Ben wrote:Annapurna wrote:
Why would we have to stare at human bodies to realize things about nature we know since we're small.
Its a different type of knowledge, Anna. When we engage in practice, we develop
nana: knowledge/insight. Its the wisdom that arises from directly penetrating the nature of nama and rupa:
bhavana-maya-panna.
Contemplation of death was praised by the Buddha, and in the Satipatthana Sutta, he gives instructions for the contemplation of a corpse in its different states of decay. It is a powerful and profound technique that can precipitate awakening.
Having said that, my impression is that it is not for everyone.
Metta
Ben
Hello, Ben,
as I already pointed out in my PM to you, I know the Buddha recommended the contemplation of death and of corpses. I have done it many times, (as I already mentioned), I think even as young as a child. You see, I came to parents who had lost their second son in a heartbreaking accident, leaving both them and my older brother behind in deepest sadness. When I came, it changed...but I knew the source of their sorrow. I felt greatly responsible for those 2 people, and felt like "bringing sunshine", and being cautious with my life.
So death was an early contemplation.
That said, what I am truly concerned about is not me, -aversion or fear-, which should be clear to anybody who read and understood my first post here. But I agree that many people will have issues with death and corpses.
My concern is this:
I feel uncomfortable with images of dead people if I am not sure they haven given their permission to use this photo, nor their families.
In the internet, you are not allowed to download or use the property of others without permission.
Another concern is, that death is often a time of great stress, pain and suffering. People who die in a car accident are sometimes not dead on the spot, but will scream and wail and cry for help until it is over.
I have witnessed car accidents and I know how incredibly they can suffer.
How can anybody use this photo for his own gain? It sits wrong with me, but if that's what people want, who am I to say they shouldn't.
I have been hurt in 2 accidents myself, and would have been very upset if my photos had been published and displayed without my permission. This is my privacy, and in my land we respect that, (largely).
Our media here self-restrict themselves when they show victims of catastrophes to protect privacy. You will see a crashed car, but rarely badly injured or bodies. This is not koscher in my land. Not because we are too weak to face death, but because of privacy.
I am against anything that could violate those rights, the privacy and dignity of dead or alive people and I feel using their images is. If that is not understood, I can't explain it. Then we will have to agree to disagree.
If somebody wants to contemplate decay, why is it not sufficient to buy a slice of above mentioned cow and let it rot in your bed and take a good sniff? Wouldn't that be brave? Why only meditate about it and go home to a perfumed bed?
How about doing charity work and help cleaning the stinking wounds of a cancer patient, how about that?
Anybody done that? I have. Tell ME about death.
Another facet is, here in my land:
Disturbing the peace of the dead is a felony here.
As much as it is a felony to watch others copulating without their permission, it is a felony not to bury or burn somebody according to the laws, to have him in public view as this master would be illegal, unless they agreed to give their body to science or crime science.
Summary: If a permission is given, fine, but if not, I'm concerned.
For all those who want to look at bodies, I can recommend
http://www.rotten.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.
It's a page German Google removes due to legal aspects.
I gotta go work, don't know if I will be back anytime soon.