The Stages of Death
When we have experienced the distant signs of death, the close signs of death will occur. First the earth element of the body dissolves. The external sign of this dissolution is that the body becomes thin; and the internal sign is a mirage-like appearance to the mind. Next, the water element dissolves. The external sign is that the mouth and tongue become very dry, and the liquids of the body, such as urine, blood, and sperm, decrease; and the internal sign is a smoke-like appearance to the mind. Next the fire
element dissolves. The external sign of this dissolution is reduced warmth of the body and coldness in the area around the navel, the centre of the body's heat; and the internal sign is a sparkling-fireflies-like appearance. Next the wind element dissolves. The external sign is reduced power of movement due to the decreasing power of the winds that flow through the channels of the body and cause us to generate gross minds; and the internal sign is a candle-flame-like appearance. The mind perceiving this appearance is the last gross
mind of death.
The first subtle mind of death is the mind perceiving a white appearance. When this appearance ceases, the mind has become more subtle and perceives a red appearance. This mind again becomes more subtle and transforms into the mind of black near-attainment, to which only black appears. At this stage it is as if the dying person has no memory. Since there is no physical movement, no heartbeat, and no movement in the channels, some people think that this is the end of dying; but in fact the
consciousness has not yet left the body. The mind of black near-attainment transforms into the most subtle mind perceiving the clear light of death, a clear bright appearance like the light of dawn. This is the sign that the most subtle mind that resides within the indestructible drop at the heart has manifested and all other minds have ceased to manifest. Then the indestructible drop opens, and its white and red parts separate, releasing the consciousness, which immediately departs from the body. The white drop descends through the
central channel to emerge through the tip of the sex organ, and the red drop ascends through the central channel to emerge through the nostrils. When this happens it is the sign that the consciousness has left the body and the process of dying has ended.
“7
Habits 11 years later” by
Stephen Covey
In this timely update, the best-selling
author – and USA WEEKEND contributing editor – adapts his popular precepts
for today’s tech-savvy reader. From the July 7-9, 2000 issue of USA WEEKEND.
“In my book The
7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I laid out what I believe are the seven basic principles of
effective living, based on such immutable qualities as responsibility,
integrity, respect, mutual understanding, patience and purpose.
These principles are as true today as they were in 1989, when 7
Habits was published.
But technology has changed our world profoundly.
Today we are under even more pressure in our professional and personal
lives than we were a decade ago. I
attribute this in part to technology, because it often has served to quicken the
pace, and to separate us rather than bring us closer together.
Technology can be a great tool to help us become more
effective – in our work and our relationships.
Remember this and you are already a step ahead: Technology is a good
servant but a bad master.
Now for the seven habits, revisited here to reflect the
new challenges of life in a technological world:
1. BE PROACTIVE.
Ask yourself, “ Are my
actions based on self-chosen values or on my moods, feelings and circumstances?”
We often feel we
are victims of all the technology – e-mail, voice mail, pagers, faxes,
cellular phones – that bombard us each day.
We become slaves to technology and feel we must respond immediately
without regard to the importance of the message.
Instead, the next time
someone sends you e-mail or beeps you, consider how you can manage the
technology in your life. Not many
of us have the power to decree that we will no longer read e-mail messages at
work and that everyone has to contact us by telephone or fax.
But we can decide, for instance, that we will get our most important and
creative work accomplished in the first two hours of each workday, then review
and reply to e-mail messages later in the day.
You also can let colleagues know you will not return their messages until
a certain time each day. At home,
discourage calls from the office and focus on your loved ones.
2. BEGIN WITH THE END IN
MIND. Ask
yourself, “What would I want written on my tombstone?
Have I written a personal mission statement that provides meaning,
purpose and direction to my life? Do
my actions flow from my7 mission?” Many people decide they want to have not only a personal
mission statement, but a family mission statement as well.
Technology can help in formulating the statement by making it easier to
communicate with relatives across the country by using e-mail or faxes.
Soliciting feedback through e-mail is a great way to keep in touch, too.
And families can use “instant messaging” to make communicating with
one another quicker and easier.
3. PUT FIRST THINGS
FIRST. Ask
yourself, “Am I able to say no to the unimportant, no matter how urgent, and
yes to the important?” Because
the cell phone is ringing, and the e-mail subject field reads “URGENT”, we
feel compelled to stop whatever we’re doing to respond. But often these interruptions are not related to what we are
trying to accomplish, be it a work project or reviewing a child’s homework.
Technology can help organize our lives by giving us the tools to
quickly schedule and keep up with our important commitments.
For instance, hand-held electronic organizers make it possible to type in
regular weekly meetings just once, and an alarm goes off when it’s time for
appointments.
Overusing technology tools can become addictive.
Playing computer games constantly or surfing the Net all night can result
in burnout and difficulties with relationships.
That’s when it’s wise to resist the lure of technology and begin to
say yes to what’s important: Turn off the cell phone during family time;
don’t open the e-mail just because it’s flashing.
4. THINK WIN-WIN.
Ask yourself, “Do I seek mutual benefit in all of my relationships?”
Remember that
technology makes communication more efficient – not necessarily more
effective. To build a high-quality
relationship, it’s important, if possible, to have face-to-face interaction
first. Second best is talking by
phone. Then, afterward, quicker
ways of communicating are fine – such as exchanging e-mails or leaving a
voice-mail message.
Technology can help us make “deposits”, or cause us to make
“withdrawals”, in another person’s “emotional bank account”.
A deposit would be keeping a promise, being kind and courteous,
clarifying expectations, making apologies, being open to feedback and being
loyal to those who are absent. If
you are talking with someone on the telephone and your call-waiting feature
keeps beeping and you continually interrupt the other to take calls, you are
making a withdrawal: You are saying the person you’re talking with is not as
important as the calls coming in.
On the other hand, sometimes leaving a detailed voice-mail message
on your phone when you know you’ll be out is a deposit – it helps make
callers’ lives easier.
5. SEEK FIRST TO
UNDERSTAND, THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD. Ask
yourself, “Do I avoid talking initially about my concerns and instead express
my understanding of the other person and his or her point of view?”
To listen
effectively, you must use the same tools of communication.
Being technologically savvy is a requirement in today’s workplace.
If we are uncomfortable with technology and insist that everyone adapt to
our out-dated ways of doing things, we cut ourselves off from others.
If we’re techno-savvy, we should encourage others to learn.
Be adaptable, and realize that although technology has its limits,
it is still possible to carry on a significant relationship without being face
to face. After my father died in
1980, I decided I would call my mother every day.
She died in 1990, and I missed very few days.
Our communication was so
constant, and we
understood each other so well, that it made no difference whether we were
talking by telephone or in person.
6. SYNERGIZE.
Ask yourself, “Do I seek
and value opinions, viewpoints and perspectives from others to create solutions
that are better than would have
created on my own?” When people can’t get together in person to solve a
problem, Web videoconferencing and instant messaging allow them to post messages
back and forth and interact in real time. Also, families can develop and share creative ideas and work
through issues using Internet sites such as myfamily.com,
which offers families their own private, secure forums in which they can
interact with one another, post events, share news and schedule appointments.
7. SHARPEN THE SAW.
Ask yourself, “Am I continually improving the physical, mental,
spiritual and social dimensions of my life?”
Overusing technology often means losing touch with nature, so regularly
make time to step away from the computer and take a walk in the woods.
Keep learning by enrolling in courses on how to use the Internet, or
learn a new software program – even if you don’t immediately need it for
your job, it could one day help you get you your next job.
Inspirational quotations can be sent via e-mail to friends.
Humanitarian and non-profit Web sites allow you, with just a click of the
mouse, to nurture your own spirit by donating time, energy and resources.
“I
used to be afraid of dying, but I’m not anymore. I’m more afraid of
what happens to the people who live...” from And The Band Played On-Randy
Shilts
4/18/99: I think I’m
starting to get the hang of this home page thing!
As
I explained to Kevin when he was here at Easter: One of the major reasons
I joined The Brothers was to go to college. It was very important to me to
get a “higher” education, especially to make mother proud and happy!
On her side of the family, all of my uncles have degrees as do their spouses and
many of my cousins. My fathers view on college was; “I didn’t even
graduate from High School and I’m doin’ allright. Own my own business,
put all you kids through parochial schools, have a pretty damn nice house....
It was good enough for me so it’ll have to be good enough for you.”
That was in response to not wanting to fill out any forms for financial
assistance because the government had no business knowing what he made! Hhmm... could it be that there were two sets of books? The set in his head
(The exaggerated,
better off than real and Proud one) and the one on paper (Which
was the real deal and quite probably would have qualified me for financial aid -
which because of the Pride thing no one should know that).
Now that’s The Connett side of the family!!
(N.B.: Usually when I write; family can be construed as my
biological nuclear unit, whereas “Family” refers to those who ARE!!!
Blanche!)
And that isn’t necessarily bad... I have the same two
sets! The one in my mind fueled by my dreams and the reality on paper.
My
“Father” ran a tight ship; by-passing High School and plunging straight into
the Korean War (That’s the “M.A.S.H.” era...), he was Definitely the
‘HeadMaster’ in my school of “Hard Knocks”, But I MADE IT THROUGH THE
RAIN(Kudos to Barry Manilow!) - and I mean a full Blown Monsoon, and have lived
to tell... I LOVE & RESPECT My Mom & Dad as well as the rest of my
“Family”! As my good friend - The Chief Operating Guardian Angel:
“Ms. Oprah!” said on a recent show:
“FORGIVENESS:”
...is letting GO of the HOPE that, the PAST CAN BE DIFFERENT!”
Although...
I would also then reason that HOPE, therefore, can be sustained by DREAMING THAT
THE FUTURE – CAN & WILL BE!
4/20/99:
Thoughts for the Day/Things To Do:
”Sticks
& Stones...” - I was thinking about names - nicknames - labels -
stereotypes... triggered by the fact that I realized many of my “Family”
know me by different names... not all of them are good or flattering depending
on how it is used. For instance, Todd(now in San Diego) & others call
me “Mikey” - to which I will leave you to your own double-entendre.
Actually, frosted flakes are my favorite cereal! Anyway; I remembered when
the guys at Newport Catholic started talking... (Remember: “The only thing
worse than People talking about you, is People NOT talking about you!”)
Usually,
when you hear the word ‘HomoSexual’ it is used in a rather
technical/clinical/non-threatening way unless it has been uttered by a
Republican, Religious Radical or Redneck. Shorten it (Homo...),
Bloody/Hate-filled SCREAM IT or use it in a Threatening Way and it quickly
becomes a “Fighting Word” that may easily elevate a confrontation to the
level of a “Hate-Crime”. This is not a special Right, it is an
“Equal Right”. It is what “WE THE PEOPLE...” have believed in and
fought for from the day this Country was founded. In order to form a more
perfect union; we stated and swore that ALL men were created EQUAL, that we all
have a CREATOR and that we are all ENDOWED with certain INALIENABLE RIGHTS...
Please NOTICE that,
NOWHERE in that statement does
the words “EXCEPT
FOR...” APPEAR!!!
To
get back to the story...
One
of the quips I heard in High School was a take-off on the term. A
classmate of mine called me a ‘HomoSensual’, later shortened to
‘Sensuous’ and then to ‘Sense’. Somewhere I’ve heard or read
something about “The Queens Vernacular” (which can be briefly defined as gay
slang) and in combination with the empowerment strategy of taking back a word, I
had this thought: That’s really a pretty good way to look at things.
For example, for people who really need a label - nickname - stereotype, etc. to
refer to someone with; As a ‘HomoSexual’, I wouldn’t mind being remembered
as a:
“HomoSensual/Sensuous”,
or
“HomoSpirit/Spiritual”,
or
“HomoServant/Of
Service”.
4/23/99:
This morning I made some revisions to my “HOME” Page...added this page and a
Caution Disclaimer.
4/27/99:
Many New Developments since my last entry; briefly:
All my accounts/assets/checking
titles have been changed to: Michael W. Connett “LIVING Trust”.
I am the current Living “Trustee”, and upon my passing my Very Close Dear
Friend & Kindred Spirit: Mr. Kevin J. O’Toole of St. Louis, Missouri; has
agreed and will serve as the “Trustee” of the “LIVING Trust”. More
about this later...
Coming Soon: MISSION
STATEMENT for the Michael W. Connett “LIVING Trust”.
Elements already committed to...
NAMES Project
Foundation/AIDS Memorial Quilt
Establishing local NAMES
Project chapter on the SouthBank of “Issue3Land” (Greater
Cincinnati/Tri-State/OKI Regional Emphasis).
Dayton, Ky.
Sesquicentennial Millenium Monument as addition/extension to the SouthBank
Development Project and establishment of a Regional Tourist Attraction that will
bolster the Citys Economic Development and was the only “gift” to my
Hometown on their 150th Anniversary that I could come up with.
Certainly, no disrespect was intended to the Veterans Memorial! As a
matter of fact, my idea was to bring it inside, out of the elements, in a
central place of honor/focal point in this new monument to clebrate Daytons 150
Years and commemorate their leap into the New Millennium!
P.A.W.S. (Pets Are
Wonderful Support) Chapter/Services for AIDS Clients in Northern Kentucky.
Teach Tolerance
Respect Diversity/Human
Rights
"COPYRIGHT(c): The Michael Wallace Connett-LIVING Trust" | 
