by Davee Evans
When I saw this clock created by artist Bertrand Planes, I thought every Buddhist household needs one. I'd put mine right by the door, so I couldn't miss it as I left for work each morning. It's so easy to forget that our time is limited. Each day blends into the next, and in spite of milestones passing I for one live a life where it feels like this will go on forever. And yet my clock would already be disturbingly near the 6 o'clock position.
Mssr. Planes took a regular clock and changed the gearing to slow it down 61,320 fold – so one full rotation of the clock would approximate our expected lifespan, and he then changed the numbers on the clock to be years. I'd like to mass produce these. Too much of a downer to sell? Perhaps they would need to be DIY, because your livelihood really would impact how many years to put on the clock. Do you have risky hobbies? If you're one of the many people today trying to quit smoking, as part of the Great American Smokeout, you could highlight the final years gained from quitting.
Cudos for any clever way to remember that time is short. Do you have any things around the house that remind you of this painful reality?
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You must be very young! Once you hit 60, and you have had to deal with 80 year old parents, you don't need such a clock!
I suspect there wouldn't be much of a market for such a thing, young people wouldn't want one and old people don't need one.
And, if you are really a Buddhist the realization is in the teachings.
What's Buddhist about this life-span clock is that it starts over again, just like samsara. :-)
Well - as I am turning 70 next month I suppose this clock would be like the monk's cup -
I only have a short time left to enjoy this life
But look at how fortunate I am to have had 90% of the wonderful life I have had !!!
good post,go on your good job,guys.
You have yourself. Every change that happens to your body or mind marks the ticking of time. Many of us might try to engage in a changeless day, in version to growing older, but when we look back at that day, we will notice that it was a day not lived – and the calendar will reveal that our lie to ourselves cost a day with nothing gained.
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