Do YOU have fear of DEATH?

Spirituality
#21

I’m not a BJJ guy but I have a long history in Martial Arts (over 30 years) and it does not have to hurt, but it can. Squeeze hard enough and you can crush a wind pipe… I wonder if this yogi thought of that

However, although I do fear death, if said yogi jump up and tried to choke me those years of Martial Arts training would have gone on autopilot and I would have broken something if his, basically whatever I could reach, and frankly (IMO) he deserved it (I worked in some pretty violent jobs in my past so that is not an empty statement - been there done that). What he did was very wrong, sorry that is how I feel and that is all.

#22

I haven’t read the whole thread. But I thought of one thing.

First I just have to say. CityMonk, you seem to have a quite colorful life. First I thought… “only in America” :slight_smile: but I don’t know. Maybe not :slight_smile: whatever.

The thing I thought of was that I think there is two sides of this here.

It’s a difference between being threatened to dead (like you there) and die by natural causes. Like in agressive cancer or something.

I think I’m not afraid to die, but I think everybody should resist if we were threatened to death just like that.

#23

[QUOTE=Terje;31783]I think your guru is just a little crazy but then again, it’s not my problem, is it? :slight_smile:

Do I fear death (in the philosophical sense now, I mean)? Not really. And that’s got more to do with the fact that it’s unavoidable than whether or not I have a soul that will somehow live after my body dies.
:)[/QUOTE]

Yes, you right he is absolutely crazy. all people are crazy in their way.

This was exactly my point. …We all talk beautiful philosophical talks about how we understand that we should not fear, that is is unavoidable… sooner or later… We talk like we know what we are talking about, but then we REALLY face it we freak out so bad that it becomes shameful to recall all what you have thought and what you have said about it.

#24

No dying - the illness / accident whatever etc

#25

I think I’m not that scared of death. I’ve been choked out a couple of times, and I didn’t mind. I’ve also had some pretty bad accidents when snowboarding or skating. I couple of months back I was on a crazy bus in the Himalayas, it sure was dangers, but I didn’t mind.

I do not welcome unnecessary injury or pain, and In the few situations where I have been threaten, I defend myself. But that’s not from fear of death, rather because I’m afraid that I few good punches to the face can cause me lifelong brain damage, and mess up my life.

I find that life is much more scary. So many options. So much going on all the time that you miss. So much of your own potential being lost or not realized.

I find death sort of comforting. To know that one day, all this will be over. No more pressure.

#26

[QUOTE=CityMonk;31729]Just a story about my spiritual endeavor.

I had a conversation with one guru. We were talking about the fear of death. I was saying that I do understand that the body will die off and something will remain, SO I wont die completely…nothing is important…and things like that

We had this nice conversation for about an hour.

Suddenly he got behind my back and started to choke me. I thought he is joking, but after few seconds I’ve realized that he is absolutely seriously want to choke me to death. And he asked: do you afraid now?? I got terrified, I got so scared that I’m going to die now! I started to fight back and… fainted…

After few minutes I was awake and he was sitting in front of me like nothing has happened and wanted to continue the conversation. I did not want to talk at all…I said so many beautiful words about fearless me:), and everything I have said was a LIE, total hypocrisy from my side…but I really believed that I’m NOT FEAR TO DIE…[/QUOTE]

I would a punched that rascal right in the face.

As Patanjali says: Even in the wise the clinging to life is powerful.

If someone attacks me I’m going to defend myself.

You know how much of a pain in the hind end it is to come back?

While I certainly realize that it’s just a thing, happens to all, if someone is threatening your life your going to fight - usually.

The best way to go would be when the time is right, in full consciousness, under your own power of yoga.

No conflict then.

I think the conflict would arise due to the Notion of Unfinished Business or regrets.

#27

Excellent post.

Myself? Yes, I fear death.
I believe I would also fight back, in fact, I wouldn’t have waited while I thought he was joking. I fully believe I would sooner rip his eyes out or attempt to rip his balls off (what other target area would be equally reliable?) than let him choke me until I lost consciousness.

I do however accept death. I don’t see it as an evil, I see it as a certain eventuallity. It will come and I am not certain of my continued conscious existance, in fact I believe it to be doubtful. But it will come.

A few years ago I appeared to be very reckless because I was wrestling with this topic in my mind, I would occasionally do little stunts to prove to myself that I was calm and unaffraid in the face of death. Then I realised… that need, the need to prove it indicated beyond a shadow of a doubt that before any test of myself I had already failed, that I needed proof meant there was doubt in me, there was fear in me.

I still fear death.

I would suggest though that to not fight back in the situation you were in would be a greater mistake than to panic.

#28

Hah! Yesterday I watched russian movie The Island (2006). Absolutely fantastic and highly spiritual. May be will not be understandable to mass.

Anyways, one episode (I relate it a lot to my original question) from the film was:
The monk locked himself in the room with the church minister and put the room on fire. Minister got scared to death. Monk opened the room and when they got some fresh air the minister said something like: “I got scared to death! I thought I going to die. Thank you for the experience. You showed me how little [U]faith[/U] I have”.

#29

We don’t want faith.

We want knowledge.

Knowledge comes through the yogas.

#30

Death my snatch you any time. What, you thought you will die of old age ? That’s just wishful thinking on your part. :smiley:

PS. No wonder death is a taboo subject. And religion too. And sex. And financial income. Society is clearly very defensive about anything what might threathen the illusion of wellness. It’s allways someone else who’s corrupt, who’s watching porn, or fooling around, who’s stealing an naming that business, who’s selfish. When someone learns to play the whole charade well, then we call him/her a succesful person.

#31

[quote=CityMonk;31729]I had a conversation with one guru. We were talking about the fear of death. I was saying that I do understand that the body will die off and something will remain, SO I wont die completely…nothing is important…and things like that

…but I really believed that I’m NOT FEAR TO DIE…[/quote]

Hi CM,

I think you raise actually two very different issues for me here. As per the title of this thread you asked: Do you have a fear of death? My answer would be no.

However, in the quote above you end off with… you do not fear to die. To die is actually for me different from death, as to die means the process which will result in death and to be honest I fear this process of dying, I fear the suffering that might go with it.

Personally I think most people confuse fear of death with fear of the process of dying.

If I had a say in how I would like to die, in my sleep, peacefully without me even knowing that I am dying. :slight_smile: (Hope the Divine takes note of my order. :slight_smile: )

#32

Your pain would be such a wonderful offering. You sure you want to rob the gods of that ? :slight_smile:

But joke aside, truly, a perfected master will shed his dust like the snake sheds his skin. One day, one day will manage.

Hi dear Pandara.

To bodhisatva, I apologise for my former post adressed to you. At your age you indeed need to have other concerns.

#33

I am actually looking forward to the experience. It sounds like a beautiful experience. So no I am not afraid. In any case I am in no hurry to die :smiley:

#34

The fifth klesha,supposedly the hardest one talks about aversion to even death. It is said that even the most realised of yogis often have a problem with this one.Over-dienitifcation perhaps with this body-mind in this life.

Abhinivesha; clinging to life.

Fear of suffering. I think if you do yoga and you see that white tunnel just as your consciousness fades. I think you may well be less afraid of what might happens next.I think the spiritual training may well make you less afraid… of the [U]unknown[/U].That feeling of apprehension. You should be more able to just let-go… and say ‘hey it does’nt matter i can leave this place’.

If you’ve had near death experience.

The clinging could be positive, ie it’s not your time, but it could also be abhinevesha(unable to let-go completely of this mind/body complex, over-identification with this life).

The pain & the suffering,that might accompany dying, may well be another issue.

You hear of yogis talking about going out while in mahasamadhi ,in asana or lotus or whatever. In fact i rermember one student being told by his teacher. Just remember that you will be dying in a state of bliis.That’s what you’ll have to look forward to.It won’t be grey or unattractive. It could have been Sivananda to Satyananda during the period he was his disciple.Anyway,I’m pretty sure he is quite well known.
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#35

[QUOTE=Techne;31737]
So, you’ve decided your formerly held belief was (in your words) a lie. What does the death of that lie allow to live in you now?[/QUOTE]

well, the thing is that I was on my recovery from drugs at that time. He asked me why I do drugs, and I said because I want to die… so he decided to show me what I’m not telling the truth I guess,… because if I really wanted to die, I would not mond him choking me:???:

regarding fear of death in general… I would say that we are the only one creatures on the earth that know that this day will come…

#36

It sounds to me more like your reaction was a desire to NOT die right NOW, not necessarily a fear of death. Of course, only you experienced it and know what you felt at the time. But it makes sense that one can not have a fear of the dying, but can have an aversion to the idea of dying when you aren’t ready yet!
I certainly would be frightened to realize that someone ELSE was choosing when I am going to die, and they have no right to that.

#37

I can’t help but think that your Guru acted recklessly and dangerously. YOu could have been seriously hurt. Perhaps he could have done something less violent to allow you to get in touch with your deeper feelings. I don’t know? I hope you are OK now CityMonk.

Me, I really have never feared death. But I do agree with Pandara in that it is the process, meaning the suffering, that is of concern. No one wants to be in agony or pain.

#38

The guru was simply showing her the truth directly rather than giving her an intellectual argument. We learn through direct experience not intellecutalizing.

If anybody says they are not afraid of death then let them face it directly and the truth will come out if they are afraid of it or not.

#39

Fearing death is a survival mechanism. Claiming one does not fear death, is like a man claiming they do not want a hand job off a gorgeous 18 year old… why do my words not have the same poeticism as all the other great minds?? lol

#40

If you live a good life, you won’t fear death. Again, I think it is the process and suffering that most people fear.

Adam, take a poetry class! lol You know I love you, but…???