We live in a death-denying society, where we don’t like to talk or think about death. It makes us feel uncomfortable. We don’t even like the word “die.” We say things like “pass” or “expire,” and get uneasy around those who are grieving. And anyway, Life-expectancy across the globe is twice what it was a hundred years ago. And because of modern medicine, many of us don’t often see death up close. That makes it easy to live as if death is someone else’s problem. That’s where we get this phrase ‘Memento Mori'. And if somehow a close person dies, we mourn for a few days and then shift our hopes and aspirations to another. Life goes on.
As Yudhisthira, A Pandu King from the epic Mahabharata said this is the most astonishing thing on earth: men die every day and yet the living go on living as if there was no death.
Scientists explain what happens when you die - YouTube
Let’s first discuss what is Memento Mori and the meaning of memento mori?.
Memento Mori Meaning
The Latin phrase Memento Mori means, “Remember you will die.” The phrase has its origin in ancient Rome, where it is believed that slaves accompanying generals on victory parades whispered the words as a reminder of their commander’s mortality. It was to prevent the commander from being consumed by excessive pride and self-confidence.
Before you read on I would like to announce that we have a new release of all kinds of ‘discovering yourself books' to heal your trauma and free your heart.
Death isn’t someone else’s problem. Ignoring the certainty of death doesn’t protect us from feeling its effects throughout the lives we’re living now. But sure by ignoring our mortality, we’re doing a big injustice to ourselves as it is holding us back from living a life of true purpose. What if I say that by keeping in mind, your impermanence, your inevitable death, you may be able to live wholesomeness. Here’s why:
Benefits of Memento Mori
Intellectuals say that experience of death brings clarity to one’s mind. It is said that when you are close to death, you realise what’s important to you and so you come closer to your values. But why do you have to wait for a near-death experience to get all this understanding while you know that you have to have the taste of death one day? There are several benefits to using ‘memento more as a reminder in life, here are some:
Remembering death saves you from living dreadful life. ‘Memento Mori can help you cherish every moment in life and feel gratitude toward what you have. Just think, if you knew that you have only 10 years to live, would you waste 10 years of your life working hard, to earn a lot of money, to buy a big house, and a shiny BMW?
No. If you knew that you’re going to die one day, you would never waste your time on superfluous wealth that won’t help you. Rather, you would focus your time doing your creative work, creating art.
“Let death and exile and every other thing which appears dreadful be daily before your eyes, but most of all death: and you will never think of anything mean nor will you desire anything extravagantly.” – Epictetus
As Epictetus said that if you keep death in your mind, you will never think of anything bad about others, nor will you desire anything lavishly. That will make you appreciate people and things you already have.
‘Memento Mori can help you figure out which goals you want to focus on and what you want to do with your life in general. Remembering death motivates you to fulfil your truest purpose.
“You must be and not to be this or that. ‘I am that I am’ sums up the whole truth. Give up the notion that ‘I am so and so’. All that is required to realize the Self is to be still. What can be easier than that?” Ramana Maharshi
The Indian philosophy suggests that the purpose of human life is to achieve the union of the ‘self’, the soul with the Divine. The Vedic tradition holds that the human life is the opportunity for spiritual improvement to achieve the ultimate goal of realising the fundamental truth about oneself, which is the realisation that I am the Eternal One, ‘Aham Brahmāsmi’
By hearing this, would you still want to waste your human life on silly trivial things? Your name, your fame, your society, your neighbour….all have to be left here. While remembering death, you would run with the celerity to find and work on your truest purpose.
Scientists explain what happens when you die - YouTube
‘Memento Mori can prompt you to take action, and to avoid needlessly wasting the precious time that you have. By remembering death, would you still want to waste your human life on silly trivial things? Your name, your fame, your society, your neighbour….all have to be left here. While remembering death, you would run with the celerity to find and work on your truest purpose.
Knowing that there may not be tomorrow, you feel the desire to “do it while you’re young” or work toward a health or career goal. Knowing your time here is finite motivates you to truly live your life.
‘Memento Mori can help you avoid hubris, which is a trait that involves excessive pride, self-confidence, and self-importance.
Remembering death makes you spend time with your loved ones. If you think that you have to die, you would never want to spend a day at a distance from you’re the people you love. You would want to spend more and more time with them.
Final thoughts
Memento mori. Remember that you must die, and you will die. What would you not get distracted by if you realised you would die soon? While here, know that you’re not immortal. Always remember death and find yourself in the essence of death.
Subscribe to the website so you can get the newest blog posts as I write them…
Other Articles You Might Be Interested In
תגובות