Not too long ago I was in Hong Kong with my parents. We went to a restaurant where ducks were hanging from their necks, ready to be served. My parents had seen this in Chinatown at home before but they never dared enter restaurants that displayed dead animals in the window. Just mentioning a living cow when we were eating beef would cause my father to lose his appetite. But why should it?
In the suburbs of the western world (as well as a few other places), we seem to like to sterilize things, make them as inoffensive, perfect and picturesque as possible. We have phone numbers to call for stray animals, insects and rodents in our homes, and we can even have groceries delivered to our doorstep. We act as if the holy act of washing our hands can prevent all illness. When we do get sick, we act as if staying alive at all costs is the highest prerogative, despite how uncomfortable life becomes. In many places doctors are legally not allowed to let a patient die, even if the patient wishes it upon themselves.
Death from a distance
We enjoy blood filled action movies but few of us have ever seen death up close. The news mentions it every day but never actually shows it, they'd get in trouble if they did. Somehow to show a depiction in a movie is ok, but to show the real thing is beyond taboo, morbid beyong even mentioning. We're not talking about something that may or may not exist here, we are talking about one of the most fundamental of all life experiences, something that is inevitable for all of us.
Did you get a little uncomfortable reading that last sentence?
Meat eaters will put chunks of dead animal meat into their mouths every day. Even vegetarians are absorbing the life force of plants, rarely pondering on the process. We avoid telling children the realities of death for as long as possible, as if we could protect them from it. We live as if we will never die for most of our lives and once it starts to stare us in the face, we try to look beyond it to whatever may or may not lie beyond, almost skipping over death entirely.
There are those in the scientific community who are pushing for immortality and many hoping they succeed. What drives them? Is it truly a passion for life and a desire for more of it? Or is it a stubborn attempt to run away from what they fear?
Why do we fear death
There are many ways to explain why we fear death. There's the scientific explanation that makes some sense; our fear of death motivates us to continue living. There is the philosophical connection to a fear of the unknown. From a social point of view, people who live in fear are easier to manipulate and control. How convenient...what better way to maintain a position of power than to make something which is unavoidable a taboo. By reinforcing death as something to be feared we are essentially left with an entire population which is easily programed. Offer a sense of security and they'll do anything you require of them.
Fear and Mental illness.
I was inspired to write this after reading this post by @scandanavianlife about how emotional disorders come about from an overly complicated lifestyle.
I do agree with his assessment that many disorders are exaggerated by overcomplicated lives. I'm also reminded of one of my very first Optimism posts. In it I attempt to show that most, if not all emotional issues stem from fear. One kind of fear stands above the rest in it's near universiality, a fear of death. By facing this fear, a giant weight is lifted off our chest and we can really begin to untangle the rest of our fears and whatever is holding us back.
Death is beautiful
In Japan, every spring millions of people head to public parks and other comfortable corners of the city and countryside to enjoy just a few days of cherry blossoms. For many, the cherry blossoms symbolize the impertinence of life. In the idea of impertinence is a sense of unparalleled beauty. Who make the extra effort to go out and enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossom leaves like pink clouds above the whole country, or like snow sprinkling the skies if it was something they could enjoy throughout the year? Through idea of impertinence, we are able to grasp the true beauty of life.
Death is part of the cycle of life. Our body is made up of molecules that were likely part of other animals. We make houses from trees. We must consume once living things to survive. One of my friends prays before all of his meals. When I met him I thought that he must be Christian. Later he told me he has no religion. I asked who he was praying to. "To all the plants and animals that give me energy and allow me to live each day". Since meeting him I've started doing the same. I try to avoid killing bugs and when I do I make sure to apologize and send love their way.
Regardless of your feelings about what does or doesn't come after, death is something we need to face if we want to have a full understanding of life and find harmony with nature.
Ponder your own death for a second. Does it scare you?
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