Memento (German Edition)

The lyrics often looked at life as a necessary and god-given vale of tears with death as a ransom, and they reminded people to lead sinless lives to stand a chance at Judgment Day. The following two Latin stanzas with their English translations are typical of memento mori in medieval music; they are from the virelai ad mortem festinamus of the Catalan Llibre Vermell de Montserrat from Memento mori was the salutation used by the Hermits of St.

Paul of France , also known as the Brothers of Death. Colonial American art saw a large number of memento mori images due to Puritan influence. The Puritan community in 17th-century North America looked down upon art because they believed that it drew the faithful away from God and, if away from God, then it could only lead to the devil. However, portraits were considered historical records and, as such, they were allowed.

Thomas Smith , a 17th-century Puritan, fought in many naval battles and also painted. In his self-portrait, we see these pursuits represented alongside a typical Puritan memento mori with a skull, suggesting his awareness of imminent death. The poem underneath the skull emphasizes Thomas Smith's acceptance of death and of turning away from the world of the living:.

Farwell thy jarres, thy Joies thy Toies thy Wiles thy Warrs. I am not sorye. Much memento mori art is associated with the Mexican festival Day of the Dead , including skull-shaped candies and bread loaves adorned with bread "bones. Another manifestation of memento mori is found in the Mexican "Calavera", a literary composition in verse form normally written in honour of a person who is still alive, but written as if that person were dead.

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These compositions have a comedic tone and are often offered from one friend to another during Day of the Dead. In Japan, the influence of Zen Buddhist contemplation of death on indigenous culture can be gauged by the following quotation from the classic treatise on samurai ethics, Hagakure: The Way of the Samurai is, morning after morning, the practice of death, considering whether it will be here or be there, imagining the most sightly way of dying, and putting one's mind firmly in death.

Although this may be a most difficult thing, if one will do it, it can be done. There is nothing that one should suppose cannot be done. In the annual appreciation of cherry blossom and fall colours, hanami and momijigari , the samurai philosophised that things are most splendid at the moment before their fall, and to aim to live and die in a similar fashion. In Tibetan Buddhism, there is a mind training practice known as Lojong.

In particular, one contemplates that;. There are a number of classic verse formulations of these contemplations meant for daily reflection to overcome our strong habitual tendency to live as though we will certainly not die today. Like a staged performance, beings come and go. In tumultuous waves, rushing by, like rapids over a cliff. Like lightning, wanderers in samsara burst into existence, and are gone in a flash. This traitor is not to be trusted by the healthy or the ill, for it is like an unexpected, great thunderbolt.

I shall not remain. Like an experience in a dream, everything that has passed will not be seen again. Shall I not die then? At that time, merit alone is a protection, and I have not applied myself to it. In a practice text written by the 19th century Tibetan master Dudjom Lingpa for serious meditators, he formulates the second contemplation in this way. If you have not swiftly applied yourself to practice, examine the births and deaths of other beings and reflect again and again on the unpredictability of your lifespan and the time of your death, and on the uncertainty of your own situation.

Meditate on this until you have definitively integrated it with your mind There is no end to this meaningless work. What a joke to prepare to live forever! Acquiring freedom for yourself is as rare as a star in the daytime, so how is it possible to practice and achieve liberation? The root of all mind training and practical instructions is planted by knowing the nature of existence. There is no other way.

You have obtained a human life, which is difficult to find, Have aroused an intention of a spirit of emergence, which is difficult to arouse, Have met a qualified guru, who is difficult to meet, And you have encountered the sublime Dharma, which is difficult to encounter. Reflect again and again on the difficulty Of obtaining such a fine human life. If you do not make this meaningful, It will be like a butter lamp in the wind of impermanence.

Do not count on this lasting a long time.

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The Tibetan Canon also includes copious materials on the meditative preparation for the death process and intermediate period [bardo] between death and rebirth. The "remembrance of death" Arabic: It is grounded in the Qur'an , where there are recurring injunctions to pay heed to the fate of previous generations. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. For other uses, see Memento mori disambiguation. The Culture of Death and the Afterlife".

Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri. Archived from the original on Retrieved 13 January Obrecht, "Trappists", The Catholic Encyclopedia , , s. The Day of the Dead in Mexico and Beyond". Or browse results titled:. Markus Reuter is a German composer who has earned critical acclaim throughout Europe and America for his work as a composer, guitar player, guitar designer, sound designer, producer and teacher. Streaming and Download help.

If you like Memento, you may also like:. Mundo Nuevo by Markus Reuter.

Thank you for this excellent release. This indeed compliments the three earlier releases of soundscapes from the Stickmen concerts. Please keep up the good work. I blissfully expected Markus' opening soundscapes at the TCP concerts - it was pure joy - absolutely the right way to set the stage. Live in Pomona by Markus Reuter. The entire work is sublime, but the atmospheres of Part 1 in particular appeal to my "inner planetarium.