If you don’t understand what living is, deeply and passionately, then you will not understand about physical death. A man (or woman) who often is psychologically dying to the dead past, to corrupt (limited) conditioning, to illusory limititations, and to robotic traditions and habits… is someone who is deeply living.
By the way, regarding physical death, it’s not what you have been told. It’s not any of the crap that people have dished out to you. It’s not that your special human soul floats away to a bliss with an anthropomorphic god or gods. It is not that when you are dead, you are dead (and that that’s it); it is not that you are reincarnated to some kind of better life; it is not that you go to some kind of heaven or hell; it is not that you float around like a ghost or specter, looking down upon everyone else. It is not what you have been told (by others). So what happens? One must find out. Intelligence must find out. I certainly am not going to tell you. It’s for deep perception to find out (and discover); it’s not for being told (for people to merely robotically believe or not believe). Again… it’s not for being told.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
To me it’s the last great mystery and we will only know when we die.
Did you remember being dead before you were born? Will you know you were once alive after you die?
Jim, of course, you wouldn’t remember being dead before you were born. To your second question, my answer is, if you have been very wise, “yes.” 🙂
Maybe you can help me with this: There are two things. One is, that eastern philosophy carries a contradiction. If everything is the Brahman, the Self, god, for lack of a better term, you are not you but a collaboration of consciousness as a point focus in this particular form, at this particular moment, the brain is in fact a receiver. Shut the brain off and your experience ends.
Now Hindus also believe in reincarnation, which is at odds with the central self. At death resorption into the whole is the only probable answer. It is not the end, but the end of you as a specific aperture. But there are still more people born than die in a given year—each as a receptor in the whole of consciousness. Where do you find reasoning that depicts you as a separate individual, and where do all these “individuals” get their separate self? What if the population declines? It doesn’t matter if everything is the one thing, but it seems your clouding the water when you think you are separate, an individual apart from the one, and can remember you, after you are absorbed into the colloidal mix.
What does wisdom have to do with decaying matter?
Wisdom has to do with everything, but many people unfortunately do not perceive that.
No it doesn’t. Wisdom is a property of consciousness. Are you implying that it’s also in unconscious things?
Wisdom transcends ordinary consciousness; i wouldn’t call it unconscious. I would suggest that you read Wholeness and the Implicate Order… by Quantum physicist, Dr. David Bohm. I partook in many one-on-one conversations with David both in England and in California.
Ah! I should have known given the rhetorical nonsense. Take care.
Direct insults on WordPress are not appreciated.
Rhetorical or literary nonsense isn’t an insult. Your writing style balances elements that don’t make sense with some that do.
According to the expert Devil! Please go elsewhere if you are not appreciative of what is here.
No, Sue. The truly wise mind will understand, via insight, what happens (at death) before it actually dies. Then wonderful things will happen that will further corroborate the truth of what that insight was… such that it exists well beyond mere belief. 🙂
Jim, in answering your initial second question, there is no intention to suggest that one is a separate individual apart from “the one,” as you call it. The one, or that oneness, that some may like to use, may i suggest, may largely be conceptual and/or theoretical… and i dislike to use it, by the way. The answer i gave pertaining to the second question can easily be misinterpreted (by looking at it from a rather traditional field).
I feel that the notion that everything is the Brahman, the Self, or god, is primarily conceptual and theoretical and consists largely of obtrusions of thought handed down by oodles of generations. It’s a lovely concept, everything being a Higher Self or god, but it is what people repeat rather mechanically oftentimes; when one is emersed in nothing but shadows, Platonically-speaking, it’s easy to maintain that everything is fingers of that One vast shadow. However, the shadows, in truth, are rather illusory in the deeper sense of things. We must turn around and look deeper (from what they taught us).
My suggestion is to throw out everything they taught you about time, separation, reincarnation, the self, the Higher Self, and all that endless stuff and be observing everything anew (with passion and compassion). Then the answer will come to you; you will not have to seek it.
I think I understand what death is (though I won’t tell). I accept my own mortality. But acceptance of the death of a loved one, or one who died prematurely, is not a part of that understanding. Acceptance eludes me.
Wisdom and true love transcend mortality, Harini. 🙂
How different do you think human existence would be if *what happens during/after death* was just common knowledge?
I can’t even imagine…
Most likely, most minds would misuse that knowledge (that did not come to each one via great order, pristine insight, and love). That’s a good reason why not to shout it from the roof-tops. 🙂
Brilliant!
Thanks, Stef. Please read my comments to others (above) if you have the time. 🙂
I don’t fear death. I don’t enjoy the prospect, and there’s no solace in knowing that it’s the common lot of every living thing, but for me there’s no fear, just resignation and an agreement I have with myself to enjoy each day, doing no harm, and helping out whenever I can. I think the ineffable boredom of life everlasting would be a much more dreadful prospect.
Cool stuff, pstachowski. 🙂 Ineffable boredom… you mean what so many people tend to exist as throughout their adult phase of existence? 🙂
Something like that, yes, and isn’t it a shame! I think that type of boredom, the living death so many adults experience, derives from a lack of imagination and curiosity. There’s so much to see with the inner and outer eyes, and yet they complain of boredom or piss their precious, finite moments of life away. Oh, well.
Yes, pstachowski. Isn’t it a crying shame? It is sad really. The passion of life for so many adults is gone.
Very thought provoking topic that I haven’t spent much time thinking about from the unitive concsiousness standpoint, but I will agree with your assertion that dying to our conditioning, et al is the beginning of deeply living.
Yes, wishforwater, dying to our conditioning puts living and dying together, such that they are not (psychologically) separate conflicting things. 🙂
Wow Tom, so beautiful, love the blue colour!! Lucky you! Happy day!
Thanks, Marcela! 🙂
Very interesting Tom your words! I read with google translate!!
So glad that you see something there, Marcela! 🙂 (I can’t speak or write in Spanish whatsoever.) 🙂
I’ve seen death second hand and learnt nothing of what it will be and beyond for myself. Indeed I’ve always had in my mind the question “When are we actually dead?” For history lessons will tell us death was thought of when the heartbeat stops; then it says when the brain ceases to spark and yet what some say is death, another says it is transferal to another existence. I don’t give a fig really, I just know I’m not ready to do the dying thing, as I’ve two beloved hens to feed, washing to put out, a chest of draws to paint, plus it’s Fareshare day in Narberth and let’s face it, Death 💀 would undoubtedly be a party pooper and make the whole proceedings go downhill:
Well, Over Soil, stay over it and not under soil. 🙂
The fact is that many people are dead long before they physically die.
I sometimes get that perception of others, but lately I just consider them as grubby 🐛 caterpillars, squabs and nymphs. Their time might or might develop them into being 🦋 butterflies, doves of peace 🕊 or dragonflies, but while there’s still life, there’s still a chance.
I meant might or might NOT…
Yes, while there is still life, there is a chance. Thank goodness!
Keep remaining above ground, Over Soil. 🙂
What a picture – stunning – death is a mystery – this summer I have lost two friends a person and a dog and both left me messages through birds…. as I said death is a mystery but that attachment remains is reality. The ancestors live…
Ah, death is not a mystery to one who has deep passion and understanding. If one has such passion/understanding, the universe will come rushing to you with tangible answers. 🙂
Life death renewal… this is the circle of life and death is not separate but I still see it as mystery!
You know something I don’t!
Life’s greatest question is what happens when it ends.
That great question can be answered quite fully, Iestyn. (Like what i mentioned to Sara above.) 🙂
Pingback: About physical death… – World Era
Hi Tom !! I believe in After life ,Indeed we all gonna meet again , and You will be met and embraced by loved one’s .❤️ from this lifetime .
The afterlife is an existence in which the essential part of an individual’s identity or their stream of consciousness continues to live after their death.
For me that’s the biggest relief either it is true or not.but I am satisfied ,you know ! I Don’t wanna waste my time, Just want to live my life .😉
Though one is appreciative of your belief, snowflake, if you do not, as you say, “waste your time,” perhaps what actually happens will be deeply understood (before physical death) such that it is will no longer need to be a mere belief.
Here’s to hoping that you do not physically melt anytime soon, snowflake. And as to melting away the psychological garbage and nonsense that society feeds us… well, that’s a whole other story. 🙂
Here by saying”waste of time” I didn’t meant that , instead just wanna convey, not to bother ourself with all those stuffs and not to mess our life.🙂 .that’s it tom. And yeah of course I do appreciate your perspective !!👍
Thanks, snowflake! 🙂 And yes, i think i did interpret your meaning of “waste my time” in the way that you intended.
I desire that same passion and understanding you have
ogaraderrick, one understands what you mean, but please be cautious about desiring it. Be cautious; don’t let it become another one of innumerable desires. A key to that understanding is not to desire it but, rather, to let it flower and be appreciative of that beautiful flowering. 🙂
Ah, i see that you are wearing a protective face mask. You are one of the caring and intelligent ones. Congratulations, friend! 🙂 (My photo was taken before the pandemic, by the way.) 😉
I have a lot to learn and understand then. Thank you friend👍🙂
🙂
Life is as delicate as this beautiful butterfly and it should be revered and treasured because one never knows how long they have left here on Earth. You, having lost the love of your life this past year, know that better than some.
Very wise words, Linda! There are a lot less butterflies gathering on the river bank to get needed minerals, these days. Keep close to nature, Linda, (while some of it is still around).
Thank you Tom. I had hoped to see some Monarchs or Swallowtails at the Volunteer Garden – nothing this year. Yes, nature gives us stability in our lives – if the changes we’re going through in nature were not so drastic, I’d feel better. Like you, I know and fear it will only get worse.
Let’s enjoy nature while we can, Linda. Thank goodness, there are other planets out there with plenty of natural creatures, in balance, and these planets are too far for we destructive monkeys to travel to!
Yes Tom. I feel the money spent by billionaires for the thrill of space travel might have been put to better use … there were many crises worthy of big $$$.
Yes, Linda, that space travel money could have gone into greenhouse gas-reducing facilities here in the U.S. They could have helped the planet instead of putting more rocket-fuel-pollutants into the extremely ill atmosphere. (I donate monthly to the Environmental Defense Fund and to the Sierra Club.)
I have heard of the Sierra Club, but not the Environmental Defenses and at least these pet charities of yours understand the need to rectify what we humans have done. Reading excerpts of that recent climate report are sobering.
Life is a gift. I work in a nursing home and see death. It makes me appreciate life and gratitude much more thank you for you’re post.
Thank you, Megan! 🙂 How sweet of you to be working in a nursing home, helping to care for the very elderly! Keep at that compassionate line of work!
Beautiful post & image – butterfly personifying change. Personally I do not seek advance knowing of what follows human death (end of my current state of being) … I do harbor curiosity and hopes that I rekindle in some manner relationships once human … anticipation exceeds dread most of the time …
Very insightful.
To live is to understand death ☠️ , to live with death each day is to know how to live. Each benefit each other in ways that can only be explained with time & experience. Death teaches us to stay healthy to eat right & to be kind to others. Life teaches us that death can happen at any moment.
Pingback: About physical death… – Howhardcanitbe2
Pingback: About physical death… – www.voicenaration.com
In photography they say the devil is in the details. And with you death is …a very intriguing post indeed my friend. A subject that haunts most writers . Thank you for this piece 😊