The complex of problems dealing with fear is an all-pervasive problem of the world we live in. It is very fascinating to know that the old indian philosophies e.g the vedas call this material world the „world of fear“ in opposition to the divine world Vaikhunta, the „world without fear“. The phenomenon of fear, „to be afraid of something“ is considered to be the distinctive criterion between the divine and the martial world in the indian philosophy.
It’s not about to duck out of fear, its about to overcome it. Maybe first of all in a prestage – to see through it. If we take a look at what people are afraid of in general, we’ll discover something very interesting. There are studies about fear and scientists have investigated this issue. The conclusion is: All individual fears, all different fears (regardless of what someone is afraid of) disembogue in the fear of death. That’s the primeval fear, the source of fear of all other fears. Formulated the other way round: If you try and achieve to eliminate the fear of death, you don’t have to be afraid of anything else anymore.
But where does this fear of death come from?
At the very least because of uncertainty. And uncertainty in turn comes from lack of knowledge. And the lack of knowledge in our culture roots in a very simple problem: People don’t have the courage to ask those question about death and mortality.
What is the deal with death? What happens afterwards?
Only the precursor of death, to be getting old and the slow but steady resolving of the body are quite honestly tabooed. It does not fit into our society which is orientated towards power, fitness and youth. That simply doesn’t fit in the picture. As a consequence there is fear instead.
This topic is handled differently in other cultures, the questions about death are not tabooed. If you ask questions about death and it’s opposite, the birth, you’ll get answers. It is simply part of it. In other cultural areas, religion and culture are designed to give answers to those questions.
In our cultural area you’re most likely fobbed off with this answer: ‘Noone knows it! No one knows about death, no one ever returned form the dead!‘
No one can tell you what it is and what happens after death. If you continue to drill ahead and ask those questions you won’t hear much. All you’ll hear is a story about an eternal heaven and an eternal hell. But no one can tell you exactly what it is and how it works.
You’ll find answers in the indian philosophies for example because death is a central topic there.
There’s also a very interesting quote by Sokrates (famous greek philosopher, 469 – 399 before christ): „The whole life is about to learn to die“.
What does it mean? Well, if you want to live properly, you have to understand what ‚death’ and ‚dying’ is all about. Otherwise you miss life. You miss to live and ‘find‘ your life.
If you deal with this topic – death – you’ll be able to slowly resolve the fear. I can’t say I’m completley free from fear. It would be an exaggeration to say I’m free from the fear of death. I’ll have to pass this exam when it’s my turn. Then it will be shown how much of it is true – what I believe and what I have said.
With every answer you get to your questions, with every insight you gain, with every question freed from taboos, the fear loses itself piece by piece. The more you face this topic, the more you’re freed from this fear.
Break those taboos, have the courage to ask those questions, have the courage to research and question it.
Form what I can tell: It works very well and you’ll be surprised about how many answers there actually are.
I’ve been dealing with this topic since the last 25 years. It was a shock experience when I was young and my grandfather died. I was 13. I can still remember it, it was a sunday morning, around 8:30 am and the phone rang and I was still in bed…. It was a changing point in my life. You can’t handle your emotions when you’re young. It was the first time I faced the ‘problem‘ of mortality. If you don’t experience it, you’ll never care. But that’s not the world we live in. We all have to deal with it at some point. Whether we like it or not.
I started reading books which didn’t really give me satisfying answers. They dealt with near-death experiences, so not really what I was looking for. As a young person you don’t ask much, you’re embarrassed, afraid…whom should you ask anyway? I even went to a psychologist when I was about 15 years old but cancelled it very early, that was definitely not the way to ‘solve this problem‘ and answer my questions.
Religion in our cultural area, specifically the catholic belief, didn’t have answers for me as well. You start to give up and I had nowhere else to go and no one else to ask. Until I started reading about occidental philosophy, specifically the vedas, the old indian wisdoms. Like I said in my introduction post: "You don't seek. You find." If you're interested in something, answers will pop up automatically, they come to you, in different ways. I’ve been studying different religions and reading books, about the world we see and about the world we don’t see.
I have met many different people, visionaries, seers, witches, fortune-tellers, clairvoyants, swamis, priests, monks, everything you can think of. And just as if you compare all religions you’ll always find those similarities, something they all have in common.
I’m very much into philosophy, not only the vedas. They have been a great point to start from though. I’d say I have a good foundation to talk about ‘life’‘. And I don’t just mean the things we use to see, I also mean everything we don’t or can’t see.
That was Part 1.
Thank you for taking the time to read it.
I decided to make different posts, just because its way too much for 1 post. Maybe 1 more, 2 more... not sure yet. There are different topics I’d like to talk about in detail and not just mention them casually.
Maybe you’ll pop in for the next part.
See you!
Dealing with much death in my life has made me learn that everyday is a gift, a gift that it is up to me to make the most out of. It is up to me to live a positive life in honor of all the people that I have lost in my life.
@ptmikesteem I'm getting the goose bumps, you nailed it! Thank you so much!
Being somewhat a nihilist, I think I'm somewhat lucky for not fearing it. Even my experience with death of the ego was fairly easy - i think it's rather beautiful actually. Or maybe because I've put my head into the topic of death since ~ 9-10 years old. But my experience with dmt certainly gave plenty of closure on the topic! Btw love your writing :)
Thanx @kevinwong, that makes me happy! You're lucky, wonderful. Even more fascinating that you talk about the death of the ego, that would also be a great topic to talk about :) Thanx again for your comment! Appreciate it!
Sasha: Interesting subject about life ,death and fear of it!
I have found a humorous Guru on the net : Sadhguru
he is very entertaining.
Just made a post about this man: https://steemit.com/life/@onesunbeingnow/souljourns-part-1-ethereal-energy-and-chakra-meditation
When we have lost relatives or friends, then felt the cold hand of death. But life goes on and does not think long on this subject ...
Do people fear death or the physical pain that is often associated with it...
In the Reinassance period, people had pictures like this on the wall to remember that we are all about to die and that we have to make the most of our lives!
A very interesting post, having been born into the catholic faith, once old enough to make up own mind about religion - fully rejected it. However the the eastern religions and philosophys are extremely interesting. Looking forward to reading more about your take on life and death - no point in fearing the one thing in life that is inevitable! Although I dislike the ageing process of the physical body very much!
Interesting post. Thank you.
You're welcome @team101!
Thank you
I would rather die instantly than live in fear. The idea of death is life's best kept secret because I can never experience death, I can only ever hear stories about it.
Hi @onesunbeingnow! I share your view to a certain extent although it sounds very drastic. But you're right in general :) Thank you!
That was a great read. I've been meditating for 10 years on and off and I've a good knowledge of Buddhist traditions (especially Vajrayana and Zen) although I'm not a religious person or follow any sort of ritual.
I've come to the realization of how rebirth and Anatta works and I'm truly convinced of its ultimate truth. I don't claim I'm enlightened by any means but I'm fairly certain I've gained a lot of insight. I think these concepts are so trivial that they don't even need scientific or empiric evidences. There's nothing that transcends life after death just as there's nothing before you develop your own ego, personality and identity. We born and die endlessly.
Now on the other hand Karma and how it affects this cycle seems completely elusive to me and from what I read, to the Buddha himself, my monkey mind still ponders and questions that. That's the real mystery for me at least. I even question its existence and it's where religion takes over philosophy in most eastern schools.
Hi @moonjelly! I think you might enjoy the upcoming posts :) Thank you very much!
Awesome, can't wait ;)
Nice article. Got me still deep thinking. I wrote this one that you might want to check out https://steemit.com/life/@tee-em/anarchist-reflections-on-literature-buddhism-s-8-verses-for-training-the-mind
Hi @tee-em! Cool, nice article, upvoted!
I could see the series entitled "the history of God" in she is tells the fear to the death, as a fear to the uncertainty, to it unexpected, and to things that know that going to pass but not know when. Many thanks for your contribution to the community UPVOTE, is a post amazing
Hi @steemreporter! Happy to see you like the post! I was thinking hard about a title, I think the one I chose is pretty neutral and points to a question: ‘Why are we here‘. I'll talk about it in my upcoming posts, would be great to have you with me again!
has my support
like ur writing @sascha , very interesting
Thank you @faraz!
@sascha
The fear of Death is cultural. Our views of death are shaped mostly by religion. Some religions, like in Aboriginal Australia, do not fear death as we do in the west.
We fear the unknown and what comes after.
Ironic, if we really believed in paradise, why are we so scared?
Hi @kyriacos! Thank you! You're right, it's all about dogmatic religious ‘beliefs‘. I'll talk about it in detail ‘what comes after‘. I don't believe in paradise myself and I'll try to explain why. Cheers!
Life is just too damn short to enjoy fully.
Hi @darthnava! Yes, life is short, no doubt. I think it's not always about joy though. We tend to connect joy to happiness, wealth, our environment, travels, beautiful sunsets and dinners, etc etc... and our cohabitants on this planet, children, partners, relatives. Joy is very important in life but there's more. I'll talk about it soon.:)
It is difficult to say whether there is a sense that would be afraid or accept death.
We can only speculate.
And wait.
We recently with a friend discussing the subject. And they came to the conclusion that we want to die without pain.
Laughed that this - our goal in life.
And if you think deeply, then it is possible to open a lot of interesting things for themselves.
After all, a person is afraid of pain. And all of medicine is based on how to get rid of the pain. Everything revolves around the pain. Whether it is physical or emotional (or worse - the spiritual pain).
And death, particularly for seriously ill people - it is getting rid of the pain. Of a kind. Alternative.
They're just tired of the pain and the survival instinct, which is incorporated in us - just leave the person.
A lot of books have been written about the fact that people have found immortality.
But is this really what the majority wants?
I have often heard people say - I want to die young.
Because I do not want to age. Because I do not want fear and pain.
There are all known genes. But not all know and understand how they work.
Initially - it's just information. As long as you do not access this information, it does not run any processes.
This means that each of us can and changing their genetics. This is not a myth.
So, I think that if a person wants to live happily ever after - it will.
Because mice being committed. And are capable of much. It should never be forgotten.
And we choose when we die.
It depends directly from our thoughts.
All of these questions are answered by studying Scientology.
Which not only explains them, but demonstrates how you can
experience/prove them for yourself .
Hi @jim-brown-ancap! Thank you. Even the teachings and practices of Scientology are based on eastern / occidental religions, religious beliefs and philosophies.
Really great article! For me, having out of body experiences completely removed any fear/anxiety concerning death. There's always an uncertainty of how things work, but much less so now.
That sounds fascinating @joeld! Never had any experiences like that. Happy to see 'you were allowed' to decrease your fear :) All the best!
There was a synchronicity with it as well, I started having these out of body experiences before a loved one passed away. It doesn't help with the pain of loss though. Death gives us this feeling of separation from our loved ones, and it might be the hardest part to deal with rather than fearing our own "mortality".
Nobody knows what happens when you're dead, nobody has ever come back, but the fear of death is used by most religions to control people. I surely hope their would be something after death, but most probably there isn't, so try to live life as best as you can, enjoy it to the utmost and try not let things overwhelm you. I think this is good advise but even though I am doling it out, I myself am not exactly following it. Everyone has to have his own experience and should not be following others, who have no more knowledge than him.
Thank you @gduran for this wonderful personal statement. Everyone is allowed to belief what he thinks is best for him. I'm sharing my experience, what I have learned during those years. I'd never say: This is it! And sure, fear is always a way to control someone. Maybe you are interested to pop in for the next post, I'll talk about more things than just ‘death‘.
Sure, I'm following you now, I think these topics are very interesting.
People come back, you've likely been here before you just have forgotten.
Randal, I have no problem with your belief perhaps you are right, who is to know. But the thing is no one can prove it, maybe you are sure this has happened but you cannot show it in a convincing manner, because as a norm humans do and should doubt everything about this subject. I really hope this is true and if you have proof that this is so, then I really am happy for you.
awesome writing @sascha
Thank you very much @tito-baron!
"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live."
Great quote, love it! Thank you @randal!
Philosophy is really all about learning how to die.
When I talk about death I mean it in a metaphorical/symbolical meaning. We are constantly bombarded by old dogmas, alienating ideologies, biases.
To live a full life, to live a life without fear, we must engage in Socratic dialogue of the self. Plato said it best in the Apology line 38b, "the unexamined life is not worth living." And so we when we question about patriarchy, white supremacy, about imperialism, about death, about everything; we must allow our old self to die from it, and reborne a new self. A self that is constantly trying to reach a status beyond the old.
Knowing how to die this way, just like what you've been doing brother, for 25 years you said you've been questioning the existential reality of death can bring you one step closer to serenity.
Very powerful post. One of my majors in college was religion, and it was amazing to read these ancient texts. Religion, especially Eastern thought, is very philosophical. Uncertainty is fine and humble. An atheist may look at a Christian and think his or her beliefs are childish. However, no matter what religion or philosophy one lives by, to accept that humanity does not have all the answers is reality. When one has all the answers, there is no room for growth. "First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is."
Nice text , if all energy in universe cant be destroyed it just transfers to another shape so thus life also goes to some other shape of energy . We the human beings are capable to do so much more but we are stuck in this circle of pain here on this lovely place called Earth. Our souls are here to make and gather greater knowledge and after death of body our soul or energy of life goes in to stream of collective knowledge .
I've been facing a lot of death around me lately. People, animals, articles about death. I get reminded about it on daily basis. And then I find this post ...death yet again.
I love the way you write and what you covered here. Keep going and I am now your follower!
nice topic
This was great! Im following you now because I'm really looking forward to the next part of this and your other posts
Thank you for sharing this material, I like what you posted.
Cool!
Thank you for this work
This is very interesting to read, I, myself is scared of death. We dont know whether theres heaven/hell, nor reincarnation but i always found myself crying because i have fear of dying. Who isnt, right?
For a moment, this made me think that we needed to learn the fact that "Everybody Dies". I think the more we think about it, our fear build up. Great story! Thank you for sharing!
I was an atheist from a very young age. I don't think I ever was religious as I was brought up in a Church of England way in Lancashire in the 1960's (born in 1961) which was not at all "devout". I remember asking my Dad who this "Devil" that we were told about at school was and he explained in a humorous way, as my younger brother helped himself to a biscuit out of the tin that we were not allowed in, but he was toddling and still to young to speak or understand, that the Devil was making him do it. I am 2 yrs older than my brother so I'm not sure how old I was exactly but I must have been quite young. This confirmed my suspicion that religion was a load of BS especially when a few short years later man went to the moon and didn't report anyone sitting on a cloud surrounded by angels.
I changed my mind sometime in my 20's after reading about quantum physics and the possibility of other dimensions. Although I can't claim to understand it fully it really does fascinate me. This coupled with reading about people who have had near death experiences has convinced me that we do live on as spiritual beings elsewhere after we die. I am still non religious though so I think the best description of me would be a pantheist or panentheist. I guess we'll never know for sure until we get there. Or not.
Once a man is no longer afraid of death, there is nothing you can do to him. Often the only power one can hold over such a man is the suffering of those he loves. Great post, I agree. I love what you're doing here, questioning everything is the way to find truth. Keep seeking, it will come to you.