How does fear of death affect our world view? Is it the driving force for all of our addictions, anger and anxiety?

3/3/2014

I have often wondered if it isn't the fear of death -- the ultimate loss of control that is at the heart of our anxiety, fear, frustrations and addictions.

As far as we know we are the only species that is aware of its own mortality. I believe unless we make peace with our mortality, we can never fully live. All of the world's spiritual / religious traditions have addressed this fear. What spiritual teachings have helped you come to a sense of peace about your own mortality?

8 Comments

Vinny Verderosa

3/3/2014 07:08:31 am

1972 I was searching for an experience that would be consistent and would be all way a love a high a peace . I was told my dear friend that he met someone in India who showed him that place that resides inside..I rush to experience it. It was and still is the thing that has been spoken of and revealed by masters throughout the ages .My teachers name is Prem Rawat.
His website is Words of Peace.org to find out how million of people have found that place within themselves.peace

MaryLynn

3/3/2014 09:55:20 am

Vinny, Do you meditate or sit in contemplation/reflection on a daily basis? How do you access this place of peace within yourself?

MARGARET B. PRAVATA

3/3/2014 01:08:15 pm

"WHEN GOD'S WE THINK WE ARE WE FAIL THE MULTITUDE THE MOST" M.B.P.....".IN POETRY SPEAKS THE SOUL EVERLASTING" M.B.P.....".POETIC AIR WAVES ARE THE VOICE OF GOD YOU JUST HAVE TO TUNE IN "...M.B.P.. ".WISDOM KNOWS HOW TO REPAY ... AN INSULT WITH A COMPLIMENT......A CRUELTY WITH A KINDNESS...A FROWN WITH A SMILE....FOR IT IS THE WISDOM OF THE HEART..M.B.P.

MARGARET B. PRAVATA

3/3/2014 01:17:42 pm

"HE ATE AND DRANK THE PRECIOUS WORDS, HIS SPIRIT GREW ROBUST; HE KNEW NO MORE THAT HE WAS POOR OR THAT HIS FRAME WAS DUST, AND THIS BEQUEST OF WINGS WAS BUT A BOOK ..WHAT LIBERTY A LOOSENED SPIRIT BRINGS!"....EMILY DICKENSON

MARGARET B.PRAVATA

3/3/2014 03:45:28 pm

"THOW SHALT NOT KILL"(QUOTED FROM BIBLE) "THE SPIRIT OF SINCERITY... ...THERE IS NEITHER A RIGHT WAY NOR A WRONG WAY , ONLY A SINCERE WAY... AS A PAINTER OBLIVIOUS TO PRAISE OR OBJECTION, A PAINTING SINCERE"...M.B.P. " SO LET US PRAY OUR IMAGINATIONS BE GUIDED BY DIVINE LAW, ELST WE CULTIVATE THE SEEDS OF DAMNATION"...M.B.P.

William Mayor

3/4/2014 08:22:36 am

NDE's give a strong suggestion that life continues beyond the physical, yet we fear physical death. This fear has become increasingly true in the twentieth century and into the current one. In fact it would seem that death was not feared for most of human existence but rather accepted. The problem is not our awareness of our potential physical death, but of our unawareness of what seems to lie beyond.

As for our various anxieties, fears, etc. I tend to go along with the psychiatrists who suggest that these have nothing to do with anticipation of our physical demise but everything to do with our perception of a self that only the individual can see. There are numerous ancient myths/stories that recognize this problem that we "educated" modern people simply ignore or dismiss as foolish fables.

MaryLynn

3/4/2014 09:08:07 am

William, I agree that our fear of death stems from a very limited view of who we really are and what we are a part of -- which I believe many of the wisdom traditions address. Perhaps in this age when so many are turning away from the stories passed down through our spiritual traditions -- there is greater about disappearing, not existing after death. A number of times when I was in nature alone I actually experienced a "knowing" that I always was and always will be. I experienced a sense of connectedness to all that every existed and ever will exist. It was quite powerful and I felt completely at peace.

MARGARET B. PRAVATA

3/6/2014 08:57:11 pm

"Death is but a cocoon which we metamorphoses life in the process of God's plan ...M.B.P.

How does fear of death affect our world view? Is it the driving force for all of our addictions, anger and anxiety?

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