discursive meditation Dear Venerable and friends,

Instead of anapanasati, some of us like to meditate on a subject; like contemplation.  For instance; inevitability of death &amp; uncertainty of the time of death and being a mortal... or contemplation on 5 body parts (asubha). 

My question: When sitting shall we use a short sentence? Like: Death is inevitable. I am a mortal being. Like me all beings in samsara will face death when the time comes. Hence, we must transform our minds in accordance with the Dhamma.

Is there any short comprising of 2 words/phrase that can be recited while inhaling &amp; exhaling like mantra chanting (Bud- dho) in order to strengthen our contemplation.  

How to establish a solid foundation and make progress while doing discursive meditation? 
Thank you all, best wishes.
My question: When sitting shall we use a short sentence? Like: Death is inevitable. I am a mortal being. Like me all beings in samsara will face death when the time comes. Hence, we must transform our minds in accordance with the Dhamma.

Yes.Short sentences like this helps the mind to focus on a theme/truth.It helps the mind penetrate its meaning.

Is there any short comprising of 2 words/phrase that can be recited while inhaling &amp; exhaling like mantra chanting (Bud- dho) in order to strengthen our contemplation.

Now unless your contemplating on the breath,this is where it gets complicated.You are trying to understand a certain truth.For example,"Death is inevitable".But a 2 syllable word.One for the inbreath and the other for the outbreath.May narrow your concentration to a point where it hinders your ability to investigate/contemplate (especially if your object of meditation is not the breath).Investigation is whats needed in Discursive Meditation.

Mantra chanting is good to do before you start your discursive meditation or investigation as a means of stabilizing or anchoring the mind.But i don't see it as a way to strengthen contemplation.In fact i think it hinders it.By splitting the object of meditation in three.1.The Breath.2.The Mantra.3.The Meaning of the Mantra (Death is inevitable).