Each week I receive the latest news on the “dying business.” That includes the topics of grief, funerals, death and dying, end of life, etc. Consistently I notice that the UK is tackling the topic fervently. Most often death and dying is considered in the medical or insurance fields. There is upward trend recently in the general public regarding this topic. Often news tries to get to the heart of people’s greatest fear. For instance a current workshop that lasts 1o days and has 40 volunteers to help participants confront their fears surrounding the death and dying topic.
One of the activities include recording a simulation of each person lying down before being “buried” by a volunteer who symbolically scatters earth over them. The premise for this is that the more each person can embrace the universal fact that they will indeed die, the more fully they can live the rest of their life.
This presents about as realistic an activity for preparing for death as I have read about or heard of. Burial simulation is a practice with some spiritual traditions; typically focused on the annihilation of the ego. I have practiced and found it moving. To view my own burial simulation video could likewise be an impressive activity. This is not for the faint of heart, however. I believe that participants should be screened for mental health prior before simulation. It will be interesting to see if and when this type of “preparation” might enter the mainstream. Till then, my eyes will continue to learn how to become more present to my remaining days with an open heart and focused mind.