Great Death and Great Birth

The death we know is always somebody else. Once we know our own death, pass through it, a

tremendous realization arises that death is the greatest fiction.

This realization is called ”the great death.” Everybody dies, but the small death; only very blessed

ones have died the great death. It simply means they die with total awareness, seeing body and

mind separating from their consciousness.

 But the consciousness, the flame of their being is eternal.

It goes on moving into new forms and ultimately it moves into the formless.

This small anecdote is about the great death.

Zen is always special in its expression. I call it the great death because it is not death. The great death in reality is the great life.

Only the small death is death.

The difference is of consciousness and unconsciousness. You die unconsciously – this is the small

death; you will have a small rebirth. Neither will you know your death nor will you know your birth. If you die meditatively, alert, aware, it is the great death – and great death is followed by great birth.