ANYONE CAN GET OLD

               What does Blind Dharma have to say about life after death?

It simply declares, don't worry about it, you will find out when you don't 

get there.

Of course from the logical point of view that might mean that you are in 

inferno with most of the rest of the world, which is pretty crowded. 

But in terms of Correct Dharma it means that in that last moment of 

consciousness you will know there is nothing after... For that flashing

second that might be a confirmation of what you always suspected, 

a relief for those that really merit something uncomfortable after life 

with Dante's justice or a terrible disappointment that your Ego will 

not be rewarded.

But meantime what are you going to do, if you want to go to a wonderful 

after life without really the merits which St. Peter might require as he waits 

at the gate somewhere sitting on a cloud with a mass of angels playing 

the same old gospel tunes on golden harps that have seen better days.

If you did by any chance in your imagination sneak through he is not going 

to be in a good mood, for he has been waiting for more than fourteen 

thousand years sitting with a heavy record book and nobody has come

up there yet.

So forget all that and let's see what Blind Dharma can do for you as you

grow older that will satisfy all your desires and at the same time allow 

you to see yourself in the mirror with a glowing halo, or is it a toilet seat?,

perched over your head, despite the fact that your probable future is

to rot in some quiet graveyard somewhere, while those that really never

knew you except a little after you died, come on various remembrance

days to put flowers on the earth, below which only your bones lie.

The first intelligent Blind Dharma thing to do is start psyching yourself up 

with smart phrases. There are many, but they all really say the same thing.

You can with Blind Dharma remind yiourself: 

      Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - 

      they merely move it from their faces into their hearts. 

      That was said by Martin Buxbaum. If that consoles you then use it. 

      Many people do.

Then Charles Dickens gave very wise advice. He declared, 

"he has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; 

who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little

children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has

left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy,

a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation

of earth's beauty or failed to express it; who has always looked for

the best in others and given them the best he had; whose life was

an inspiration; whose memory a benediction. 

Does that help? Probably not because you have done probably none

of these things... Perhaps then you can start writing poetry.

But you are still going to get old.

The only way really is to understand life and death before it is too late.

 Believe me, death has as much beauty as life if you step back from your

 Identity. It is not that you step up to death inviting it in, but there is a

 poem which speaks of treating life and death as two impostors and says

 that you should treat them both the same.

I have encountered many people with a terminal illness and those that

have understood that they can learn in what little time they have to enjoy 

life truly as it is and experience a well being that they have never 

experienced that is far more rewarding and exhilarating than what others

who live to an old age have experienced all their lives.

Buddha declared:

Potthapada, there are some ascetics and Brahmins who declare and believe

that after death the self is entirely happy and free from disease. 

I approached them and asked if this was indeed what they declared and 

believed, and they replied: "Yes." 

 Then I said: "Do you, friends, living in the world, know and see it as an

 entirely happy place?" and they replied: "No."

 I said: "Have you ever experienced a single night or day, or half 

a night or day, that was entirely happy?" and they replied: "No." 

 I said: "Do you know a path or a practice whereby an entirely happy world

 might be brought about?" and they replied: "No." 

 I said: "Have you heard the voices of deities who have been reborn in an

 entirely happy world, saying: 

"The attainment of an entirely happy world has been 

well and rightly gained, and we, gentlemen, have been reborn in such 

a realm?" and they replied: "No."  

What do you think, Potthapada? 

 Such being the case, does not the talk of those ascetics and Brahmins

 turn out to be stupid? 

 It is just as if a man were to say: "I am going to seek out and love the

 most beautiful girl in the country." 

 They might say to him: "Well, as to this most beautiful girl in the country,

 do you know whether she belongs to the Khattiya, the Brahmin, the 

merchant or the artisan class?" and he would say: "No." 

 Then they might say: "Well, do you know her name, her clan, whether

 she is tall or short or of medium height, whether she is dark or 

light-complexioned or sallow-skinned, or what village or town or city 

she comes from?" and he would say: "No." 

 And they might say: "Well then, you don't know or see the one you

 seek for and desire?" and he would say: "No." 

Does not the talk of that man turn out to be stupid?"  

"Certainly, Lord."

And so it is with those ascetics and Brahmins who declare and believe that 

after death the self is entirely happy and free from disease…

Does not their talk turn out to be stupid?" 

"Certainly, Lord."

"It is just as if a man were to build a staircase for a palace at a crossroads.

 People might say to him: "Well now, this staircase for a palace that you

 are building - do you know whether the palace will face east, or west,

 or north or south, or whether it will be high, low or of medium height?" and he would say:  "No."  

And they might say, "Well then, you don't know or see what kind of a palace you are building

 the staircase for?" and he would say: "No." 

 Don't you think that man's talk would turn out to be stupid?"  

        "Certainly, Lord."