Sunday Stream (35) ~ On the Fear of Death

[mtmynd]

On the Fear of Death

The fear of death is basically two-fold:

1) We fear dying before we complete our living. An innate feeling that we have of not doing all that we could/should in our lives before we bale out. This is more spiritually connected to our true inner self, i.e., we know instinctively that we do have 'something' deep inside us that provokes the mystery of life and living, an inner life force longing to express itself. That's our true nature.

2) We fear dying because we 'see' nothing beyond our physical existence. When we die, that's it! We turn to dust and become nothing more. It is final, bip! the end. No more. This way of thinking could add to the mayhem of our life.

That is where religion tries to step in and offer comfort - "There's more to life than just 'this'...this world and all its suffering, pain, sorrow." The basis of any religion knows there's a spiritual side of life that will bring comfort to these shortcomings of our existence. But they fail for many. What is religion? Religions come from one that has transcended the base human existence and has risen above the suffering, one that has achieved self awareness. It is from Jesus that the religion of Christianity came, from Mohammed that the Quran came, from Gautama that Buddhism arose and so on.

The real message here is not the religion but the master, the master of their own being, rising above the mundane of their lives, and entering into a state of religiosity that brings full awareness to what 'we' are here for - the reason for being.

Once we realize our oneness within the circle of life we needn't fear death. We come to see death as only a cycle - the wheel of life. It is not we that die but only our ego life that dies... the part of our physicality that the true being inhabits for a limited time - it's natural. Death is as natural as living - they are intwined into one, yin/yang.

Of course it should go without saying, it is beneficial for us to not endanger our lives or the lives of others - 'thou shalt not murder.' Death, even though it is inevitable, should never be dealt by our own intent but left to pass when the time to leave the body is ready.


Cecil
19 June 2005

"Keep on Rockin' in the Free World!" - Neil Young


Photo - Cecil B. Lee

[judih]

you've encapsulated the two-fold dilemna of death -

that i do indeed want as much time as possible to express as much as i can, all the while knowing that the older i get the more honed becomes my 'message' and my methods of expression

and two
i don't wanna die!
circle of life is nice, but i love my kids and my man - this particular circle is fine with me

If not for those basic problems, i wouldn't mind at all stepping into another dimension for another round.

and sitting on that heavenly rocking chair, i wouldn't mind a lifetime or two (spare ones if there are) just to watch and see what others are up to.

morning, cecil. (you must have dashed over to my timezone to post this timely stream)

judih

(and willya give SZ a hug - i miss that lovely being)

[mtmynd]

Very few are ready for death for life is so full and wonderful - so much to experience and to enjoy. Life is indeed a cornucopia of lessons that stretch the imagination of possibilities that sustains our lives.

On the other side there are also those that have such a fearlessness about death that they have no love for (their) life at all, one of our modern day shames... but that leads us into the realm of politics and that is so far from our inner realities but needs to be addressed to fulfill humanities possibilities.

The rocker is symbolic of taking a break from it all and a chance to regain our purpose and clarify our direction, all the while simply rockin' away in our peacefullness knowing that yes, all is basically just as it should be...

Thx, Judih!

[Arcadia]

I love rocking chairs, but I have not place to have one in the departamento!. I already have six heavy algarrobo chairs and cushions.
Thanks for the stream: the dead-thing worried me more when I was younger but it still worries me from time to time.
Happy father´s day, by the way!!!!!
Saludos,

Arcadia

[Doreen Peri]

Hi Cecil -

Love your words of wisdom, as always!

I was just wondering.... do you believe that we chose life? Do you think we had consciousness of some sort in some prior pre-life existence and that we chose to enter our bodies and chose our parents and situations, etc.?

I was just talking to Clay about this possibility recently.

Just curious if you believe this.

I have no clue, myself. I somehow think this scenario is entirely possible, though.

-d

[hester_prynne]

In the last ten years, I've become more interested in death, as a normal part of life and I've been more open to reading about it, looking at it, familiarizing myself with it, anything, but denying it out of fear, like I used to, or was taught to. I spent so much energy around death being so afraid of it..

I've come to love and honor the great wheel of life, the fact that we are all on it. My own bout with cancer, my work with our elders, have ultimately been gifts offered to me.

We are all bonded together, in that we live, and we die. It's beautiful, just plain overwhelmingly beautiful!

Just like your streams, a beautiful gift.
Thanks for this stream Cec.

H

[mtmynd]

Ola, Arcadia! I will bet that there are many beautiful rocking chairs where you live! Las sillas may be reserved for los viejos pero todos necessitan una... solamente una... para El Silencio dela Alma.

Howdy, Dor'... thank you for your reply! I do believe that life has chosen us... and thru that choice we in turn have chosen our parents and all that follows in our own lives. The consciousness that you speak of is our heart and soul... that which is our life giver and to question "Why?" can easily become a dog chasing its own tail. Acceptance of that which has given us life is part and parcel of the great sea of consciousness of which we all are entwined. I hope that helps...

Hes', my friend! Happy to see your words. Knowing that you relate to these Steams does connect us... however silently that may be. Thank you... again.

[Doreen Peri]

Thanks, Cecil... I really wasn't asking your help, only what you believed....... nor was I asking "why".... I just wondered if you believed people at some point prior to being born chose their body, their parents, their situation. Thanks for your reply!

I think it could be entirely possible *only* because I did an acid trip once when I was 16 years old and almost never came back. I was quite insane for a week or more. One of the things I went through was a state of consciousness where I was at a place which I thought was the same place I was at prior to being born and I was selecting my parents and situation and moving forward to be born into my body as a baby. As I said, I was really out there. Thing is, I had never read anything of the sort prior to this experience and so I thought perhaps the chemicals triggered an actual memory. *shrug* It's possible. I donno.

I don't try to hard to figure stuff like that out. I'm mostly curious as to what people believe. All I know is, I'm here. That's the only thing I personally believe because I know it's a fact. It just happens. And so I do it. I live. Whatever happened before or will happen after are just what they are.... either nothing at all was before and nothing at all will be afterward.... or something was and will be and it really doesn't matter much. I'll find out eventually. Or not.

[mtmynd]

Dor' .. I enjoyed your story of the acid trip. I don't dismiss those 'opened doors' lightly. It sounds like a very valid experience that you went thu and the trip indeed did open some doors that would never be even known without assistance... in your case the acid, of course. Thanks for sharing it. I know that the experience has never left you and that is probably a good sign... a lesson learned.

btw - when I wrote "I hope it helps" I simply meant I hope that helps you understand my way of thinking about the subject.

Thanks... and keep them dor's opened! they may be windows to your own soul.

[Doreen Peri]

Thanks, Cecil.... I'm trying! (Many will tell you I'm trying! lol... pun intended)

You're a sweetheart.... the dor's open as far as I can get it open... some days a crack, some days totally ajar, but never ever closed. Light comes in. Often when I don't want it to when I'm trying to sleep. *sigh*

(((hugs)))to you!

Thank you for your Streams! They are a blessing! I always wanted to see them in one place so they could be read as a book if somebody wanted to read them that way.

I hope S8 can continue and later offer another more "published" place, other than these boards..... I bit off a lot when I had this concept. The dor was wayyyy open when I dreamed it, but sometimes dreams work slow and hinges get stuck and stuff. Keepin' on keepin' on.

And yes.... what you wrote helped me know more about what you believe. Thank you!

[whimsicaldeb]

Hi Cecil, I won’t go into the religious part of your commentary; as I’ve already given my 2cents worth about religion in a previous posting; but I wanted to show an 'in sych' event that concerns this subject matter: I just posted this in the Lit section here at S8:

http://www.studioeight.tv/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=3815
Aaron's Crossing

It addresses your fear reference No. 2:

2) We fear dying because we 'see' nothing beyond our physical existence. When we die, that's it! We turn to dust and become nothing more. It is final, bip! the end. No more. This way of thinking could add to the mayhem of our life.

You might want to check it out.

For some who do see the more (that's there); it can also be scary (frightening) – and be another fear regarding death to overcome. But the point of all this is; all these fears can be overcome.

One other fear that you don’t mention … but Francis Bacon does; is this one:

I do not believe that anyone fears to be dead,
but only the stroke of death.
Francis Bacon
An Essay on Death 3

The fear of how we’ll pass; that great unknown … and sometimes, that great known (say: the pain from fatal cancer) Fear of being hurt, of hurting, the physical pain of our initial passing. Or worse; the fear of those hurts touching those we love; child, hubby, family, friends .... ~Ugh~

Facing those fears (for me) are more challenging than death itself …and I’ve found the Serenity Prayer is what helps me the most; when those fears come creeping by.

God, grant me
the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.

[mtmynd]

Hi, Deb... thanks for your input.

I do agree that fear, no matter what level they may be, can be overcome. The question does remain as to why fear in and of itself does exist? Is fear a defensive mechanism within our genes..? Is fear an unwarranted emotion that we have been conditioned to beleive? I doubt the later as I am (and I'm sure you may fall into the category) a parent and have seen different levels of fear within my two sons and different ages - none that were learned behavior from either my wife or myself. Sure, they could have learned the fear behavior from other family members, from friends, or t.v. shows.. whatever, but I do tend to lean towards the former - fear is a defensive reaction that causes the one in fear to run, avoid or otherwise get away from that which they fear.

Either (or more) way, it is an inherent part of not only human life but is seen in anything that lives. It is the human that may have an abundance of fears and consequently needs to overcome some of those fears in order to operate 'humanley' within society. We don't feel comfortable with those that have too many fears... they are labeled 'paranoid' at best.

But the fear of death is, of course, ideas of what 'the end' will bring. Will there be a 'heavenly existence'... a hell to contend with... perhaps nothing - nothing at all.. pure darkness and complete silence. There are others to add to the list but the main point being, it is not the inevitable end that we fear but the living that brings us to that moment. The fear dies before the body. But that does not eliminate the fear, even if we complete and totally believe that.

It is not fear alone that scares us, but what the mind conjures that brings the greatest fear. How often have you been frightened by something or an event that warranted nothing close to the reality? Our mind is reacting to two (at least) levels - defensively or thru conditioning... it is up to us to understand our fears so they will not control our living.

Sorry for the wordy response... but I can't help it!!

[whimsicaldeb]

The question does remain as to why fear in and of itself does exist?

~chuckling~

My brother and I used to play this game with each other; one or the other of us would begin asking "why?" at the end of any/all sentences we happened to be directing at the other.

Example: "Get out of my room!"
"Why?"
"Because I don't want you in here!"
"Why?"
"What are you, deaf ... I told you, I don't want you here!"
"Why?"

etc.....

Eventually the light bulb of 'he/she's jerking my chain" would go off - and we'd end up simply saying ... "why?" "because!" "why?" "because!"

... and all the importance and/or hostilities and/or whatevers that prompted the exchanges would dissolve away into fits of giggles.

~Ahhhhh…. those were good times~ Nice memories. It’s been a long time since I've done that; with my brother or anyone else. Your question(s) are reminding me of those fun moments.

Thank you, Cecil -- feels great.

Sorry for the wordy response... but I can't help it!!

Hey …No problem … Ramble away! It IS fun!

[mtmynd]

You brought me a smile, Deb. Thanks! I once wrote a Stream dealing with "why?" and it included'what', 'when', 'where' and 'who'. But the 'why' is not so bad to a point... it may make one 'wise' (why's), but like anything, too much can bring problems, eh? (another Stream dealt with that - too much thinking, too many why's)

BTW: Many years ago I first heard the Serenity Prayer from a close friend that needed AA assistance. It is/was used by their members, although I don't know if they still use that to give them a strength in overcoming their addiction. Prayer can be good dependiing on what it is that the 'prayeree' is asking for, of course... no to mention 'who' they are asking. Prayer is very closely affiliated with religion, but I know what you think of that subject!

It is not religion that one needs but religiosity which in its pure state has no affiliation with religion. Religiosity is the state of spirituality that few have truly experienced, but as we evolve as a species I trust that will change.

Again, thanks for your comments. I do appreciate them. It is good to share those levels of intimacies, IMHO.

[whimsicaldeb]

Cecil:
It is not religion that one needs but religiosity which in its pure state has no affiliation with religion. Religiosity is the state of spirituality that few have truly experienced, but as we evolve as a species I trust that will change.

Ummm....


http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=religiosity

re·li·gi·os·i·ty
n.

1. The quality of being religious.
2. Excessive or affected piety.

religiosity

n : exaggerated or affected piety and religious zeal [syn: religiousism, pietism]

religiousism

n : exaggerated or affected piety and religious zeal [syn: religiosity, pietism]


pi·e·tism
n.

1. Stress on the emotional and personal aspects of religion.
2. Affected or exaggerated piety.
3. Pietism A reform movement in the German Lutheran Church during the 17th and 18th centuries, which strove to renew the devotional ideal in the Protestant religion.


----

Well ~ right off the top, your definition and the classical (or more known) definition differs: greatly.

Whatever Religiosity is (for yourself/myself/or others): it’s still just a label – and as such, it's importance, or unimportance is what we personally make of it -- for ourselves, in our own lives.

Religiosity doesn't mean the same thing for me as does for you; I don't choose to adopt it with it's classic definition because of the excessive/exaggerated aspects; nor don't I choose to adopt your meaning.... because all seem to have done is relabel 'spirituality' to fit yourself; and ~ so what!

What works for you, works for you.. and what works for me, works for me!

There is still community; and respect - and both of those are what's 'sacred' -- and sacred is the orginal meaning of religion; and I'd say ... all that truly matters.

However, if people want to argue over their versions of 'religion' ... then I saw, throw it out; because religion is just a label; but sacred is what we are, and how we live. Or not.