Since the beginning of time it seems that there has always been some kind of speculation as to what happens when we die. Scientist have their theories on what happens, theologians have theirs. It’s hard to really perceive how we would feel in such an event since we have no frame of reference for that type of experience. Fear of the unknown is not separate from fear of dying.
If you have read some of my other articles on how the mind works and how we identify with ourselves you can kind of get a sense of what the death process might entail. I previously discussed the mind and it’s functioning, and that there are thoughts in our mind but we are not the thinker. Through various spiritual practices we can perceive the duality of the mind and the witness position and can stop the adhesive qualities of the thoughts but I want to discuss this further as it relates to potentially what happens when we die.
You may notice every now and then you get lost in thought. We’ve all day dreamed at one point or another. What you also notice is that there is an external element which brings you back to attention. For example, you could be lost in thought about an event that recently happened and someone taps you on the shoulder to bring you out of it. Now you’re brought back to frontal consciousness and giving your attention to the source of your distraction, the person tapping you on the shoulder. What you may not realize is that you are your attention. You cannot perceive beyond your attention because it is you. Wherever your attention goes you go and are immersed.
With that said, if your body were to die then what would be able to intervene in your getting stuck in thought? With no physical means to distract you (no physical body), you would be forced to burn out all of these emotions and desires as the attention sticks to them. Yes, I know this is a horrible prospect. I think I remember some movie where the devil told the lead character “hell’s about repetition”. When something emotional happens to us how many times do we go over the different scenarios of how the situation could go or should go and this is with a body, imagine if you didn’t have one! We take for granted our body and its role as a focal point of our attention but don’t think much about if it weren’t available.
So, what can we do? Based on this argument regarding what may happen to you in death is largely due to how you are living your life. If you have a great deal of built up emotions , then the emotions need to be let go. It’s the same way for you now, if you are upset about something you think about it until it no longer bothers you or the emotional energy burns itself out. The difference here being you now have a physical means of distraction were as when you potentially die you won’t.
As always, I hope you enjoyed the article and it got you thinking. If you like it why not resteem it so others can enjoy it as well
Very interesting post really eye opener .Thanks for sharing
Wow very thought provoking article! I look forward to reading up on your previous articles.
Wow! That was deep. I have a new appreciation for life after I had my wonderful, now 3 year old daughter. I didnt care much about dying before, not that I wanted to or anything, it just wasnt a worry. Now I find myself trying my hardest to be healthy and conscious in my everyday activities. I need to be present as long as possible for her sake. I want to see so much more of what life has to offer. Thanks for sharing your perspective on it. :)
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I wrote some other articles along the same lines that might give this one some more context if you're into these sorts of discussions.
Well, I have followed you and Ill go have a look. Thanks :)
Thinking,however, can be attributed to the brain (physical). Meditation till you are but self, is very beneficial , in the physical world. This is because the things that affect us emotionally are still attribute of the physical world. If there is an after life, then we won't operate with respect to the priorities of the physical world in all totality.
Thinking is a of the mind not the brain, just as your computer is not the internet. Also, your dreams effect you emotionally and they are not the physical world. I wrote some other blogs on similar subjects that might give some context to this one if this sort of subject interests you.
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