If Everyone Could Have an OOBE
Jul. 12th, 2006 02:52 pmIf everyone could have an out-of-body-experience, would the human race lose it's fear of dying? If everyone experienced, *knew*, that there was indeed coherent existance after the body failed, how much would our practise of life change?
I know I have no real fear of death. Now, I'm not particularily fond of the idea a certain times in my life - times of obligation, of duty-to-others, and I subscribe to the notion that life is sacred and should be cherished and protected. But - knowing that I will exist after this pass, I have made certain choices differing from those made by others who have not experienced 'dying' and I have, at times, regretted the choice I made to continue living. (Don't freak! I mean in terms of 'here was this all-new horizon to explore and you turned back to the known and familiar... how much of that choice was based on _what is good for you_ and how much on simple inertia?')
So I wonder. Why DO we have this almost overwhelming fear of death-as-an-end rather than death-as-a-door?
(Aside: Suddenly, I got a quick mental vision of THe Grim Reaper standing in an airline attendant's uniform, welcoming folks to the plane and assuring them that the weather is fine on the other end of the trip... surreal, but amusing.)
I know I have no real fear of death. Now, I'm not particularily fond of the idea a certain times in my life - times of obligation, of duty-to-others, and I subscribe to the notion that life is sacred and should be cherished and protected. But - knowing that I will exist after this pass, I have made certain choices differing from those made by others who have not experienced 'dying' and I have, at times, regretted the choice I made to continue living. (Don't freak! I mean in terms of 'here was this all-new horizon to explore and you turned back to the known and familiar... how much of that choice was based on _what is good for you_ and how much on simple inertia?')
So I wonder. Why DO we have this almost overwhelming fear of death-as-an-end rather than death-as-a-door?
(Aside: Suddenly, I got a quick mental vision of THe Grim Reaper standing in an airline attendant's uniform, welcoming folks to the plane and assuring them that the weather is fine on the other end of the trip... surreal, but amusing.)