Death, As It Is
2025, April, Issue 145
Look, just look at what is coming our way!
Don’t look away, don’t pretend
it’s not there, don’t imagine
that is something to be feared;
Just look at that, really consider;
Consider just what that is,
This death is just another illusion,
a gap in your mind;
Simply look at death!
Death, as it is, relax;
Remain entirely at ease, that
swirling inconvenience is on its way;
It’s coming for us all, whether
we believe something or not, whether
we wish something or not, whether
we pretend to be outside reality,
or not;
Our collective shared insanity
will not help in the least,
not in the least, not one tiny bit;
Agreeing with the lunatic asylum,
or any lunatic for that matter,
does not make anything so, no matter
how many lunatics you can get to sign up
for your deranged lunatic club;
Death, as it is death,
not this death as you imagine death to be death,
will bring all your fragile little beliefs
crashing down, violently crashing down
at exactly the same time when
you realize you have no body, no self,
no reputation, no riches, no job, no life
to hold onto as you flail madly about
through storms beyond your comprehension,
You! I’m talking to you!
Realize that your tiny human mind,
that fabricated self you wanted to be real,
that ego who prides itself in knowing everything,
that person really needs to start preparing at once!
You’ll not find much of a chance to prepare,
No chance better than this,
and, if your madly
insanely
obsessed mind
hadn’t yet noticed,
this is it!
A poem by Robert Aho © 2025
Preparing for death might seem like a daunting task; however, it’s actually very simple. We must look within. We have everything we need right there in our heart center. We all have this, even the most darkly shadowed evil villains we can think of have a little spark of bright light within. It can’t be helped. As sentient beings, we cannot exist without this profound light, even though many people do whatever they can to cause harm by creating darkness and confusion. In reality, these are the weakest among us, because they have absolutely forgotten who they really are and they are completely unprepared for death.
When we look within, opening our heart and mind, we discover that we have infinite potentiality, which is really Bodhicitta. We immediately feel great compassion, knowing that we all need to awaken. By opening ourselves up in this way, by looking within at what is, as it is, we can develop the courage to engage in everything. We can look directly at death, seeing it as it is.
Nothing on the outside can actually help you to prepare. When we die, we must face what is, as it is, completely alone, utilizing the tremendous power that we have been able to nurture. When we enter the death bardo with attachments to beliefs or identity, then we will have real problems. We can’t approach death unrealistically and expect any sort of satisfying transmigration if we’re clinging too tightly. We must learn to simply remain at ease. What will certainly happen to us all does have a tendency to completely freak us out. Belief won’t help at all.
Now, that said, everyone approaches death with some sort of expectation, something carried with them by their beliefs or conceptual mind. Just because we realize that belief is fairly or completely worthless doesn’t really give us anything helpful that we can utilize. We need to begin to develop a sense of what is beyond, or maybe just admit that we mere humans are not very observant in general, especially when it comes to reality.
When we cling to belief, we cling to something that could become one of the greatest disappointments imaginable. Usually, people think that their beliefs will come true; however, they fail to realize that beliefs are always just some fantasy, something related to joining a religion or science or philosophical outlook. People seek reassurance that all of their beliefs will be confirmed within the death bardo.
When you are flailing about uncontrollably in the death bardo, you will not find reassurance. You will find that your beliefs barely scratched the surface, and that they were only helpful in the first few moments after death, as a somewhat shallow part of the experience. What happens in the death bardo goes well beyond any conceptual understanding. This means that, if you cling to your beliefs, the great disappointment you will certainly experience will propel you into a disturbing rebirth.
This is why it is said that certain meditative practices can help you achieve a most positive rebirth. If you are able to remain at ease, then you don’t propel yourself into unfortunate circumstances. It’s really the same as our daily life. If you remain at ease, never engaging in negativity, your life will be enjoyable. If you allow yourself to be always agitated, your life will be miserable.
In the death bardo, when everything is suddenly open and raw, it is certain that you will face all that, as it is. We must prepare for death. If you were very well prepared, you may find true enlightenment.
Blessings in Light,
Robert Aho