<The Importance of Imagining Your Own Funeral for a Fulfilling Life>
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You may have a clear idea of what you desire for your funeral. Personally, I envision all attendees engaging in a ten to fifteen-minute celebration of my life. If you're unsure how to make this happen, I have some guidance for you.
Scientists: How to Experience a Celebration of Life
Fill Your Mind with Joyful Reflection
But that's not all; I also hope everyone will join in singing Montagne St. Genevieve, swaying together in harmony. This image has lingered in my thoughts for quite some time.
Reflecting on your own funeral serves as a poignant reminder of life's fleeting nature, urging your mind to cherish the moments and revel in the ecstasy of existence while you still can.
Montagne Ste Genevieve is a waltz believed to have been played by gypsies in 1920s Paris but never recorded. This melody, passed down through generations, encapsulates the essence of joy and beauty that life offers. Is there anything more exquisite than this tune? Than the experience of living? Than our planet?
I think not.
When I say "die every day," I mean to ask you to visualize a life without the capacity to enjoy such beauty and joy. This exercise will likely deepen your appreciation for what you have.
More critically, this perspective will ground you in reality, as the truth of your mortality is undeniable.
Living authentically in this truth is transformative. Once you accept this fundamental aspect of life, a flood of other truths will beckon you to embrace them. The truths of existence have long been neglected in our society, which often leans toward hypocrisy. Once these neglected truths find a willing heart, they will eagerly seek to be acknowledged.
The first truth that will approach you, once you confront your mortality, is the undeniable reality of your own contradictions.
For years, you might have deceived yourself into thinking death was a distant concern, something that happens to others or that isn’t worth dwelling upon. Such illusions have led many to squander precious time in superficiality.
What other lies have you told yourself? Undoubtedly, many. Perhaps you hold onto the illusion of being a fundamentally good person. We both know the truth is far more complex, don’t we? You can’t fool someone who knows the score.
Recognizing this uncomfortable truth about your less-than-ideal nature is liberating. You can acknowledge it, nurture it, but it no longer defines you. You can offer it compassion, yet it will no longer govern your actions — hallelujah! This realization emerges from confronting our shared mortality. Why continue to be hypocritical when we all navigate this vast sea of life together?
The Endless Sea of Existence
We are simply adrift in the infinite for the remainder of our time.
The next truth that will seek your acceptance is the innocence of others. Yes, it’s a paradox — while you may be duplicitous, so too is everyone else. Each person has their own struggles. You’ve likely kept a mental ledger, scrutinizing friends, family, and colleagues, constructing cases against them for perceived slights. “They didn’t return my gesture.” Yes, that seems to be the common refrain.
But wait!
They do their best. Show them some compassion, you flawed individual.
Now, you no longer inhabit a world filled with guilty parties; instead, you dwell among ordinary people. This is a pun worth considering. “Just” signifies fairness, but also simplicity. These individuals are simply fair — and isn't that what matters? Who made your judgments the ultimate truth? Who appointed you the arbiter?
Life Is Not a Rehearsal for Something Else
That’s a fallacy, folks. Embrace the truth that this is all there is.
Don’t invest in this life with the hope that it will yield rewards in another. Have you heard of Pascal’s wager? He doubted but deemed it safer to believe, given the stakes involved.
Yet he still wasted time on illusions during this lifetime instead of living in the truth.
The reality is that many of us are not merely delaying our lives for an afterlife; we are postponing our existence in favor of a deceptive “someday.”
Someday Never Arrives!
Once you accept this truth, you’ll feel inspired to take action immediately instead of waiting for the "perfect moment."
The right time is now! Go for it!
See how liberating it is to "die" daily? To recap: you become more authentic, more loving, and begin to seize the day.
Embracing Impermanence: Physical and Mental Health Benefits
This is the truth of your actual body. Yes, the body you inhabit may feel contorted and compromised due to the burdens of false beliefs (such as, "I am good, they are bad," or "I am a failure"). These fabrications disrupt the natural flow of your blood and the rhythm of your heartbeat. The heart should pulsate with joy. What heart can remain joyful amid such distress? What organ can function effectively? What immune system can fend off illness under such perpetual stress?
Once you liberate yourself from these lies, your body can return to its authentic state. You won't achieve immortality, but your experience in this life will be significantly enriched, trust me.
You can witness the vitality of human bodies in our gatherings. Each of us moves with grace and ease. We glide across the grass toward our seats, sit comfortably, and when we dance, it feels more like soaring than merely stepping.
This transformation arises from adopting many orphaned truths and making them your own. Your life becomes a radiant sanctuary where love is abundant and freely shared. No one needs to beg for more sustenance; it’s a nurturing environment.
Dance with me, fellow seekers! Imagine I have passed. Picture us all together in this radiant funeral.
And then — live the rest of this day as if it were your final one!
Montagne Ste Genevieve
iPerformed by Clem Samson and The New Heretics
I can see you clearer Now less is in my way I can feel you nearer Every single day Infinite in the mirror Ephemeral in space The lesson to the hearer We’re not long for this place Every one of us soon must be moving on It’s so bitter and so sweet To sing a farewell song I have only this request when it’s time to take my leave I want everybody waltzing To Montagne Saint Genevieve I wanna hear that song again When it’s my time to go Feel everybody swaying To its rhythm to and fro I wanna see St. Genevieve As I move into the mist Feel everybody waltzing with me Just like this…
The Scientists Series so far:
Scientists: We Have Some Very Bad News For You
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