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Afraid of death?

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Because scoundrel clergy have conned them into being so. It keeps pews and collection plates full.

Without religion, there would be nothing to fear.

Religion is so people can learn not to be afraid, One must make difference in religion and greedy humns who think only of wealth. Spirituality has nothing to do with money
 

shunyadragon

shunyadragon
Premium Member
Why some are people afraid of death?

There is an inherent natural desire to survive as an individual of all living creatures, though even in humans as well as many animals one may be compelled to give ones life for the survival of the group or community.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
For most, what lies beyond the death of the mind an body is unknown. Many are afraid of the unknown

Also, to @Fool's point, many people are in their comfort zone in this reality and have difficulty with change.

But life is full of suffering, its that comfort? I understand others see life differently then me ofcourse :)
I dont say i longing for death, but i have no worries about it.
And i think more people are afraid of the part before death, not death it self. But maybe i am wrong on that.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
I think it's mostly denial, not fear. When my father passed at 91 or so, a cousin said he was too young to be 'taken'. I didn't say anything, but certainly felt like saying, "What? You've got to be kidding! Too young?" Even doctors will say, "We lost him/her." A question comes to mind ... Did you really think you could keep him alive forever. Lost? To what?

The sooner we come to grips with 'Anybody. Any time. Anywhere." the better. We should never be surprised.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Why are some people afraid of death?

I see it like this. There is a difference in not being afraid of death and not being afraid of the idea of death. The former is our body's natural reaction to the decline of life. The latter is based on the idea that once one accepts death, their is no mental pain. I like how woody Allen puts it: it's not that I am afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens. I think we can train ourselves not to be afraid with the idea of death. We can't control our body and mind else we wouldn't have all these illnesses, pains, mental health disorders, etc.

One last quote from an RF member:

My life has been pretty good so far. I am now afraid of death.

Probably because of who he will leave behind. Death is a seperation of that. So, why are people afraid of death? Because they are naturally attached to life. It makes sense to be attached to something we know. Children do it. Adults do it. Seniors do it.

But, edit, accepting the idea of death comes from experience, age, and most likely ones religious belief. I see a difference; but, those who say they aren't afraid, I don't think they do. It's a mental way to block that quick anxiety. Natural.

In some cultures they don't have the same view of the idea of death as others. Nothing wrong with that. Different things help one handle death. When it arrives, though, I don't think anyone can avoid going through the grieving process. If you aren't afraid, why do you grieve?
 
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Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
In some cultures they don't have the same view of the ideal of death as others. Nothing wrong with that. Different things help one handle death. When it arrives, though, I don't think anyone doesn't go through the grieving process. If you aren't afraid, why do you grieve.

Good point about culture. For some it is a time to rejoice, not grieve. I haven't grieved in the western sense for quite some time. A quiet reflection, and fond remembrance, sure. My brother and I had the honours of doing eulogies for both parents. Dad's especially, was more like a comedy act than a bawling session.

In mystic Hinduism, it's a time to rejoice. Going for moksha, or getting a fresh new body. Both cases are far better than inhabiting this withered bag of bones. Who doen't enjoy putting on a new shirt? Of course when you identify the physical body as being you, it's much harder.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
ooops
Good point about culture. For some it is a time to rejoice, not grieve. I haven't grieved in the western sense for quite some time. A quiet reflection, and fond remembrance, sure. My brother and I had the honours of doing eulogies for both parents. Dad's especially, was more like a comedy act than a bawling session.

In mystic Hinduism, it's a time to rejoice. Going for moksha, or getting a fresh new body. Both cases are far better than inhabiting this withered bag of bones. Who doen't enjoy putting on a new shirt? Of course when you identify the physical body as being you, it's much harder.

That makes sense. I'm grieving now but still haven't got to the point of knowing rebirth. I think it's a trust issue too. I see a lot of acceptance and less ego (in my view) when we dont have different afterlife whether it be changing new shirts or getting one eternal wrinkled free one.

I see rebirth in the cycle of life but to accept it, it reminds me of this Are you Afraid of Happiness? | Robert Holden, Ph.D. maybe some of us are afraid of happiness. In the U.S. there is a lot of depression due to working a lot and loosing what we have when we dont. Not all states (it's not U(S)niversal, but there nonetheless. It depends on where one lives.

For some reason knowing my aunt is not here and won't be here is more comfortable than knowing she has another shirt or an eternal one. A lot of people have the afterlife-view. Don't get me wrong, I'm afraid of death, but then I don't have methods to relieve that fear just find ways to accept it. Helps me grieve better.
 
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Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Actually when one has let go fully of the attachment to fear then there are no rection to those things that fear normally arise. atleast that how it happen to me in my practice.

It takes lifetimes. The Buddha didn't achieve that state until thousands of lifetimes of practice. Think of a monastic. There is no attachment to the internet, loved ones, etc. No attachment to pain Nor pleasure. But they aren't Buddhas either. Maybe that's the closest we would be accepting the idea of death. The Buddha didn't say there was no pain. I bet he was afraid. Just accepted he got pain from the arrow and instead of asking about its nature, he made the Act of taking it out without needing to understand it first.
 

Audie

Veteran Member
But life is full of suffering, its that comfort? I understand others see life differently then me ofcourse :)
I dont say i longing for death, but i have no worries about it.
And i think more people are afraid of the part before death, not death it self. But maybe i am wrong on that.

No, life is not "full" of suffering. Why pretend that it is?
 
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