Wise words John. And knowing our advanced age and that you and I will be friends for life, one of us will get to celebrate the others re-birth into life.
Great thoughts, Will. Here's a few from me (not necessarily great!)
An Eastern viewpoint is that death is actually being re-born into life, whereas birth is dying from the first moment we breathe.
A very illuminating book, guaranteed to dispel fear of death, is TESTIMONY OF LIGHT by Helen Greaves. (pub 1969). Essential reading and highly recommended.
Face death with calm, confidence and courage. Transition gently. Don't be like Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas, who wrote: 'Rage, rage, against the dying of the light'. Fine poetry, lousy philosophy.
Years ago I wrote a small booklet entitled MY CREDO (My belief), to aid my celebrant at my funeral. After introductory comments, I ended: "What I would like the celebrant to emphasise is that no one present need shed any tears at my passing -instead be reassured that the occasion should be one to be celebrated, not mourned".
Very well done Will. Death is something of a taboo subject in our western culture. Odd since it is one of the few things we all have in common! I love your idea of death as a form of birth into the next life, and believe you are on target. As the poet in me might say, may we so live to deserve our death!
A month ago, a dear friend suddenly died at 65. Last night. I awoke, read her lively blog and sobbed. Aysha (inhabityourdreams.com) wrote about being prepared in case of an unexpected emergency. In her book about traveling solo, she made a list to carry with our passports. She was prepared, more than anyone else I know, in a way we can all be prepared—to make our transition easy for everyone. Thank you, Will, for making it so clear that death is our friend we need not fear and can be ready to embrace when that time arrives—even if that time happens before we expect.
The physical preparation settles our human affairs so we feel ready to "go" when the time comes... and we never know when it might be. Just had a friend tell us about the sudden death of a neighbor this morning. It happens now, every day. DH Lawrence said that true intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas at the same time and remain functional. So, we learn to hold grief and gratitude as people transition, preparing us for our own time.
Wise words John. And knowing our advanced age and that you and I will be friends for life, one of us will get to celebrate the others re-birth into life.
John Hall
Great thoughts, Will. Here's a few from me (not necessarily great!)
An Eastern viewpoint is that death is actually being re-born into life, whereas birth is dying from the first moment we breathe.
A very illuminating book, guaranteed to dispel fear of death, is TESTIMONY OF LIGHT by Helen Greaves. (pub 1969). Essential reading and highly recommended.
Face death with calm, confidence and courage. Transition gently. Don't be like Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas, who wrote: 'Rage, rage, against the dying of the light'. Fine poetry, lousy philosophy.
Years ago I wrote a small booklet entitled MY CREDO (My belief), to aid my celebrant at my funeral. After introductory comments, I ended: "What I would like the celebrant to emphasise is that no one present need shed any tears at my passing -instead be reassured that the occasion should be one to be celebrated, not mourned".
Very well done Will. Death is something of a taboo subject in our western culture. Odd since it is one of the few things we all have in common! I love your idea of death as a form of birth into the next life, and believe you are on target. As the poet in me might say, may we so live to deserve our death!
Right on, Don. And that native phrase, "It's a good day to die" implies we are ready!
Barbara Moore
just now
A month ago, a dear friend suddenly died at 65. Last night. I awoke, read her lively blog and sobbed. Aysha (inhabityourdreams.com) wrote about being prepared in case of an unexpected emergency. In her book about traveling solo, she made a list to carry with our passports. She was prepared, more than anyone else I know, in a way we can all be prepared—to make our transition easy for everyone. Thank you, Will, for making it so clear that death is our friend we need not fear and can be ready to embrace when that time arrives—even if that time happens before we expect.
The physical preparation settles our human affairs so we feel ready to "go" when the time comes... and we never know when it might be. Just had a friend tell us about the sudden death of a neighbor this morning. It happens now, every day. DH Lawrence said that true intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas at the same time and remain functional. So, we learn to hold grief and gratitude as people transition, preparing us for our own time.