Seeing death

I've been reading a book by Hape Kerkeling, a German comedian who took time out to take the pilgrims path to Santiago de Compostela. The book's title, "Ich bin dann mal weg", (I'll be gone for a bit) has some wonderful reflections about how one can see life and their own life along a pilgrimage route. I just read on Sunday the part where he reflects on a near death experience and what he felt:

"Man wird ganz friedlich und ordnet in aller Ruhe die eigenen Gedanken. Da geht es zum Teil um völlig banale Dinge, die aber im Sterbeprozess unglaubliche Wichtigkeit bekommen. Vor allem geht es aber um die Frage: Was tue ich anderen und was tun andere mir! Tiere übrigens eingeschlossen."

"You are completely peaceful and put in order your own thoughts. In part it deals with banal things, which, however, have become unbelievably important. Above all is the question: What have I done to others and what have they done to me! By the way, animals are also included."

And then he describes the moment:

"Ich kann es nur versuchen, es zu beschreiben. Es ist etwa so ein Gefühl, als würde man mit einem Plöpp-Geräusch eine Bierflasche öffnen und dazu die Berliner Symphoniker in doppelter Besetzung die 9. Sinfonie von Beethoven spielen lassen. Banal und feierlich zu gleich."

"I can only try to describe it. It is a feeling as if you hear the sound *Plop* sound of a beer bottle with the Berlin Philharmonic with double the musicians playing Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Banal and celebratory at the same time."

I think there is a lot of wisdom, and good humor, in these words!

And from my Calendar this week is a qoute from Hakuin:

"The monkey is reaching for the moon in the water.

Until death overtakes him he'll never give up.

If he'd let go the branch and disappear in the deep pool,

The whole world would shine with dazzling pureness."

(from The Zen Koan, by Isshu Miura and Ruth Fuller Sasaki, Harcourt, Brace and World, 1965)