From this bold statement of the Buddha one can realise, that the highest fruits that one can even attain to can be fully realised by being mindful and aware of this one single object namely death. Of course it has to be developed frequently and made much of. And this is not such an easy task, because beings delight in life, they contemplate only on life. The large majority, leave alone contemplating on death, do not want to even talk about it. They prefer to forget it. So strong is the desire for existence. The craving "to be"

Now let us consider why the Buddha made this bold but enlightening statement. When you are frequently mindful and aware of death the perception of death arises and all forms of intoxication by being youthful or feeling youthful, goes down. That intoxication by being healthy or feeling healthy, goes down. That intoxication through life, goes down. That intoxication by being rich and powerful goes down. That intoxication through pride goes down. With the fading away of these intoxications greed goes down, sorrow goes down. It brings forth diligence, effort. With the fading away of these intoxications, greed and sorrow, the five hindrances go down. Then the mind goes into tranquillity, samädhi, the jhäna factors arise, The mind in samadhi knows and sees the true nature of all things. Their impermanence, otherwiseness, dukkha and anatha (not-self). These right perceptions arise and the process of clinging and resenting goes down. This is the arising of knowledge, wisdom. The realisation of the four noble truths. With wisdom arises detachment and relinquishment. With detachment as condition, arises release and the knowledge of release.

So, this one contemplation alone, even though a difficult one to maintain, if made much of will lead you to the highest fruit, the knowledge of the destruction of the cankers. There is no greater or sweeter fruit to be realised than this fruit.