Some Cheery Contemplations on Death - …. and the Self that doesn’t die

Consider, friend, as you pass by,
as you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, you too shall be.
Prepare, therefore, to follow me.

This famous epitaph from a Scottish tombstone sums up the central dilemma of human existence: it ends in death. But is death the end? All peoples throughout history have intuited that there is more to this life than meets the eye. And they (we!) have created endless practices and art forms to invoke reality beyond time and space. In the spirit of preparation and good cheer, I share some ideas and poetry that have come in handy for me.