the blah blah blog : February 2015

Saturday, February 28, 2015

corpse tree

The idea of being stuck in a box and buried in the ground has always freaked me out. I think even in death, the confinement of a coffin would suffocate me.
I hate the idea of being trapped.

And then there's cremation, which seemed cool, except where would I be scattered? Certainly not in the ocean, because open water is TERRIFYING.

I'd hate to sit on a shelf somewhere - aside from being super creepy, it seems lame.. who would want to become a piece of decor after they die? No thanks.

THEN.

I found this:

http://bigthink.com/design-for-good/this-awesome-urn-will-turn-you-into-a-tree-after-you-die

http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/your-decaying-corpse-could-become-a-tree?utm_source=tcpfbus

What a perfect way to leave this world - become a tree!

Circle of life and all, I dig it...

Sign me up!

Friday, February 27, 2015

buddha musings

http://siberiantimes.com/other/others/news/n0105-mummified-monk-is-not-dead-and-in-rare-meditative-state-says-expert/

A mummified monk found in the lotus position in Mongolia is 'not dead' and is instead one stage away from becoming a real-life Buddha, it has been claimed.

Forensic examinations are under way on the amazing remains, which are believed to be around 200 years old, having been preserved in animal skin. But one expert has insisted the human relic is actually in 'very deep meditation' and in a rare and very special spiritual state known as 'tukdam'.
Over the last 50 years there are said to have been 40 such cases in India involving meditating Tibetan monks.

Dr Barry Kerzin, a famous Buddhist monk and a physician to the Dalai Lama, said: 'I had the privilege to take care of some meditators who were in a tukdam state. If the person is able to remain in this state for more than three weeks - which rarely happens - his body gradually shrinks, and in the end all that remains from the person is his hair, nails, and clothes. Usually in this case, people who live next to the monk see a rainbow that glows in the sky for several days. This means that he has found a 'rainbow body'. This is the highest state close to the state of Buddha'. He added: 'If the meditator can continue to stay in this meditative state, he can become a Buddha. Reaching such a high spiritual level the meditator will also help others, and all the people around will feel a deep sense of joy'.

MIND. BLOWN.