Pema Chödrön: I Know Which Way I Want to Go

I’ve observed a number of people die.

When they’ve made a relationship to death,

they’re usually able to let go

and make the transition more easily.

But if they’re afraid of death,

it can be painful to watch.

You see a terror in their eyes

as if they’re being pushed into a deep pit.

Having witnessed both of these kinds of death, I

know which way I want to go.

This has been a very important inspiration for me

to keep contemplating death.

Now, having worked with it for a long time,

I no longer see death as frightening.

And I’ve started to teach more about death

because I feel that being so afraid of it is really unnecessary.

Pema Chodron

Welcoming the Unwelcome