Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

"Are you ready?" Even in a moment like that there is
need for preparation.
Furthermore, even at the time of our departure from this
existence, whenever and however it occurs, there are
things to be done, little preparations to make, as the
great Shelley so movingly wrote about in his tragic play
"The Cenci." At the play's conclusion and before the
death by execution of the heroine, she nobly says:
"Give yourself no unnecessary pain,
My dear Lord Cardinal. Here, mother, tie
My girdle for me, and bind up this hair
In any simple knot; any, that does well.
And yours I see is coming down. How often
Have we done this for one another; now
We shall not do it any more. My Lord,
We are quite ready. Well, 'tis very well."
She answers the question: she is ready.
The content of this chapter should convince everyone
that before any attainment can result from meditation, it
must be practiced, and before this is possible, secure
roots in the various preparatory factors must be
established. Now, for the sake of clarity, the material of
this chapter is summarized.
F. SUMMARY AND SOME PRACTICAL
CONDITIONS
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