Clear thinking 28 October 2007 http://www.relax7.com/.
What's at THE END of the Line! by Mike George
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Have you ever noticed that when you are in a joyful and happy state, when you are having the 'time of your life', the one thing you are not conscious of is time passing. Which means that if you were in a continuously joyful and happy state you would spend your lifetime unaware of time…so to speak. But the reality is we are not joyous and happy all the time so we become acutely aware of time dragging. Some people are so miserable so much of the time that their lifetime feels more like a 'life sentence'!
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What seems to gradually make us more and more 'time conscious' is watching the gradual decay of our physical appearance each day in the bathroom mirror. This reflection plants and fertilizes the idea of aging and, even before the 'grey stuff' makes its first appearance, we are imagining the end. Our eventual demise is not just 'on the cards' as a possibility it seems to be 'in the cards' as a dead certainty…so to speak! Looking forward to times to come increasingly becomes reviewing times past.
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West and East have different ideas about aging. In the West, after retiring from work, we tend to potter about gently until its time to 'shuffle off our mortal coil'! In the East, old age is the time of wisdom and spiritual energy. With the family flown the nest, work responsibilities over, it is a period when we are most equipped to give to others the benefit of our experience. If we can absorb this lesson of the East it may help us to replace the all-too-common sense of gradual decline with a more accurate realization of the potential that remains to us still. Long after our physical powers have started to weaken we could be bringing to fruition the gathering of a lifetimes wisdom as a gift to all we meet. Our body may lose its lustre as we age, but experience can burnish our spirit to a gleam that is ever more radiant. Suddenly it's not a question of leaving a legacy after we go but of sharing it in a multitude of ways before we go.
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Yes, we do all have to face the reality of death but by the accounts of so many saints and sages down through the ages, the more we become spiritually aware the less significant this moment will seem. Have you noticed how elderly people seldom speak of death as fearful. Perhaps they have found an inner space called 'serene and mellow' or perhaps they are just tired and ready for what they believe will be a nice long rest. Perhaps after so many decades on the planet some spiritual awareness is absorbed into even the most materialistic of life's pilgrims.
Yes, we do all have to face the reality of death but by the accounts of so many saints and sages down through the ages, the more we become spiritually aware the less significant this moment will seem. Have you noticed how elderly people seldom speak of death as fearful. Perhaps they have found an inner space called 'serene and mellow' or perhaps they are just tired and ready for what they believe will be a nice long rest. Perhaps after so many decades on the planet some spiritual awareness is absorbed into even the most materialistic of life's pilgrims.
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To many the idea of death itself not a major issue, it is the manner of its accomplishment! If there is fear then it is often a fear of the amount of pain that may have to be endured as we slip through 'exit door' at the end of the 'corridor of life'. But while the exact moment of our departure is never known in advance it seems we can choose our own moment of dying, exit the physical body painlessly at the end and go in peace. This possibility is encapsulated by the saying, "If you die before you die then when you die you don't die". Otherwise known as 'dying alive'. It simply means there can be a conscious choice to acknowledge and let go of everything to which we are attached. Death, in this strand of spiritual wisdom, is painful only when we cling to attachments while at the same time being wrenched away from them. Toys and children remind us of this grasping at the objects of life and the tears that easily flow when life asks for the toys to be returned.
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If we can learn to let go before we are forced to let go we may be able to re-vision the 'end of the line' as a gliding return to home – a gradual, inevitable, flawless movement, an easy and natural farewell, the spirit's ascent to its resting place, regardless of whatever is happening both within our body or around our body at that time.
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Unfortunately death is frequently depicted not as a homecoming but as a shadow, a bruise on our daylight. But imagine trying to run away from your shadow: you will never succeed in shaking off this persistent companion, however fast you run, and you will exhaust yourself in the process. However, as an alternative scenario, imagine yourself walking contentedly into the shade cast by a large tree. Your shadow will disappear, and your eyes will adjust to the reduced levels of light. You will be able to see no less clearly. Ultimately the fear of death, like fear of spiders or mice, comes not from the nature of things, but from that illusion that lodges persistently in the mind, the illusion of time itself and therefore the illusion of an ending.
To many the idea of death itself not a major issue, it is the manner of its accomplishment! If there is fear then it is often a fear of the amount of pain that may have to be endured as we slip through 'exit door' at the end of the 'corridor of life'. But while the exact moment of our departure is never known in advance it seems we can choose our own moment of dying, exit the physical body painlessly at the end and go in peace. This possibility is encapsulated by the saying, "If you die before you die then when you die you don't die". Otherwise known as 'dying alive'. It simply means there can be a conscious choice to acknowledge and let go of everything to which we are attached. Death, in this strand of spiritual wisdom, is painful only when we cling to attachments while at the same time being wrenched away from them. Toys and children remind us of this grasping at the objects of life and the tears that easily flow when life asks for the toys to be returned.
.
If we can learn to let go before we are forced to let go we may be able to re-vision the 'end of the line' as a gliding return to home – a gradual, inevitable, flawless movement, an easy and natural farewell, the spirit's ascent to its resting place, regardless of whatever is happening both within our body or around our body at that time.
.
Unfortunately death is frequently depicted not as a homecoming but as a shadow, a bruise on our daylight. But imagine trying to run away from your shadow: you will never succeed in shaking off this persistent companion, however fast you run, and you will exhaust yourself in the process. However, as an alternative scenario, imagine yourself walking contentedly into the shade cast by a large tree. Your shadow will disappear, and your eyes will adjust to the reduced levels of light. You will be able to see no less clearly. Ultimately the fear of death, like fear of spiders or mice, comes not from the nature of things, but from that illusion that lodges persistently in the mind, the illusion of time itself and therefore the illusion of an ending.
.
In modern life (and especially in working life), we are programmed to believe that time is precious in itself - one of the reasons why death can so easily come to be seen as a threat. We think of ourselves, misguidedly, as citadels under siege, knowing that we cannot hold out; that we must give up our treasures to the enemy. Hence the saying 'they fought to the death' applies not only to a heroes tale but to those who fight and struggle against the inevitable to the very bitter end. But it need not be made so difficult. How interesting and even comforting it is to hear from so many counselors and companions who are 'with' those during the dying process. They tell us of how there was a moment, just before the end, when they 'let go', when they seemed to make peace with themselves and with what was happening. They report on how a quiet and powerful serenity took the place of a painful struggle against the inevitable, against letting go.
.
Misconceptions about time also explain why so many people are unprepared for retirement - the sudden change from 'time famine' to 'time abundance' is experienced as psychic shock. But in fact if we think of time as simply the medium in which we regain spiritual awareness, the road along which we travel for a while, then at journey's end we will not feel the loss of any commodity. And like any journey, including the one to work every day, we start out from home and eventually return home. Life's journey can be seen in a similar light and our return home is as inevitable as the setting sun. We are returning to the source, laden with spiritual riches in joyful abundance.
.
It seems that the 'great teachers' who taught that 'death is an illusion' also taught that the realization of our spiritual identity brings with it an awareness of our eternity. You may have noticed that even in life there are no conclusions. Nothing 'real' ends. Objects, including our own bodies, do decay but the energy of our material costume just changes its form and reappears as some thing else!All events are only seen as isolated events because of our perception and that's because we have a need to deal with 'one thing at a time', otherwise it would appear that everything is one great big ALL that is happening at the same time so to speak! Conversations continue in minds long after mouths have stopped talking.
.
The 'big match' may come to an end when the final whistle goes but the lives of the players doesn't. Deep down we sense there is only a continuous flow, a river of unending, infinite possibilities. If we can see our life as living in such a flowing light then the idea of a conclusion is seen for what it is, an illusion. Death then becomes a pause, just a coma, not in a life sentence but in one long, continuous, beautifully expressed, sentence that living is.
.
It becomes just a brief transition, an interlude between chapters. This feeling of continuity then frees us from fear and our dignity and poise are restored. And besides if someone offered us the opportunity to live for five hundred years in our current body who would accept it? In that light death could be seen as a blessing. Combined with the reality of our eternity it becomes simply a moment to refresh ourselves and set of on a new adventure.
.
From the spiritual point of view, when we choose to 'die alive', which simply means a life of non attachment, we can cheat the death that comes with physical decay. We have already let go before it is time to 'let go'. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust is just the stuff of our bodies returning to earth but we are not ash and dust.
.
When we realise that spirit is what we are we are liberated in life and therefore liberated from death. This freedom is the only window through which the breeze of real happiness and joy can enter. Only then, when the time comes will we know the moment to move on to the next chapter, to that new adventure. Only then will we be able to move on as effortlessly as moving from our living room to our bedroom at the end of the day. In that moment we may know death as it really is, not the end of the line just a 'pause' on the line with no end. In the words (approx) of Williams Blakes 'ship on the horizon' metaphor for the dying process, those watching the ship sailing away over the horizon shout, "There she goes". While at the very same moment others or a far shore are shouting, "Here she comes".
.
Question: What is your ides/concept of death?
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Reflection: Imagine you are offered the chance to live for 500 years, would you accept it? If not why not? If so why so?
.
Action: Consciously identify those things/relationships to which you are most attached, which seem to 'give' you the will to live and visualise them dissolving into the background..
.
Mike George is an author of several books. If you would like to subscribe (free) to his weekly Clear Thinking article send an email to mike@relax7.com or visit www.relax7.com
In modern life (and especially in working life), we are programmed to believe that time is precious in itself - one of the reasons why death can so easily come to be seen as a threat. We think of ourselves, misguidedly, as citadels under siege, knowing that we cannot hold out; that we must give up our treasures to the enemy. Hence the saying 'they fought to the death' applies not only to a heroes tale but to those who fight and struggle against the inevitable to the very bitter end. But it need not be made so difficult. How interesting and even comforting it is to hear from so many counselors and companions who are 'with' those during the dying process. They tell us of how there was a moment, just before the end, when they 'let go', when they seemed to make peace with themselves and with what was happening. They report on how a quiet and powerful serenity took the place of a painful struggle against the inevitable, against letting go.
.
Misconceptions about time also explain why so many people are unprepared for retirement - the sudden change from 'time famine' to 'time abundance' is experienced as psychic shock. But in fact if we think of time as simply the medium in which we regain spiritual awareness, the road along which we travel for a while, then at journey's end we will not feel the loss of any commodity. And like any journey, including the one to work every day, we start out from home and eventually return home. Life's journey can be seen in a similar light and our return home is as inevitable as the setting sun. We are returning to the source, laden with spiritual riches in joyful abundance.
.
It seems that the 'great teachers' who taught that 'death is an illusion' also taught that the realization of our spiritual identity brings with it an awareness of our eternity. You may have noticed that even in life there are no conclusions. Nothing 'real' ends. Objects, including our own bodies, do decay but the energy of our material costume just changes its form and reappears as some thing else!All events are only seen as isolated events because of our perception and that's because we have a need to deal with 'one thing at a time', otherwise it would appear that everything is one great big ALL that is happening at the same time so to speak! Conversations continue in minds long after mouths have stopped talking.
.
The 'big match' may come to an end when the final whistle goes but the lives of the players doesn't. Deep down we sense there is only a continuous flow, a river of unending, infinite possibilities. If we can see our life as living in such a flowing light then the idea of a conclusion is seen for what it is, an illusion. Death then becomes a pause, just a coma, not in a life sentence but in one long, continuous, beautifully expressed, sentence that living is.
.
It becomes just a brief transition, an interlude between chapters. This feeling of continuity then frees us from fear and our dignity and poise are restored. And besides if someone offered us the opportunity to live for five hundred years in our current body who would accept it? In that light death could be seen as a blessing. Combined with the reality of our eternity it becomes simply a moment to refresh ourselves and set of on a new adventure.
.
From the spiritual point of view, when we choose to 'die alive', which simply means a life of non attachment, we can cheat the death that comes with physical decay. We have already let go before it is time to 'let go'. Ashes to ashes and dust to dust is just the stuff of our bodies returning to earth but we are not ash and dust.
.
When we realise that spirit is what we are we are liberated in life and therefore liberated from death. This freedom is the only window through which the breeze of real happiness and joy can enter. Only then, when the time comes will we know the moment to move on to the next chapter, to that new adventure. Only then will we be able to move on as effortlessly as moving from our living room to our bedroom at the end of the day. In that moment we may know death as it really is, not the end of the line just a 'pause' on the line with no end. In the words (approx) of Williams Blakes 'ship on the horizon' metaphor for the dying process, those watching the ship sailing away over the horizon shout, "There she goes". While at the very same moment others or a far shore are shouting, "Here she comes".
.
Question: What is your ides/concept of death?
.
Reflection: Imagine you are offered the chance to live for 500 years, would you accept it? If not why not? If so why so?
.
Action: Consciously identify those things/relationships to which you are most attached, which seem to 'give' you the will to live and visualise them dissolving into the background..
.
Mike George is an author of several books. If you would like to subscribe (free) to his weekly Clear Thinking article send an email to mike@relax7.com or visit www.relax7.com
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