Quantum Mechanics vs. Consciousness - A Perspective

 

Quantum Mechanics vs. Consciousness - A Perspective

Does quantum mechanics (QM) represent reality? Can QM explain consciousness, free will, and spirituality ?

So long as the inner workings of QM remain a black box devoid of a mechanistic/physical understanding, its mysteries, paradoxes, and internal inconsistencies would keep it paralyzed to represent the ultimate reality and consciousness/spirituality.

Recently, there have been active discussions as part of the Renee Reeser Zelnick’s - April 23, 2007 IB post related to the SCIENCE & CONSCIOUSNESS conference in Santa Fe as well as the Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR) posts by DK. The following perspective on QM and its strengths and weaknesses may be helpful in addressing these discussions.

Quantum Mechanics: Richard Feyman (1918-1988):

“I think it is safe to say that no one understands Quantum Mechanics.” (Richard Feynman)
“One does not, by knowing all the physical laws as we know them today, immediately obtain an understanding of anything much.” (Richard Feynman, Quantum Mechanics)

“The more you see how strangely Nature behaves, the harder it is to make a model that explains how even the simplest phenomena actually work. So, theoretical physics has given up on that.” (Richard Feynman, Quantum Mechanics)

Quantum mechanics (QM) is a great theory that has revealed the inner details of the inanimate matter allowing us to make great materialistic advances and electronic gadgetry such as cell phones, HDTV, computers, internet etc. However, QM’s application to consciousness and spirituality is highly questionable because of the following fundamental inconsistencies and flaws as presented in my book - “The Hidden Factor: An Approach for Resolving Paradoxes of Science, Cosmology, and Universal Reality.” The deficiencies and incompleteness (as Einstein noted) in QM formulations are the root causes that fail quantum mechanics to predict 96% of the universe limiting its successes to only predicting the classical matter (4%). This is also evidenced by the fact that quantum mechanics predictions of the vacuum energy (the cosmological constant) of the empty space are in error by horrendous 120 orders of magnitude. The deficiencies in QM are as follows:

1. The Heisenberg Uncertainty, which forms the basis of quantum mechanics, is commonly but mistakenly understood as the basis for consciousness or free will. This uncertainty is not inherent in nature but an artifact of the chosen measurement method by science that is applicable or accurate only for measurements in the classical or fixed space and time.

The errors inherent in this method for measuring the behavior of common heavier particles such as atoms and molecules are small and hence have contributed to the known successes of quantum mechanics in everyday technological applications in the material world.

However, the errors get amplified to almost infinite amounts when applied to the very small new and allusive fundamental particles proposed for high energy physics investigations, wherein the relativistic effects become extremely important.

Because of these errors and inconsistencies, the physics of the very small remains allusive leading to the still unresolved paradoxes of quantum mechanics at the most fundamental level such as the Measurement or Observer Paradox and the quantum gravity. Since the phenomenon of consciousness operates at very small scales (below Planck’s scale), quantum mechanics arguments are inappropriate for its description.

2. Counter to the common knowledge and assumptions, uncertainty can never be the basis for the free will. A free will can exist only in conjunction with certainty and eternity of the natural laws of the universe. For example, one cannot walk up straight at own free will if there is no certain and unchanging law of gravity. A randomly varying and uncertain law of gravity would deny the free will to be able to walk up straight.

3. Quantum mechanics relies upon the observations of a conscious observer without which there would be no quantum reality or quantum mechanics. However, there is no scientific description of the observer that brings quantum mechanics into reality or existence. The vicious circular logic that is often used by experts in science and other fields is that on one hand quantum mechanics is often used as a basis to explain consciousness, while quantum mechanics itself relies on the consciousness of the observer.

4. One of the fundamental assumptions made by quantum mechanics and quantum cosmology is that the net mass-energy of the universe is zero. The standard Big Bang model is based on this completely arbitrary assumption. The artifact of this very assumption (mistakenly) leads to the presumed existence of anti-matter that is nowhere to be found, to cancel out the net positive energy of matter in the universe. And, similarly the anti-particles, again not observed as yet as a stable entity in the same amount as the real matter, have to be presumed to cancel out the actual particles. Ultimately, one mistake leads to another, and a whole virtual world has to be (mistakenly) created that represents the so-called virtual world.

Bottom line, symmetry arguments are only artifacts of mistaken assumption of the zero wholesome energy of the universe (since the mainstream science believes that the universe is nothingness because some religious folks and scriptures said so) and not the underlying reality of nature. Truth or spirituality can be founded only on the basis of reality and not myths or mistaken assumptions.

Mainstream quantum mechanics particle physics theories are incomplete (as Einstein said too), and appropriate for applying to spirituality and consciousness. The quantum mechanics is marred with serious unexplained and unresolved paradoxes such as -quantum gravity, dark energy, dark matter, Big Bang or black hole singularity, and unseen or inexperienced multiple universe and multi-dimensions beyond 4 space-time dimensions etc.

The mainstream science has gracefully failed to advertise these embarrassing failures of quantum mechanics and have been able to hide them under the beautiful rug of its successes in the domain of matter and particles on local scales, and in electronic gadgetry and toys mesmerizing the common folks. Unfortunately, these material successes fail badly to explain consciousness and concepts needed for describing spirituality. It is impossible to use a mystery or black box to explain another bigger mystery.

Using QM to explain consciousness is like using blindness to explain light. The Quantum Observer or Measurement paradox assures the blindness of QM to the extent that it even makes the existence of the universe an unexplained mystery or myth in itself.

A more consistent scientific basis of consciousness and free will is shown to be the spontaneous decay of the particles or masses via converting to the zero-point energy wherein the space-time dilates to zero representing the eternity and omnipresence. This new innovative approach to consciousness, defined herein as the Holistic Relativity, is also shown to resolve the current paradoxes of quantum mechanics, general relativity, and cosmology. Unfortunately, the mainstream science is too overwhelmed with its materialistic mainstream theories and not ready as yet to open up to such a new innovative out-of-the-box approach.

 

Healing Through Meditation

 

Healing Through Meditation

The scientists have found that our mind is the cause for 80% of our illnesses. The main cause for illnesses such as rash, diabetes, backache and heart attacks is jealousy, hatred, mental tension and stress. Psychiatrists have now found that though there is temporary relief for these illnesses through medication, illnesses recur because the cause for them remains within our minds.

It is similar to the growth of a tree from its remaining roots even though its shoots are cut down. There is no complete cure for about 15% of our illnesses. We inherit them. We require medicines for only 5% of our illnesses.

Reading and understanding this article will reduce your visits to hospitals for treatment. It would also reduce the congestion at the hospitals. You would be alarmed if you come to know that even the viruses, which cause influenza, creep into our bodies at times when our repulsing power is lowered by mental conditions such as anger and hatred.

How Hatred Makes us ill ?

It can be shown in several steps as follows:

1. The bodily discomforts when there is anger, hatred, mental tension and stress is first felt at the outer section of the brain, which is called the cerebral cortex.
About 13 billion nerve cells activate in receiving these feelings and almost 10 billion of these nerve cells are within the brain. Messages run across the nerves at a speed of 400 kilometers per hour.

2. Immediately after receiving such a message, it is transmitted to the Hypothalamus, a pea shaped piece in the centre of the brain.

3. The message so received by the Hypothalamus is immediately sent across the nervous system to the medulla of the adrenal in the kidneys, which contains the adrenaline glands. As they are located at the top of the kidneys, they are called suprarenal.

4. The flowing of the hormones, which make the body sick, commences thereafter. About four types of hormones start flowing immediately when the messages are sent to the kidneys across these glands due to bodily discomforts such as anger and hatred. Out of them adrenaline and nor adrenaline are first released to the body. These hormones, which naturally provide us strength to fight or run, are produced without any change when we feel anger, hatred and wrath.

Thereafter glucose is released from the liver to provide energy for activities such as fighting and running. Heartbeat rises to increase the flow of blood to provide strength in the body. Reducing the thickness of blood can increase the flow of blood. Water from the skin and lips too are drawn into the blood. Then the skin becomes pale and the throat and mouth dries up. Further to using the blood in the digestive system, digestion too is stopped, it results in excretion.

Blood pressure rises. Immediately after the release of these hormones, the clotting of blood is quickened to safeguard against cuts or bleeding.

Accordingly, the chemical balance in the body completely falls apart.

5. Frequent anger and hatred, which cause the flow of these hormones, reduces our immunity to various illnesses. The reason for this is because the chemical “cortisol”, which is given to asthma patients and patients recovering from transplants of body parts, is naturally produced within the body at such times when anger and hatred is present.

6. Are you always in anger, hatred and jealous of the other person?
Then you are ready to embrace the following illnesses due to the imbalance of chemicals within your body:-

i.          Due to adrenaline and nor adrenaline:

They cause many illnesses including diabetes,  headaches, high-blood pressure, increased cholesterol level in the blood and cancer.

ii.          Due to excess Cortisol level in the body:

Immunity to diseases will decrease. Due to the continuation of this situation you could be the target for the illnesses such as influenza and chicken pox, which are caused by viruses and bacteria. Anger (due to increase in the level of cortisol) instantly reduces the immunity we have to resist those illnesses. The, influenza or any other virus would gradually invade our body. There is a saying that “the devil is waiting to take over any holy person if he/she loses his/her virtuousness” .

It applies here too. When we lose our kind thoughts and develop anger and hatred, the cortisol level in our body goes up and our immunity to illnesses reduced and falls ill due to invasion of viruses.

In a recent research study, it has been revealed that a large number of deaths occur on Mondays. It has been revealed at these studies that due to traffic congestion, the drivers and passengers lose their temper and that they have developed heart attacks.

iii. Due to frequent thoughts of anger and hatred the mucus membrane in the stomach dries up and due to action of hormones excess pepsin enzyme is released into the stomach. It results in the formation of ulcers in the stomach ultimately.

iv. The size of our brain is about 2% of our body size. However, from the breath we take in, our brain uses 20% of Oxygen. It has been found that when there are mental conditions of commotion, unrest, anger, wrath and hatred, the activity in the brain rise up and it requires more blood to be pumped into the brain.

Though you are calm and seated in a chair or lying down in a bed while you are thinking of destroying or setting a trap for you friend or thinking of drafting a petition or accusation against him, it requires lot of blood to be pumped into you brain to think about it. Therefore, with the passage of time due to overloading the heart, you could develop heart attack that will destroy you instead of your neighbor or friend.

v. In the meantime it has been found that frequent anger and hatred causes ageing. Psychiatrists call this as psychological aging. The normal aging is called chronological aging.

How can Meditation Reduce Diseases.

It has been proved in experiments that the best way to save a person who had fallen ill due to the thoughts of anger, hatred and wrath described above, is to make him practice meditation of loving-kindness (Maithree Bhavana).

Most of the experiments have been held in countries like Japan, Thailand, and England. Recently on analysis of sputum obtained from those who were meditating at the Kanduboda Meditation Centre in Sri Lanka by a group of British scientists it had been proved that meditation restores the chemical balance in the body.

He had shown in this first experiment that the cholesterol level in the body is reduced by meditation. According to this, it has been revealed that person’s immunity to diseases increases and he becomes healthy, if he meditates for a short time each day. He specifically says that Maithree meditation (meditation on loving kindness) is very good for those who are ill.

Thereby, illnesses such as diabetes, rash, psoriasis etc. are cured. Apart from this, it has been found at in meditation, the testosterone hormone levels in the female bodies are reduced, and thereby it reduces the growth of unwanted hair.

Courtesy:

Healing through Meditation Posted by Fotopoulou Sophia on 04/11 at 10:52 AM in Spiritual Section in Nesfinder 10th December 2006.

What is Meditation ? By Osho

What is meditation?  By Osho.

MEDITATION is a state of no-mind. Meditation is a state of pure consciousness with no content. Ordinarily, your consciousness is too full of rubbish, just like a mirror covered with dust. The mind is a constant traffic: thoughts are moving, desires are moving, memories are moving, ambitions are moving- it is a constant traffic! Day in, day out. Even when you are asleep the mind is functioning, it is dreaming. It is still thinking; it is still in worries and anxieties. It is preparing for the next day; an underground preparation is going on.

This is the state of no meditation. Just the opposite is meditation. When there is no traffic and thinking has ceased, no thoughts move, no desire stirs, you are utterly silent- that silence is meditations. And  in that silence truth is known, and never otherwise. Meditation is a state of no-mind.

And you cannot find meditation through the mind, because mind will perpetuate itself. You can find meditation only by putting the mind aside, by being cool, indifferent, unidentified with the mind; by seeing the mind pass, but not getting identified with it, not thinking that I am it.

Meditation is the awareness that I am not the mind. When the awareness goes deeper and deeper in you, slowly slowly, a few moments arrive – moments of silence, moments of pure space, moments of transparency, moments when nothing stirs in you and everything is still. In those still moments you will know who you are, and you will know the mystery of this existence.

A day comes, a day of great blessings, when meditation becomes your natural state.

Mind is something unnatural; it never becomes your natural state. But meditation is a natural state – which we have lost. It is a paradise lost, but the paradise can be regained. Look into the child’s eyes, look and you will see tremendous silence, innocence. Each child comes with a meditative state, but he has to be initiated into the ways of the society – he has to be taught how to think, how to calculate, how to reason, how to argue; he has to be taught words, language, concepts. And, slowly slowly, he loses contact with his own innocence. He becomes contaminated, polluted by the society. He becomes an efficient mechanism; he is no more a man.

All that is needed is to regain that space once more. You have known it before, so when for the first time you know meditation, you will be surprised – because a great feeling will arise in you as if you have known it before. And that feeling is true: you have known it before. You have forgotten. The diamond is lost in piles of rubbish. But if you can uncover it, you will find the diamond again – it is yours.

It cannot really be lost: it can only be forgotten. We are born as meditators, and then we learn the ways of the mind. But our real nature remains hidden somewhere deep down like an undercurrent. Any day, a little digging, and you will find the source still flowing, the source of fresh waters. And the greatest joy in life is to find it.

Vegetable Juice

Vegetable Juice

By drinking this juice, you can provide anti oxidants, micro nutrients, electrolytes, soluble fibers to your body. It also contain the anti cholesterol items.

You can use any of the following vegetables in the juice:

• Carrot (Diabetes patients should use only one carrot)
• Beetroot (small piece - More beetroot can cause irritation in the throat)
• Cucumber
• Tomato
• Bottle guard
• Snake guard
• Ridge guard
• Pumpkin if available
• Curry leaves (4 or 5)
• Drumstick leaves few (if you have any eye problems)
• Green leaves (if you have grown them by yourselves without using pesticides)

 **Vegetables that should not use for making juice:

1. Beans, any variety
2. Brinjal
3. Okra
4. Tin Dora
5. Cabbage
6. Cauliflower
7. Green leaves

 (Because to grow the above vegetables, farmers using pesticides regularly)

• Start making the juice with the carrot, tomato, cucumber and beetroot, if you want the juice to be tasty.
• Once you get used to it, you can add remaining vegetables for the juice.
• While making the juice put tomatoes, cucumber into the mixer or blender first (you can avoid water for grinding) filter the juice using a cloth, add lemon and honey and have it in the morning preferably on an empty stomach. You can have it in the evening also if it is not comfortable for you to have it in the morning.
• Diabetes patients can add 1 tablespoon of honey. Others can add up to 4 tablespoons of honey. You can replace honey with dry date's powder.
• Adults can take 300ml to 400ml of juice. Children can take up to 200ml of juice.
• You should have this immediately. If you want to have this juice after an hour or half an hour, please keep it in airtight container. You should have this juice within one and half an hour as juice gets oxidized.
• Do not drink the juice at a time. Have it slowly so that the enzymes in the saliva can improve the digestion process.

It is best to be taken early in the morning on empty stomach as your first diet of the day. Finish your two installments of water and with a gap of 30 to 45 minutes, you can drink this sip by sip like a coffee.

For The Aged and The Sick

For The Aged and The Sick

By Ven. Thinch Thanh Tu.   Translated by My Thanh

Today, my talk is especially addressed to the sick and old persons. The reason for this talk is that there was a Buddhist layperson who came and asked if I could give a small Dharma talk to his parents who were old and dying – and because he wanted his parents to be alert, clear-minded when the time came. I sympathized with him and also in order to help the sick, old persons during this critical time, we are giving you today’s talk.

 

First of all, death is not frightening. Everybody thinks that birth is happiness, death is suffering; birth is happy and death is scary. As for all of you here – Are you afraid of dying ? Actually, dying is not frightening at all. Old age and sickness are two out of four kinds of suffering which the Buddha had mentioned, namely, “Birth, Old age, Sickness, and Death”. Old age and illness are suffering. If one is no longer concerned with old age and illness, then one is free. In brief, if one dies, one leaves old age and sickness behind – that means one should be happy for one is finally free from them. Therefore, we say death is not frightening at all.

Secondly, as Buddha always says ” where there is life, there is death”. Life and Death are natural phenomena, no one can escape them. Like the Buddha, He lived and died when He was eighty years old. Some called themselves ‘ immortals’, like the ‘Eight Fairies’ in Chinese legend, but the truth is that they did actually live longer than so-called mortals.

Nevertheless, there were ‘Eight Fairies’ but now you cannot even find one who still survives. As we see, the Buddha who attained enlightenment; however, when His body deteriorated, He had to let it go. Therefore, death is natural and it happens to us all, with no exception. To be frightened of the inevitable is not wise. To be worried of the unavoidable is useless. Death will come to us all, and we all have to accept it matter-of-factly. It is a natural process, there is no need to be scared.

Thirdly, as Buddhist laypersons practising the five precepts or even the ten precepts diligently, they know for sure that they will come back as human beings with all good opportunities. As one practices the five precepts which are :

• abstaining from killing, one can enjoy longevity.
• abstaining from stealing, one can enjoy prosperity.
• abstaining from adultery, one can be beautiful and respectful.
• abstaining from falsehood, one obtains melodious voice, is trusted by people.
• abstaining from alcoholic drinks and drugs, one can be intelligent and wise.

Being reborn as a human being with all these good qualities, suitable conditions and lacks nothing is the result of practicing the five precepts.

As one leaves one’s ‘rotten’ body, one obtains a ‘better’ body in one’s next life, so there is no need to worry. If one practices the ten precepts diligently and correctly, one will be reborn in heaven with better conditions than in human realm.

We always say that dying is like exchanging an old car for a new one. If we know that once we leave this body, we will have a new better one, then we do not need to be sad or worried. Death is not frightening, the frightening fact is that we did not practice the precepts properly.

Hereby, I want to remind all of you who are presently sick / dying, think about what I have to say and try to change or go on diligently with your practice. The Buddha had spoken of ‘Death-Proximate Karma’. This kind of karma is really powerful. It could lead us to a better or worse realm after we die. If the Death-Proximate Karma is good if will lead a dying person to a good realm and vice versa.

For we see that in a human or animal realm, there are some people or animals who live and die in a short period of time, and the reason for which they came and stayed shortly was conditioned by the Death-Proximate Karma.

After this lifetime, they were led to other realms according to their Habitual Karma (Accina). To remind all of you even when you have good Habitual Karma, you had better keep your mind calm and alert, think of only good deeds during dying moment; so that you can go on with a better life. If at the moment of dying, you get angry or become attached to people or things, these reactions will have a negative effect on your next rebirth despite your good Habitual Karma.

On the contrary, if you think of wholesome or good things at the moment of dying, you could benefit a good rebirth in spite of your bad Habitual Karma. Nevertheless, the Death-Proximate Karma only plays an important role for a short time; after that the Habitual Karma is the crucial one which will give you a good rebirth for a long period of time.

Therefore, at the dying moment, make sure that we stay alert, calm, clear-minded and especially do not let impure thoughts arise. The sutra tells us the story of Devadatta, who committed all possible cruelties should be condemned to hell. However, at the moment of dying, Devadatta repented and asked the Buddha for forgiveness.

Later, Buddha told Ananda that even Devadatta was condemned to hell for his bad deeds; but because of his repentance before dying, he will then come back as a human being and work out his bad deeds and finally will become a Buddha in the future.

Devadatta committed lots of cruelties during his lifetime, but before his death, he had repented. Thus, after having paid all his debts, he would come back as a human being and work his way through Buddhahood. The Death-Proximate Karma can help to shorten our bad rebirth.

Another story told us about a Deity who foresaw his next rebirths. This Deity saw that when he died, he would reincarnate as a son of a rich Brahmin in the human realm, and after this rebirth, he would go straight to hell. Stricken by this knowledge, he cried out for help.

A Deva then came and told him the only one who could help him is the Buddha who now stayed at the Bamboo’s Grove. The Deity then kneeled down and headed his prayer to Buddha.

He stated thrice his name and vowed to take refuge in Buddha, Dharma, and the Sangha, then he died. He did reincarnate as a son of the Brahmin. One day, he saw the Buddha taking his alms, as soon as he saw the Buddha, he decided to become a monk.

Later, in accordance with the Buddha’s teaching, he worked diligently and became an Arhat, free from birth and death. Thus, his condemnation to hell was annihilated. Throughout this story, we understand that the Death-Proximate Karma is quite important, it could lead us to a better rebirth and could give us a second chance to walk on the right path.

Thereupon, we, as Buddhists, should remember and comprehend well the working of the Death-Proximate Karma, without forgetting that the Habitual Karma is also important because it is the lifetime Karma that we depend on for our next rebirth which is created by accumulating our good / bad deeds.

Here are some instructions for the dying :

Do not get angry- pay attention to the dying moment, take care of your death. Do not get angry- at this critical moment, if you are angry, mad, you will be reborn in a lower realm.

Forgive and forget – do not think of your enemies or vengeance, because you will reincarnate and take vengeance at each other endlessly. When this occurs, you accumulate more negative deeds and cannot go on with the right practice.

Do not become attached to loved ones or wealth, etc. This attachment will lead you to lower realm (e.g. animal realm’s).

In the history book of the thirty-three Zen masters, there is a story about one of the Zen master who went out for alms, passing by a rich man’s house. The rich man was out, but inside came running out a dog that barked at him loudly. The Zen master looked at it and reproved ,

” How dare you barking at me, because of the attachment of wealth that you came back as a dog, shame on you!” After having heard the master’s reprimand, the dog became sad and refused to eat. Lately, the rich man came back and realized that his beloved dog refused to eat, he asked his servants the reason.

The servants told him that in the morning, there was a Zen master who passed by and said something to the dog and afterwards it refused to eat. The rich man was so upset that he went out to look for the Zen master.

He queried , ” What did you say to my dog this morning that has made him sad and refused to eat ?” The master replied ,” Please do not get angry at me. The dog is your father.” The rich man got even angrier and asked , ” Why is that dog my father ?” The master said , ” If you do not believe me, go home and see if the dog is lying under your father’s bed.

Right where the dog is lying, you dig up and will find a bowl of gold. When your father passed away, he did not get a chance to tell you the secret; so he came back as your dog to guard it. Just go home and dig up then you will understand.”

The rich man immediately went back home, dug up under his father’s bed and found the bowl of gold. Afterwards, he ran back to the master and asked the master to help his father. The master convinced the rich man to use that gold for charity work. The rich man obeyed the master and few days later the dog died.

Likewise, because of wealth attachment that the man came back as a dog to guard his property. This is apprehensive. Here I have mentioned the three don’ts at the dying moment, as a Buddhist, please remember and do not let them happen. I repeat, firstly- do not get angry; secondly – do not think of vengeance; thirdly – do not become attached. Remember, do not have these three thoughts, otherwise, they will take you to lower realms.

On the contrary, at the dying moment, think of good deeds. Firstly- think of helping poor people the best you can. Secondly – as a Buddhist, think of offering to the Three Jewels ( Buddha, Dharma, Sangha); or as non-Buddhist, think of taking refuge to the Three Jewels in order to cultivate a true spiritual path. Thirdly- think of freeing all captured animals, and saved them from being killed.

Giving alms, helping the sangha, and freeing all captured animals are good deeds. By practicing good deeds, we gradually walk on the right path, and these are good thoughts that we should have at dying moment.

The Buddhist who practices correctly, should know how to apply the Dharma at this crucial moment. Firstly, for Buddhist who recites Amitabha Buddha’s name, when confined in bed because of illness, please remember to recite Buddha’s name continually, neither thinking of beloved ones nor property. Following this practice properly, one will surely go to the Buddha’s realm.

Secondly, for people who do not recite Buddha’s name, but are used to reading sutras, should at least remember a stanza .

Thirdly, for people who meditate, remember to stay with ‘your awareness’, do not run after your thoughts. Remember that in the deterioration of the body, there is something else which is never deteriorated. Thinking like that, you will not be frightened, but stay with your ‘ Buddha’s nature, your pure awareness’. The body is not real, you have it and then you lose it. The ‘Buddha’s nature’ is the only thing which is timeless and deathless, and that is the good thought you should keep in mind at the dying moment.

For the three different situations mentioned above, people who recite Buddha’s name should only think of Buddha’s name, forget everything else. People who are used to reading sutras, should remember a stanza. People who meditate, stay with your ‘pure awareness’, do not be afraid, do not be worried; just letting go .

These are some of the reminders for that crucial moment.

Now, I am talking about the funeral. Lots of people tell their families to do this, to do that. It is not important. Why ? Because the body is composed of the four elements (earth, fire, water, wind); when we are alive, we drink water to maintain the water element, we eat to maintain the earth element, we breath to maintain the wind element, etc… Thus, in order to keep the four elements together and have them work properly, we must borrow similar elements from the outside.

When we die, we stop borrowing, then the four existing elements will automatically dissolve by themselves. In foreign countries as well as in our motherland, the four elements are alike. The body is dust so let it return to dust. Do not think that leaving your body in a foreign country is a loss. Dying without being alert, calm and clear-minded is the real loss.

Let family members decide among themselves to perform the funeral properly according to their means. That is if there is a crematory nearby, then cremation will be performed. If there is a patch of land, then let them perform the inhumation. The important role is our pure thoughts and good deeds which will lead us to happiness. The funeral ceremony plays second role, so do not overestimate it.

These are my reminders to you all, and hope that when we get old and pass away, we will not be a problem for family members.

I only mentioned some of the most important things to do at dying moment. You have the free will to choose your own direction, just do not let bad, uncontrolled thoughts overcome your pure mind. This is important.

I wish that after having listened to this Dharma talk, all of you will go home and practice diligently and correctly. The practice will help you to save yourself and this is also the Buddha’s teaching which will help us walk on the right path and eventually Buddha’s teaching will get us out of this suffering world.

(This Article was taken by Sokia ky’s facebook wall)