Facing death can aid spiritual awakening, as with the Buddha. Direct spiritual experiences which take us beyond death are followed by a deeper pain about leaving this precious life, a dance of life and death which enriches and transforms our lives.
1. When Spiritual
Experience Enlivens
Spiritual experience most enlivens when it is direct and unmediated by belief-systems, institutions or individuals.
Experience EnlivensSpiritual experience most enlivens when it is direct and unmediated by belief-systems, institutions or individuals.
2. When Spirituality
Deadens
Spirituality deadens when it separates us - from each other, our body, this life.
DeadensSpirituality deadens when it separates us - from each other, our body, this life.
3. Facing Death and
Spiritual Awakening
Facing death has long spurred spiritual awakening and practice.
Spiritual AwakeningFacing death has long spurred spiritual awakening and practice.
4. Connection and Mystery
Life-affirming death awareness transports us into deep realms of connection and mystery.
Life-affirming death awareness transports us into deep realms of connection and mystery.
5. Accepting The Unacceptable
We can only truly accept what is unacceptable - and we are most truly alive when we can do so.
We can only truly accept what is unacceptable - and we are most truly alive when we can do so.
6. Dancing With
Anguish and Joy
We are haunted not by fear of death but anguish at losing the life we know. We are most alive when we dance in anguish and in joy.
Anguish and Joy We are haunted not by fear of death but anguish at losing the life we know. We are most alive when we dance in anguish and in joy.