It seems that, not often than not, the practice is a matter of balancing one’s perceptions. I have be seen white heavily focused on the brahma viharas and hand been struggling with over indulgence in sense pleasures. Having been down this road a number of times before I realized just this morning, after having been assailed by kilesas for a week, that it might be a good idea to bring the perceptions of sickness, aging and death to mind.
Naturally they aren’t a magic charm but each time a thought of sense pleasure arose I would reflect on these perceptions to god effect. Until liberation may we never become enslaved to that which sickens, ages and dies.
Cattāri Brahmavihārā 
Have you meditated on the nine points of death?
By: dharmacaterpillar on 12/30/2015
at 8:20 pm
I’m not sure if I’m familiar with that practice. I have often used the charnel ground meditations. So you have a link to what you’re describing?
By: Upāsaka on 12/31/2015
at 12:24 am
Life and Death
Inspired by the nine-point-death meditation.
https://timtrick.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=149&action=edit
By: Tim Trick on 01/01/2016
at 9:16 pm
I have on the first three, always was a little afraid of it. But actually, as been promised, it is a vitalizing process. Being aware of the time passing by at each moment, and being aware of the certainy of death, with a calm mind, led to a joyfull day. Pretty cool.
By: Tim Trick on 12/30/2015
at 11:53 pm