A few people have been surprised that the blog will die soon. There’s no special reason for this, except that my year is running out. Using the conceit that has shaped the writing for these months: I’m going to die in several days’ time. This writing is an example of the perspective that all conditioned processes exhaust themselves.
My blogging has been for a shorter time than my practice year, that’s true. My practice year began in February 2015.; while, the blog began when I was already some way into the practice.
So, I found myself recently with the choice of honouring either the practice year, or the writing year. I didn’t feel it was faithful to the spirt of the practice, to postpone my death for the blog. So, there it is. I suppose that like a life, a blog can be cut short.
As soon as I decided to be faithful to the practice year, not the blog year, I felt a sadness; and, I imagined that my few regular readers would feel something like that. It’s a poignant thing, isn’t it? This certainty that we part from all who are (and all that is) dear to us?
To me, no matter how much I accept the reality of trusting the no-thingness aspect of reality – that which is beyond karma – even so, I trust the karmic reality of cause and effect. It is best to respect contingency:
The Five Remembrances – Translated by Christopher J. Ash:
1. I am subject to old age. I am not exempt from old age.
2. I am subject to illness. I am not exempt from illness.
3. I am subject to death. I am not exempt from death.
4. There is alteration in, and parting from, everything that is dear and pleasing to me.
5. I am the owner of my actions, heir to my actions. They are my matrix, I am related through them, they are my mediator. I become the heir of whatever actions I do, good or bad.
I’ve been travelling today, and I’m settling into Sydney for a weekend’s enquiries. So, I’ll go to sleep now, and leave it at this. Thank you, all. Back to the Nikāyas tomorrow.