The World Without Humans

Did you ever catch an episode of Life After People on the History Channel? The ones I saw were quite thought provoking.

Alan Weisman has written a book called, “The World Without Us.” In an interview with Tricycle Magazine, he spoke about global warming, population control, and what the world without humans would look like.

The World Without Humans

Now, please watch this video.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2hJnbQBRwY

If you get a chance, try to find replays of Life After People. The graphics in the series are incredible.

You will really get a sense of what is in store for the planet when the last human leaves the earth.

The Five Remembrances

This video brings to mind what are called the five remembrances. These are contemplations that help us understand ourselves as humans.

They are:

1. We are of the nature to grow old. We cannot escape old age.
   

   We Cannot Escape Old Age

2. We are of the nature to have ill health. We cannot escape ill health.
3. We are of the nature to die. We cannot escape death.
4. Everyone we love and everything we have is of the nature to change. We cannot escape impermanence.
5. Our actions are the only ground on which we can stand. We cannot escape the consequences of our actions.

Each of these can be the subject of a 9 minute meditation. In fact, you will find a guided audio recording for each of them in 9 Minute Meditation.

Meditation Practices

To practice, you would find a comfortable position. Take several deep breaths to settle down from your daily activity.

Then you would start with the first remembrance for the rest of your 9 minute meditation.

One possible way to do this is to say to yourself, “old age” when you breathe in. And say to yourself, “no escape” when you breathe out.

You could stick with the first one for as long as you like. Alternatively, you could introduce the second one on the next day. Then the third one on the day after that. And so on.

What did you think of the video? Do you understand how it relates to the five remembrances?

Did you know that even the sun will die? Don’t worry about it. It will live for another 4 or 5 billion years!

Did you know that the sun will become a red giant star? It will grow so large that it will totally envelope the earth!

If you like the video or the five remembrances, won’t you please share them with your family and friends? One or more of them will gratefully benefit from your sharing.

Life After People

The World Without Us