The Garden was one for the attractive, now this is one for the other side of the coin. There are many deaths, but here we deal with only two. The first is viewed though the eyes of our encultured personalities. The second is the death of the body. We may allude to others if they give the nod.

       You want to be serious about spiritual development the hard way? Then begin to turn your eyes toward death. Properly speaking this is an exercise to be engaged with under the guidance of a teacher, however it is of such basic significance that reference to the dangers will have to suffice.

       Death is a very attractive option. We underestimate its's potency. There comes a point in the contemplation and exercise of this, when strange moods posses us. You may find an unusual lack of desire to resist death, or tremendous anger - or sadness. The depressive side effects of this yoga are the primary dangers - we tend to become unbearably morose. Here is where the garden helps to retain balance.

       Press on nonetheless, for your appointment with Death. May I offer my profound sympathies to those who traverse this landscape.

       Somewhere here abouts we should consider the possibility that beyond death, there is nothing. Take it as an exercise in confrontation with the annihilator essence of death, ie. Fin, the end, no buts, no salvage - the final extinction of your consciousness.

       But how to really feel it? So often we notice ourselves sprouting words on the subject, but realising the absence of any appropriate intensity. So, there is no escape but to be blunt. We use time as a weapon. From a start of quiet contemplation, poems - silence and imagination - preparing the ground, to a response from Death in answer to our invocation. We have a friend who dies, we see a dead body. We start to see ourselves making our way, away from the table, toward the gate on the hill, to speak with the keepers. The journey moves into its last phase - home is left behind after having sold or given away all our possessions, veiled but sincere farewells and last moments shared, we head out alone, onto the road to meet our fate. And then one day we're there - it's our turn.

       It's usually some unromantic, insignificant, yet sacred place - you may even be honoured by the village idiot, or a fury animal. My advice is to not give in to easily - fight for your life! It's handy to have some gestures up your sleave to symbolise your spirit.

       With a bit of luck, perhaps because you're early, or through respect for your spirit, or for no known reason whatsoever, you may get a reprieve - and head back to the table. It becomes hard to make real friends after this. You become a member of a special club, which everyone belongs to - they just don't know it.

       After all this overdramatic, indulgent ego-swaggering, we can begin to contemplate our real death - the health of the body. With a peculiar loose grip, a new attitude toward our life gradually crystallises.

       It is wise here to confront all possibilities that have any reasonable claim on what we will go through immediately on death of the body, and after. Be pragmatic and not sentimental. If you want to look your best when you're elected, put a lot of attention now, on to the quality of taxi you wish to be waiting for you, once the show is over.

       The natural progression of this yoga awakens our consciousness to where we came from - before conception and birth. This awakens the ability to fly around ourselves in ever widening spaces. The knowledge gained flows into our garden, in which we conceive and give birth to ourselves. Do not underestimate the enormity of changes we are capable of - nothing has been exhausted.

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