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　　This world is full of cemeteries awaiting each person and animal. Examining the truth we can no longer doubt the reality of our reserved plot, or, indeed, the inevitability of our future death. Clearly acknowledging this mortality means we can then let go of our worries and concern. Death is a fundamental part of the law of nature that can neither be denied or defied. Let nature take its course, and the earth, water, air and fire will follow their own essential natures.

　　That which knows should genuinely know and not mistake water, fire and air as ”myself”. This acts like a parasite hooking in and trapping the heart in turmoil. We mis-take them for self and thereby fall into suffering.

　　The aggregate of feeling is much the same. We have experienced pleasure and pain12 from the day of our birth up to the present. Whether it was a feeling of body or heart, it”s all about impermanence, suffering and not-self. It arises so as to pass away... When this (world of) assumptions and suppositions13 has come forward, nothing is able to keep steady and unchanging.

　　Where exactly is the suffering in feeling

　　 Bodily pains are not too difficult to examine when wisdom penetrates through. But the painful feeling in the heart — this is important. When there is bodily pain there is also pain and suffering in the heart that arises because of the source14 of suffering. This is the way that the defilements trick all beings in the world with their beguilements. The deception of taking this body as myself must be cleared by a thorough analysis of the true nature of the body. The investigation of pleasant and unpleasant feeling is aimed at erasing from the heart the notion that this feeling is myself.

　　Let things be as they truly are: feeling is feeling while this is me, which is that knowingness. Don”t mix them up. But anyway, that”s not possible as they are intrinsically different. How can they become merged together into one

　　 Can two inpiduals be combined as only one

　　 Having to bear the burden of one person is heavy enough — but to have the extra weight of two, three, four or five others... We don”t just take up the body but also shoulder the other four aggregates, which press down with the weight of attachment. It”s the heart that takes responsibility and so the heart alone must bear the consequences. That is suffering — and there”s no compensation to be found. And yet we still persist with such hanging on. This needs looking at to see the true nature of pain.

　　There is then the aggregate of perception or memory,15 that remembers something only to forget it again. When that memory is required we may recall it anew and then it will fade away again — "sanyaa vaassa vim hati". That”s how the Lord Buddha described it and who can argue with that. Perception is impermanent, memory fades into forgetfulness — "sanyaa aniccaa". This aniccaa was explained by the Lord Buddha and it”s this that we now use when we chant for the dead:

　　"Aniccaa vata sankhaaraa — impermanent are all conditioned things."

　　But no chants or spells are able to conjure up a person or a self. You won”t find any sign of self in all the five aggregates, for they are impermanent, suffering and not-self.

　　Investigate and analyze through to a more refined understanding. Don”t be so afraid of dying, for death like that isn”t found with the heart. By bringing in such fears you”ll only succeed in deceiving yourself and piling up suffering. This goes counter to Dhamma, to the truth taught by the Lord Buddha. If you accept his Way then obviously you should follow it and see the truth for yourself rather than going against it. This is the true going for refuge. "Buddha.m sarana.m gacchaami." It”s a discerning of the truth of the heart rather than a mere mouthing of words. The Lord Buddha offere…

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