The House of Death

Today was another day visiting an old friend at the local hospice center. It is something to face death. Ernest Becker wrote a Pulitzer prize book years ago called "The Denial of Death." I'm sure he would see our chess as a way of striving against the obliteration of death.

Theravada Buddhists are supposed to reflect on death. In the cemetery contemplations of the mindfulness sutta, we are taught to observe a corpse and say, "verily my own body is of the same nature, such it will become, and will not escape it."

In a way there is a comfort in death. In a canticle attributed to St. Francis, sister death is a great friend and equaliser. One good thing about it is that all our ancestors were able to do it, and we can too.

I am going to die if it's the last thing I ever do!

Checkmate supposedly comes from Shah matt, or the king is dead. Chess is a game of death. We may beat our opponents in many games and sports but in checkmate, we kill them. And on the other hand when we lose by mate, we die.

Fight for life! Do not surrender!

Dylan Thomas wrote...

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Dylan Thomas has the right attitude for defending in chess.