4 replies to this topic

[ElPirana]

I recently finished ready The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker.  It was not quite what I expected…which is ok.  But the content didn’t do much for me. 

 

I learned a lot about Freud, Kierkegaard, and several other prominent figures in psychology, which was interesting.  There were some interesting insights along the way, but nothing really popped or made really change my views. 

 

There was a section near the end that reviewed various types of neuroses, and the one on depression gave me some useful insights when considering it wrt someone who is close to me.  I felt like the book ended without any real guidance for someone considering the thought of their own mortality.

 

Has anyone else read this, or come to a different conclusion?

[EYMAIOS]

I recently finished ready The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker.  It was not quite what I expected…which is ok.  But the content didn’t do much for me. 

 

I learned a lot about Freud, Kierkegaard, and several other prominent figures in psychology, which was interesting.  There were some interesting insights along the way, but nothing really popped or made really change my views. 

 

There was a section near the end that reviewed various types of neuroses, and the one on depression gave me some useful insights when considering it wrt someone who is close to me.  I felt like the book ended without any real guidance for someone considering the thought of their own mortality.

 

Has anyone else read this, or come to a different conclusion?

.
Ι have read something similar...

No way to establish a secure foundation basis in a cosmos that is constantly changing.
The only certainty is an eternal change per se!

(Heraclitus, allways modern after 2500 years)

 

This directs us towards defining death, absolute death, (just try to provide an example...)
There is nothing such, not even in ashes!
 

No indication of death but constant metamorphosis of everything again and again.
Even crystals are not dead, they vibrate incessantly!

Everything that IS vibrates,

All life is vibration changing...

 

As to the individual survival beyond the border of the so called death, is an illusion propagated by religions offering false foundation ground for our Egos.

There is nothing separate beyond the ONE.

Nothing is lost, nothing is gained!
My poor skin is wothless,

my connection-identification with the ALL ONE is the name of the eternal collective memory game...
 

 

 

[ElPirana]

The fear of death is an interesting thing.

 

Most people are completely ignorant of their fear of their own death.  The fear is hidden so far beneath the surface, it can be completely ignored.  Whenever I've had conversations with friends and the concept of fear of death comes up, they all have told me pretty much the same thing...that they are not afraid of dying themselves.  They have reasons...such as that they are going to heaven, or that they have already had a close encounter with death and so are not afraid now.  But I have severe doubts about that.

 

This last year I came into direct contact finally with the fear of my own death.  Previously I would have had similar comments as those of my friends, not believing that I have any real fear of my death.  But I know better now.  I have consciously tried to welcome the idea of going through my own death experience, such as was described by Ramana Maharshi.  I was astonished when the fear presented itself.

 

I came to my own fear on two or three different occasions.  Each time I tried to allow myself to go inwards into my own death, but my mind (my ego?) would not allow it.  The feeling was very real.  There was a sense of complete annihilation of myself.  On one of these, there was also a fear related to the fact that I would be taking myself away from my family, not a fear for myself but for my kids and wife to have to go on without me - which makes me realize just how real the experience felt.  I truly believed that I would be gone, never to return. 

 

I went through three of these experiences, and none of those times was I able to follow through the feelings.  I know that I would not have died really, but my mind believed I would when I was going through it.  It's hard to describe how real it was.

 

It made me realize some things.  First, that this fear is here inside me, even if it is deep down and typically unrecognized.  Second, that I could not bear to go through the experience on my own will.  I don't know what that means, maybe there is no way to go through it but by grace, by some divine intervention.

[Mycol]

The way it was rationalized to me was that of course right now you feel that way you’re young and relatively pain free but the older you get the more it doesn’t seem as bad or scary . You get To see those things you want come to fruition and can let go of them, let them be . I’ve struggled with it before but that helped me once .

[EYMAIOS]

The fear of death is an interesting thing.

 

Most people are completely ignorant of their fear of their own death.  The fear is hidden so far beneath the surface, it can be completely ignored.  Whenever I've had conversations with friends and the concept of fear of death comes up, they all have told me pretty much the same thing...that they are not afraid of dying themselves.  They have reasons...such as that they are going to heaven, or that they have already had a close encounter with death and so are not afraid now.  But I have severe doubts about that.

 

This last year I came into direct contact finally with the fear of my own death.  Previously I would have had similar comments as those of my friends, not believing that I have any real fear of my death.  But I know better now.  I have consciously tried to welcome the idea of going through my own death experience, such as was described by Ramana Maharshi.  I was astonished when the fear presented itself.

 

I came to my own fear on two or three different occasions.  Each time I tried to allow myself to go inwards into my own death, but my mind (my ego?) would not allow it.  The feeling was very real.  There was a sense of complete annihilation of myself.  On one of these, there was also a fear related to the fact that I would be taking myself away from my family, not a fear for myself but for my kids and wife to have to go on without me - which makes me realize just how real the experience felt.  I truly believed that I would be gone, never to return. 

 

I went through three of these experiences, and none of those times was I able to follow through the feelings.  I know that I would not have died really, but my mind believed I would when I was going through it.  It's hard to describe how real it was.

 

It made me realize some things.  First, that this fear is here inside me, even if it is deep down and typically unrecognized.  Second, that I could not bear to go through the experience on my own will.  I don't know what that means, maybe there is no way to go through it but by grace, by some divine intervention.

Your last two words "divine intervention" reveal the human EGO in need for some far away crutch of support.
A standing point, a crutch reference supporting our divided EGOs.

The deeply residing primitive fear is unavoidable as long as we stand devided from the whole, in an objective way. Objectivity places the whole cosmos in a distance far from us.
This is the perfect mind trap. A real trap.
Our only hope lies in our neglected Right brains where beyond logic objectivity we regain the serene but illogical certainty that everything Is as Should Be...
At that point C.G.Jung and Buddha (not Buddhism) have revealed a lot about our persistent Shadow.
You and Me do not exist!

What exists in Ego Loss, you have explored and you know well tripping via Psycedelic Samanic ways.

You are blessed with cube wisdom, others do not dare...
Stay there in peace and love...