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In this article Gehshe Sonam Rinchen explores a decidedly uncomfortable subject, but one that has the power to enhance our current life experiences—and even transform our practice. Adapted from his book, The Three Principal Aspects of the Path.

Just knowing that you must die will not change you, but reflecting deeply and continually on death's proximity will. Now is the time to begin practicing, before it is too late—not tomorrow nor at some unspecified date in the future—because death can come at any moment. If you don't remember death you will not think of practicing, since you will be too wrapped up in your ordinary activities. Even if you do think about spiritual practice, unless you remember death, you won't actually do anything but will keep delaying. You may eventually begin to practice, but if you don't remember death, you will not practice purely and may well use practice as a way to accomplish your worldly aims. Even if you practice with a good motivation, your practice will lack intensity and your approach will be casual unless you remember death.

At present the impact the teachings have made on us is as superficial and transient as a drawing on water, while our bad habits and disturbing emotions are as deeply incised as an engraving in stone. We must reverse this by insuring that our disturbing emotions and negative actions are shortlived and that the impression left by the teachings is lasting.

If you fail to remember death, you will make numerous plans for this life. To accomplish them you will need many things and your desires will never allow you to be content. Looking after your friends and loved ones and opposing those you dislike will preoccupy you. Instead of becoming more pliant, like green wood, your mind will grow more and more stubborn and unbending, like a stiff dry stick. Your harmful actions, lost opportunities and the time you have wasted will cause you much regret when death comes. Remembering death, on the other hand, is beneficial and meaningful. The realization that you could die at any time makes you more generous and ethical, which has a profound effect on your future.

The most powerful insight of all is the understanding of emptiness because of its capacity to uproot ignorance, but recollecting the imminence of death is certainly a close second, since it simultaneously deals a crushing blow both to our harmful behavior and to the emotional habits which cause it. At the outset remembering death makes us start to practice. Intermediately it forces us to continue and finally it insures that we bring our practices to completion.

The first time the Buddha taught after his enlightenment he explained the four noble truths. He began by speaking about impermanence in the context of the truth of suffering. At the end of his life he also spoke of impermanence. Remembering the transience of our human life helps us to practice purely. The best kind of practitioner dies with joy. A mediocre practitioner has no fears and the least accomplished practitioner has no regrets.