Is death really our enemy? (Earth, mystic, Buddhism, Buddhism)

Francine · #1 01-02-2008, 08:02 PM

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:[26] "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death". Yet without death, wealth and power would continue to accumulate in fewer and fewer immortal hands, and old ideas would never give way to new ones. Without death, people would not feel the vitality of living that the very brevity our our life stimulates, and the Earth would continue to fill up with people until everyone was eating those funny green graham crackers Charlton Heston found out about.

Whether death is destroyed now or at the end of time, it is not really our enemy, no more than pain is our enemy. Pain is a defense mechanism, just as the fear of death is. People who cannot feel pain rarely live to be twenty years old, and those who feel we should wage a war against Demon Pain are as ignorant as those who mistake (as the slings and arrows of an enemy) the natural fear of death which is ingrained in all living things to cause them to avoid risky behaviors.

MysticSang'ha · #2 01-02-2008, 08:03 PM

Not in my school of Buddhism. In fact, it's our greatest teacher.

Peace,
Mystic

Nanda · #3 01-02-2008, 08:14 PM

Who knows? The only thing we can be certain of as far as death is concerned is that we're all going to die; what that really means is anyone's guess.

Bouncing Ball · #4 01-03-2008, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanda

The only thing we can be certain of as far as death is concerned is that we're all going to die

Says who?

I have never ever died before nor see me dying have you?

Nanda · #5 01-03-2008, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bouncing Ball

Says who?

I have never ever died before nor see me dying have you?

Wow, I was going under the assumption that because everything living eventually dies, we would all die too, but you found the flaw in my logic. I guess you're going to live forever.

Willamena · #6 01-03-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanda

Wow, I was going under the assumption that because everything living eventually dies, we would all die too, but you found the flaw in my logic. I guess you're going to live forever.

Well, you're right: it is an assumption.

Nanda · #7 01-03-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willamena

Well, you're right: it is an assumption.

I'd say it's more of an educated guess.

Papersock · #8 01-03-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bouncing Ball

Says who?

I have never ever died before nor see me dying have you?

The odds are pretty good that you will die too.

YmirGF · #9 01-03-2008, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticSang'ha

Not in my school of Buddhism. In fact, it's our greatest teacher.

I agree. I learned some decades ago to use "death" as an advisor, as it is relentlessly stalking us throughout our days. In my view it is better to be a peace with death, make it your friend, rather than try to avoid the inevitable. Plus, it isn't like everyone has NEVER died before, lol. In my thinking, we have all died more times than we would ever care to remember. One of the key elements in each incarnation is how each incarnation views its own demise and how it handles its approach. To be terribly cheery, with every moment that passes, you are one moment closer to your death. One may as well just get used to it, lol.