[bodigami]

i think this is crucial; we must accept our own mortality. with or without peak oil we will eventually die. fearing death is pathological... but is making rationalizations about it pathological? are all visions of "life after death" illusions? is life itself the illusion? and... what is too much "accepting"? can one "love" death?

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bodigami', 'i') think this is crucial; we must accept our own mortality. with or without peak oil we will eventually die. fearing death is pathological... but is making rationalizations about it pathological? are all visions of "life after death" illusions? is life itself the illusion? and... what is too much "accepting"? can one "love" death?

[Ludi]

It's difficult for me to see behavior which isn't in itself harmful as "pathological." Inventing a future beyond death seems pretty universal for humans throughout our time on the planet. The Land of the Dead or the Land of the Spirits, etc are present in most or possibly all mythologies. Personally, I don't see a problem with it. Accepting that one's consciousness may simply stop for good is certainly a way of looking at death also, one might see it as the "scientific" or "rational" point of view, since science tells us consciousness is part of the brain and the brain is subject to death. But there's enough debate about what "consciousness" means in a spiritual, not physical, sense, to leave plenty of room for speculation.

I accept that I will die. I also accept that I don't know what the experience of death will be like, nor if there is anything "I" will experience after I die.

[Crazy_Dad]

I have no fear of the Mexican Flu.
If it claims me and mine, then so be it.
I just hope the following survive: Whales, dolphins, squirrels, All fish, sharks, parrots, eagles, actually all birds, phuk it -> everything but humans.

If it is not the Govt, then the planet is fighting back. Either way - who cares. The Animals will go on.
The Japs will die whilst whaling and everyone - except humans will be happy.

[Crazy_Dad]

Woops I forgot to say Yarrrrr!

[bodigami]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('uNkNowN ElEmEnt', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bodigami', 'i') think this is crucial; we must accept our own mortality. with or without peak oil we will eventually die. fearing death is pathological... but is making rationalizations about it pathological? are all visions of "life after death" illusions? is life itself the illusion? and... what is too much "accepting"? can one "love" death?

[bodigami]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'I')t's difficult for me to see behavior which isn't in itself harmful as "pathological." Inventing a future beyond death seems pretty universal for humans throughout our time on the planet. The Land of the Dead or the Land of the Spirits, etc are present in most or possibly all mythologies. Personally, I don't see a problem with it. Accepting that one's consciousness may simply stop for good is certainly a way of looking at death also, one might see it as the "scientific" or "rational" point of view, since science tells us consciousness is part of the brain and the brain is subject to death. But there's enough debate about what "consciousness" means in a spiritual, not physical, sense, to leave plenty of room for speculation.

[Sixstrings]

The topic you've raised here is the singular irony of Doomerism. The fact is, we're all infinitely more likely to pass in some pedestrian manner than from the exotic -- be it zombie hordes, not even having rice to eat, the galactic alignment / planetary pole shift in 2012, etc. etc. etc.

I almost included swine flu, but unfortunately if it goes pandemic that could be something to really worry about. But on the other hand, someone pointed out in another thread that 40,000 people in the US die from flu yearly -- so far, not one in the US has died from the swine flu variety.

The point to all this is one everyone knows, I'm sure. Live life to the fullest, whatever your situation. And don't let worries overwhelm you, even if they're peak oil related -- the irony is that prolonged stress is one of the biggest killers out there.

[RedStateGreen]

I firmly believe that I will not die one second before my time. So when my time comes, well, that's just my time.

I always wondered why stories make dying such a tragedy. Sure the people still living mourn the loss, but it was that person's time to go. If it wasn't a car crash, they would have fallen down the stairs, or had a heart attack or something.

Reminds me of the guy who ran off to an island in the south Pacific to get away from TEOTWAWKI back in the early 40's ... a place called Iwo Jima. Surely he'd be safe there!

[davep]

I agree that death has to be contemplated. It's all part of coming to terms with mortality. Personally, when I die, I want to go without fear, with dignity. It's our ultimate act here, the least we can do is do it well. The wisdom attained from contemplation may also alter your behaviour during your time here away from materialism.

[bodigami]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Crazy_Dad', 'I') have no fear of the Mexican Flu.
If it claims me and mine, then so be it.
I just hope the following survive: Whales, dolphins, squirrels, All fish, sharks, parrots, eagles, actually all birds, phuk it -> everything but humans.

If it is not the Govt, then the planet is fighting back. Either way - who cares. The Animals will go on.
The Japs will die whilst whaling and everyone - except humans will be happy.

[Micki]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bodigami', 'i') think this is crucial; we must accept our own mortality. with or without peak oil we will eventually die. fearing death is pathological... but is making rationalizations about it pathological? are all visions of "life after death" illusions? is life itself the illusion? and... what is too much "accepting"? can one "love" death?

[Sixstrings]

Another take on this is the Buddhist perspective. I've read a zen quote somewhere, something along the lines of "I die every time I sit to meditate." This quote perfectly sums up what zen is all about -- living in the present, with the knowledge that all things are impermanent.

The expectation of permanence is a delusion, and is the cause of all human suffering.

[bodigami]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sixstrings', 'A')nother take on this is the Buddhist perspective. I've read a zen quote somewhere, something along the lines of "I die every time I sit to meditate." This quote perfectly sums up what zen is all about -- living in the present, with the knowledge that all things are impermanent.

The expectation of permanence is a delusion, and is the cause of all human suffering.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bodigami', '
')the quote is closer to: "when i inhale i am born, when i exhale i die"; focusing on the now, accepting impermanence and so on. meditation is not like dying

[jupiters_release]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('uNkNowN ElEmEnt', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bodigami', '
')the quote is closer to: "when i inhale i am born, when i exhale i die"; focusing on the now, accepting impermanence and so on. meditation is not like dying

[SeaGypsy]

My experience tells me that in an egoless state, the 'I' can be percieved as limitless and existing beyond the body. Perhaps the brain is simply a machine designed to facilitate interaction between the ultimate universality of the real 'I' and material existence. The sense of individual 'self' a byproduct of this interaction which may serve some purpose beyond the existence of the body. One must admit it can all be very entertaining.

[vision-master]

I'm only afraid of physical death - the pain..........

[Grautr]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bodigami', 'i') think this is crucial; we must accept our own mortality. with or without peak oil we will eventually die. fearing death is pathological... but is making rationalizations about it pathological? are all visions of "life after death" illusions? is life itself the illusion? and... what is too much "accepting"? can one "love" death?