“A person is what his life is. That which continues beyond death is life. This is the meaning of the Book of Life that opens with death.”
-Samael Aun Weor
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
-Mark Twain
It is useful to think about what our life is and what is consists of. The daily habits, the thoughts, the feelings, the repetitions. A future that never comes. Sometimes even the advice to meditate, be in the moment, pray, and be grateful, can feel empty and mechanical. It can be helpful to examine our life, to step back and try to understand our particular unique existence to reinvigorate our spiritual practices with meaning and urgency.
As an exercise, examine your life, write a letter to your life.
Dear life,
When I really look at my existence as a totality I can see clearly all the struggles as well as the gifts. The mistakes and conflicts are just as clear as the grace that is bestowed. The past existences have lead up to this, right now. Extraordinary opportunities to become more conscious, to rectify wrong I have done and pain I have caused.
Opportunities to offer healing and presence instead of selfishness and trouble. The areas that are constant struggles are not meant to be resolved immediately. It takes daily work of acceptance, surrender, and little by little, replacing that defect of character with humility and maturity.
Every day is a lifetime, the consequences of yesterday, and the seed of tomorrow. I ask for the strength and openness of heart to continue to plant seeds of light, even if this lifetime doesn’t bear that fruit.
Gratitude is becoming a natural outpouring of this examination.
Diligence and devotion to the inner work is becoming a natural result of seeing this life for what it is.
Releasing grasping for love, and instead planting seeds of light, is becoming the silent answer to all the questions.
Sincerely.