We Should Think About Our Death Daily...

The Seventh Dalai Lama once said in a poem:
"Human life is rare and precious, 
Yet if not inspired by thought of death, 
One wastes it on materialism: 
Be ready to die at any moment."

This is a way of thinking that is absent from Western society. Here in the United States individuals spend their entire life trying to not think about death. We are in a society that is consumed in commercialism. This leads to obscene amounts of consumption of "needs" that give a false sense of happiness. This false sense of happiness imparts a pseudo immortality. Individuals in this country are far removed from anything that reminds them that all living creatures have the same destiny. The flesh that they buy to consume in great amounts are presented in a way that sterilizes the experience. Nicely wrapped in plastic where it can be easily handled without any trace of resemblance to the living creature it was just days before.
They present the death of loved ones in a way where they resemble someone just sleeping. Even the final memorial doesn't directly deal with the subject. The death of a loved one in many countries is a hands on experience for the family. As it should be. What better way to show respect and love for that person? To be a part of the preparation of the body, the ultimate homage to the life of that person.
We need to think about death on a daily basis. We shouldn't try an avoid it, but embrace it. It is an experience we are all going to go through at some time. If we are ready for death at any moment, we learn to live in the moment. We learn to take in the little things that make up our daily lives. We don't waste our time chasing after those things that we cannot take with us. But the experiences, the memories, the knowledge...these chemical, electrical, and even spiritual events...these are things that continue on after we die. If not within us, within those that we came into contact and continue on after we pass. That is how I plan on spending the remaining days of my life...using my time to better myself and in turn passing this on to those generations that come after me.
Death is not something I fear. It is something I embrace. After all, it is and will be the final exciting unknown voyage I will take...as far as I know.