Despite it’s inevitability, death is not part of our everyday lives.
Our society purposefully ignores two things: sex and death. So they
haunt us forever; we never really deal with them.
Death is seen as The Enemy. At the back of most people’s minds, death
is not going to happen to them. And if it has to, they want to die
peacefully and without pain and distress. The fact is most people do
not die peacefully and without distress.The fact is most people do not
die peacefully and without distress.
Not only do we not live healthily we do not train for death; we live as
though it is not going to happen. Yet the fear of dying is always with us.
If you are going to take an inevitable examination, you study for it. If
you are going in for a competition, you train. We study, train or are
trained for almost everything except the most important things: sex,
parenting, and death.
Life after death is a well-documented subject. Even the leading edge of
science says it’s possible. There are many reports from people, and books
about people who have returned after clinically dying for a short time
— Near Death Experiences. Their reports contain many similarities: life
continues, just the form changes, and the new form is more fun.
A lot more fun.
It is said that just before we die our life passes before us. All our life
experiences are presented to us. What is unfinished becomes regret. Our
unconscious actions, our self-centered decisions are shown to us for our
consideration. There is no judgment to this, as there is no judger — just
facts are presented for us to consider.
We consider the many things in our lives that we have done or not done
– what we would like to be different. Our distress, regret, happiness or
peace – even our death – is created from the balance of what we wish to do
and actually do.
If you are reading this, you are still alive and in your body — so there
is still time to balance your life. You can still die peacefully and without
regret. Better still, you can live peacefully and without regret, and more
pleasant and happy way of being.
So, what to do? First, don’t judge yourself for anything you have, or have not
done in the past. It is done and gone. Start a new life, now. If there is
anything from the past that you can correct, take care of it.
Then, the big one — let go of your complaints. Instead of looking at things as
if they have gone wrong, or could be better, be grateful. Very grateful, for
what is. Be joyful for what is. Be generous. Celebrate.
Next on the agenda: completion. What are your regrets? What have you not done
that you would like to do? Do it. Go there. Meet them. Buy it. Complete.
Then start to study the inevitable. Read books on death. Go to funerals. Go to
the terminally ill hospital wards. Talk to people who have clinically died and
returned. Stare death in the face. What is death? Who are you?
Above all, don’t take it seriously. When you meet the people who have died and
come back you will find that they are not serious about it — in fact many of
them wish they had not had to come back!
I know the tendency: even if you agree with what is written here, other things
seem more important than spending time studying death — until it is too late.
Although you may not think this is a fun subject, death is inevitable. And you
can find the time and energy to prepare for it now – while you are still well
and fit enough.
So, be grateful, enjoy life, and go for everything that tickles your fancy.
Enjoy!