am subject to ill health. There is no way to avoid illness. 3. I am going to die. There is no way to avoid death. 4. Everyone and everything that I love will change, and I will be separated from them. 5. My only true possessions are my actions, and I cannot escape their consequences.

Free 14 Day Buddhist Planner for Buddhists:  https://gum.co/BuddhistPlannerCOVID

View all 14 days on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BxlqwF6P6GE

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