Santa Clara Meditation Q&A by Members – Why are people afraid of dying?
For me, death was always fearful and vague thing. Nobody tells me how it is and what happens after death. Talking about death is such a taboo in my family. When my gran passed away, everyone cried, but to be honest, she’s been forgotten slowly. I was surprised when I found out I didn’t care about people’s death and I felt shameful to myself.
“To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” <Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s stone>
I wanted to know about afterlife. I really concerned about it ‘Does death hurt?’, ‘Do I become spirit or soul after I die?’, ‘If I do good things while I’m alive, can I go to Heaven?’, ‘How does Heaven look like?’. . . . I was ignorant. I went to church and prayed to God that I go to heaven. Reading books about religions and spiritual enlightenments doesn’t help me. Actually I couldn’t understand what they meant, very difficult, not general. Furthermore, they didn’t soothe my fear about death.
But you know, everyone has these kind of questions in their minds but we just live our daily life. I also diligently lived my life and almost forgot them. I lived only for myself and I pursued my desires.
And one day I started to meditate in my village. It was just for relaxation in the beginning. I’m full time mother of two sons and I was so tired. After taking care of my kids and doing house chores, I wanted some rest of my mind. And I wished to stop my endless thinking. The guide at the meditation center told me that I can solve my problems by myself and also understand about life and death.
I diligently follow the instruction which meditation guide taught me. That thing was easy and simple one. Initially, I could breathe properly as soon as I started this meditation. The more I meditate, the more I could get the answers which I questioned about throughout my life, such as ‘what mind is’, ‘what happens I die’, ‘why I live and what purpose of my life is’, ‘where Heaven is’.
If I don’t know about death, I should be fearful about it. Nobody couldn’t tell me what exact meaning of death, or even after death. But I know now and I feel comfortable. The more you get rid of your false things in your mind, the more you can attain wisdom. When we go back to original nature, we, every individual, have infinitive mind inside.
Now, I live happy life. There’s much less anxiety. I’m not in haste. I can understand people’s way of life. I am bale to be in a moment. I think happiness doesn’t depend on how much money you earn or who you love with or how successful you are but you know the answers about life and death. Once you know the answer, there’s no fear anymore.
by Donna Seo
https://santaclarameditation.blogspot.com/2021/12/santa-clara-meditation-q-by-members-why.html
