They seem to be very common among Buddhist monks. They seem not as common but still common among Catholic and Orthodox Christian monks. I find it very helpful when resisting urges to watch porn, complain to myself, or surf Youtube. In fact, whenever I do sit and study and do homework for over an hour I usually end up thinking about death in some way. When I'm really focused on a hard task the thought of death actually has a clear peaceful feeling. Like everything will be ok. When my attention is scattered (like now) it makes me worry about people I may leave behind, things I may leave undone, what people will think and say about me when I'm gone, and so on. But this has the effect of motivating me to solve problems and make close loyal friends (like right now) so I don't feel it's a bad thing. Has anyone else tried "death and impermanence" meditations to end addictive habits?
Everyday. This body doesnt last and we must wear it like a sandal. " It is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it. Life is long enough, and it has been given in sufficiently generous measure to allow the accomplishment of the very greatest things if the whole of it is well invested. But when it is squandered in luxury and carelessness, when it is devoted to no good end, forced at last by the ultimate necessity we perceive that it has passed away before we were aware that it was passing. So it is—the life we receive is not short, but we make it so, nor do we have any lack of it, but are wasteful of it. Just as great and princely wealth is scattered in a moment when it comes into the hands of a bad owner, while wealth however limited, if it is entrusted to a good guardian, increases by use, so our life is amply long for him who orders it properly." Seneca
I don't know if there is such thing as death and impermanence meditation. But death and impermanence are the ultimate truth. Impermanence is the law of universe. Everything in this universe is constantly at flux. The universe comes to life through us. But now, we humans through our thinking have made it all about our self. Know that death comes to all. Don't focus on living longer. Focus on the value of life at the moment. Everything we have is already a miracle. But we have become blind to it! Universe came to life through you and it will leave to create something else. Value each moment with life.
