Life and Death

[withinsilence]

We've talked about many subjects on this site but not about death as most are afraid to talk about what they fear.

This is the exact opposite of the way to overcome fear as it will remain ones shadow until one turns and faces it directly.

Thus, I will put a few teachings on life and death here to give one a different perspective or way of looking at it. This is from Chuang Tzu, the Tao of Perfect Happiness/Livia Kohn. Enjoy

Life is the follower of death and death is the beginning of life-who knows their inherent structure?
Human life is nothing but an assemblance of vital energy. When it comes together, we come to life; when it scatters, we die. Since life and death thus closely follow each other, why whine about either?
In this most essential aspect, the myraid things (all life) are one. They consider life as beautiful because it is spiritual and marvelous; they think of death as nasty because it is smelly and putrid.
However, the smelly and putrid change again and become the spiritual and marvelous; the spiritual and marvelous change once more and turn smelly and putrid.
Thus the saying; "The entire world is but one vital energy." Based on this, all sages value oneness.


"If a man can empty himself of himself, as he walks on this earth, who can harm him?" Dalai Lama

"Is the fear of death nothing more than an illusory thought within the eternal conscious energy of life?" unknown

[withinsilence]

Death is the great equalizer. It is impartial as to who and what it takes, when it takes, where it takes and why its taking. Whether its people, animals, plants, tittles, feelings, businesses, nations, organizations, buildings, rich, poor, smart, ignorant, wise, foolish, high rank or low stature, whatsoever is created within life, it eventually dies as no-thing lasts forever.

To live within no-thing-ness is to be eternal, to flow with the ever changing river of life, to be as it truly is, unattached to any-thing. This is not to be careless or uncaring, but the reverence of the law of life, of its ever changing ways.

To reverence life is to trust its experiences completely, to dissolve into its will, to be it with no resistance, no denial, no regrets.

[withinsilence]

Ironic that I was moved to write in this post today as some friends of my daughters (teenage) died last night in a car wreck. Such is life, as its not the first time nor will it be the last death takes of what seems to be some before their time. But is it? Whose to say?

To argue against what is, will only create suffering until such time as one accepts the will of life.

One can either use death as something to fear, deny and not face and stay forever locked within its grips, with its shadow always at your back stalking you. Or you can say yes to the will of life, accept it as it is and let its truth of death propel you into living everyday without worry, without fear, without sadness, with the realization of just how fragile and how short it may be.

Please be aware that your life is yours to do whatever you wish, that every risk has the potential to go a number of ways and that all life is precious.

Ask yourself; is it worth your life to do what your about to do? Is it worth it and what is this "it" that it's worth??? Is this what you want for you? This is not to put you in fear, but so you take complete responsibility for your words and actions. Just be aware.

[gurthbruins]

What seems natural, indeed universal and inevitable,... why should I worry about it? What could be the point?

[popee]

"Those who have entered the Order should set their Minds and focus on achieving liberation and not be unduly preoccupied with mundane endeavors, as these entail numerous errors. Not only will they fail to see the heavens, the karma of hell has already been created! If the issue of Birth and Death is not resolved, all mundane activities are but the causes of suffering. One day, once their eyes are closed, they will revolve in samsara according to their karma. At that time, they will discover that their past actions have only only added chains to their yolk and firewood and charcoal under the 'boiling cauldrons', the Dharma robe no longer covers their bodies, while the paths of various realms keep changing ad infinitum throughout the aeons"

~~ some old ancient sage

[withinsilence]

Powerful message. I highly recommend his books.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=21bxAH6mHc8

[withinsilence]

"Death is an undulation in consciousness, how does one know its alive unless it was once dead?"
Alan Watts