Death/End of life discussion

hiddenhound3 said:I have contemplated the concept of death on countless occasions. My encounters with it have rarely been direct; rather, I have witnessed it through the passing of loved ones, whether they reached the natural end of their journey or were overtaken by the heavy weight of illness or profound sorrow.
The sudden passing of an acquaintance online has once again prompted me to reflect deeply on this subject. While others offer condolences and shroud the deceased in mourning and gloom, I find myself experiencing a strange sense of lightness.
A person is finally liberated from all suffering, pain, and those endless existential dilemmas that plague us. They have finally attained ultimate truth, cast off the heavy shell of mortality, and now dwell in an undisturbed eternity. To my mind, this is news of the highest order—so profoundly good that nothing could surpass it.

How do you approach the idea of death? Do you harbor fear regarding your own end, or do you find yourself consumed by grief for those who have passed?

WIND-SWEPT TOY

Suffer without tears, live without curses,
and embrace a peaceful misfortune.
Tears are hollow, and lamentations
will not soften the bitter sleep.

Surrender your faith in life to the drunkard,
and let the winds carry you wherever they may;
allow yourself to be swirled like a leaf
within the frantic whirl of a mad gale.

Fly like a leaf caught in the vortex,
for flight is your very essence, soul.
Not for the earth, nor for the grave,
is the flower that possesses no roots.

T. U.

Paul Campbell3 said:I just hope there isn't anyone from Reddit or this specific sub here...😢

Brenda Cook4 said:I don't really dwell on my own end; it’s almost like I live under the assumption it’ll never actually arrive 😬...but I definitely feel the loss of those who are gone... I still ache for my very first dog.

If this life we’ve been dropped into is one big surprise, who's to say what kind of shock awaits us on the other side? If you’re sitting there thinking death might be some great release from the struggles of this world, well, don't be too surprised if things look exactly the same—or even more intense—on the flip side. 😬

..But honestly, without the backdrop of mortality, life probably wouldn't have any substance at all. I can't quite wrap my head around what it would be like... but that "flavor of life" definitely gets its color from knowing it ends.

ps
this isn't supposed to be from this PDF😢

...but honestly, this existence probably wouldn't be what it is without the backdrop of mortality—I don't know how it would look, but the fleeting nature of life certainly provides its color...

I honestly can't stop thinking about Florine! There’s just something about her that stays with you, isn't there? I was sitting in my kitchen this morning—sipping on some coffee from Starbucks, mind you—just reflecting on how certain people leave such an indelible mark on our lives. It’s funny how that works! You meet someone, and suddenly their energy becomes part of your own internal landscape. Anyway, I digress! My point is, Florine is truly one of a kind. Just a bright, shining light in this big, messy world of ours. kaže:
How do you all approach the whole idea of death? Do you get those pre-emptive jitters about your own end, or are you more the type to sit in quiet mourning when someone passes away? Personally, I tend to drift into deep thought about it quite often! It’s one of those heavy topics that always seems to pop up when you least expect it. I find myself pondering the "big picture" more than I probably should. Sometimes I think about my old grandfather—he was such a stoic man, always focused on the present moment—and I wonder if I'll ever reach that level of peace. Anyway, I’m curious! Is it something that keeps you up at night, or have you found a way to make peace with the inevitable? Let's chat!

wearyowl29 As follows:
The passing of another soul serves as a profound reminder that our time here is fleeting. Yet, there is a certain comfort in knowing that what is inevitable can never truly be lost; death is merely the process of returning us to the place from which we first emerged.

We are ultimately just standing on the shoreline, mourning our own losses and weeping for ourselves.
We are inherently selfish to a fault.

hiddenhound3 said:So you don't think about death, you say? Does the thought truly never drift into your mind unbidden?

I do not grieve for the deceased because I am firmly convinced that I must allow them to continue their journey. Quite literally, I believe that every tear I shed acts as another weight around their neck. I would much rather they be free, soaring unhindered wherever they wish or are destined to go.

...but honestly, this existence probably wouldn't be what it is without the backdrop of mortality—I don't know how it would look, but the fleeting nature of life certainly provides its color...

That is almost certainly true. In principle, I view death as a conclusion, though not as the end of existence itself, but rather as the conclusion of a single chapter.🙂

Brenda Cook4 said:Oh, absolutely. I see it as something inevitable... but it feels so distant from me, almost imaginary. That’s why I told you—it feels like something that might never actually arrive. Because of that, these thoughts don't carry any heavy burden; they’re more philosophical. Honestly, I don't spend much time worrying about tomorrow, either...

I believe the deceased are right where they belong, yet I still find myself feeling sad.

Maybe it is just the end of a chapter, but if you feel like this current chapter isn't exactly a walk in the park, there's no guarantee that the "next" one won't be just as rough... or even worse.

wearyowl29 said:

I honestly can't stop thinking about Florine! There’s just something about her that stays with you, isn't there? I was sitting in my kitchen this morning—sipping on some coffee from Starbucks, mind you—just reflecting on how certain people leave such an indelible mark on our lives. It’s funny how that works! You meet someone, and suddenly their energy becomes part of your own internal landscape. Anyway, I digress! My point is, Florine is truly one of a kind. Just a bright, shining light in this big, messy world of ours. kaže:
How do you all approach the whole idea of death? Do you get those pre-emptive jitters about your own end, or are you more the type to sit in quiet mourning when someone passes away? Personally, I tend to drift into deep thought about it quite often! It’s one of those heavy topics that always seems to pop up when you least expect it. I find myself pondering the "big picture" more than I probably should. Sometimes I think about my old grandfather—he was such a stoic man, always focused on the present moment—and I wonder if I'll ever reach that level of peace. Anyway, I’m curious! Is it something that keeps you up at night, or have you found a way to make peace with the inevitable? Let's chat!

Someone else’s passing is always such a heavy reminder that our time here isn't infinite. It hits you right in the chest! But honestly? I’ve been thinking about it lately—what’s inevitable is never truly a loss. We aren't just vanishing into thin air. Death is really just the long way home, bringing us back to exactly where we started. It’s all part of the cycle!

Honestly, we’re just standing here crying and mourning like we’re losing our coastline to the tide—but really, we’re just mourning ourselves.
We really are selfish to the core, aren't we? It’s just one of those things. I was sitting on my porch yesterday, sipping some coffee and watching the neighbors, and it hit me: humans are wired this way. We focus on ourselves more than we care to admit!

florine;28920666 said:

Aren't we? Are you one hundred percent sure about that? 🤔 Because I’m just not.

I am... actually, I'm way more than sure. 😍

That's a fantastic conclusion. I couldn't agree more! The void left behind when someone physically vanishes from our lives is just gut-wrenching. It hurts because it shatters our sense of security, and honestly, it makes us sob.

And that's exactly it! But here's the kicker—the absolute absurdity of it all. Look at believers... their loved ones head off to meet God or Allah... and people end up weeping because they're "jealous" that those folks get to go while they're stuck here, struggling away in the Valley of Tears...

hiddenhound3 said:Of course, I am not necessarily looking at things through a linear lens, nor am I clinging to any hope for improvement; rather, I see it as a continuous cycle that moves forward regardless of us (and by us, I am not referring to our essential souls, but simply our personas, our egos, and our material existence).

wearyowl29 said:I certainly am... and I believe my conviction exceeds even that percentage.😍

That is precisely the point... yet there lies the true absurdity regarding religious people. Their most beloved go to God or Allah, while others simply weep because they feel "envious"—resenting that those individuals move on while they remain stuck, languishing here in the Valley of Tears.

florine;28921215 said:

I really don't want to step on anyone's toes regarding their beliefs or what they've realized, so I'll just leave it at that! 🙂

Fair point.

One of the most profound lessons you can ever learn in this life is acceptance. It’s actually an act of active Love—for yourself and everyone else. Instead of fighting against the current, you save your energy for the path you were meant to walk. That's why accepting the Valley of Tears is truly the best way to find happiness. I mean, true happiness as a baseline state of being. 🙂
A happy person isn't going to look at someone else's journey with envy or bitterness.

Honestly, I think we're talking more about letting go than acceptance. You see, you can acknowledge that someone is gone, but that doesn't mean you've actually let them go. Maybe it's just a semantic thing...🤷

hiddenhound3 said:I have no desire to infringe upon anyone else's personal convictions or insights, nor do I wish to correct what others believe, so I shall leave matters exactly as they stand.🙂

That is precisely the point... yet there lies the true absurdity regarding religious people. Their most beloved go to God or Allah, while others simply weep because they feel "envious"—resenting that those individuals move on while they remain stuck, languishing here in the Valley of Tears.

One of the most profound lessons a person can master in this life is acceptance. It is an act of active Love, directed toward oneself and everyone in one's orbit. By refusing to resist, we preserve our energy for the specific path laid out before us. Consequently, embracing the tears is the most effective route toward happiness—happiness defined as a fundamental state of being.🙂
A truly happy person will not look upon the journeys of others with envy or negative emotions.

hiddenhound3 said:I have contemplated the concept of death on countless occasions. My encounters with it have rarely been direct; rather, I have witnessed it through the passing of loved ones, whether they reached the natural end of their journey or were overtaken by the heavy weight of illness or profound sorrow.
The sudden passing of an acquaintance online has once again prompted me to reflect deeply on this subject. While others offer condolences and shroud the deceased in mourning and gloom, I find myself experiencing a strange sense of lightness.
A person is finally liberated from all suffering, pain, and those endless existential dilemmas that plague us. They have finally attained ultimate truth, cast off the heavy shell of mortality, and now dwell in an undisturbed eternity. To my mind, this is news of the highest order—so profoundly good that nothing could surpass it.

How do you approach the idea of death? Do you harbor fear regarding your own end, or do you find yourself consumed by grief for those who have passed?

WIND-SWEPT TOY

Suffer without tears, live without curses,
and embrace a peaceful misfortune.
Tears are hollow, and lamentations
will not soften the bitter sleep.

Surrender your faith in life to the drunkard,
and let the winds carry you wherever they may;
allow yourself to be swirled like a leaf
within the frantic whirl of a mad gale.

Fly like a leaf caught in the vortex,
for flight is your very essence, soul.
Not for the earth, nor for the grave,
is the flower that possesses no roots.

T. U.

wearyowl29 said:

I honestly can't stop thinking about Florine! There’s just something about her that stays with you, isn't there? I was sitting in my kitchen this morning—sipping on some coffee from Starbucks, mind you—just reflecting on how certain people leave such an indelible mark on our lives. It’s funny how that works! You meet someone, and suddenly their energy becomes part of your own internal landscape. Anyway, I digress! My point is, Florine is truly one of a kind. Just a bright, shining light in this big, messy world of ours. kaže:
How do you all approach the whole idea of death? Do you get those pre-emptive jitters about your own end, or are you more the type to sit in quiet mourning when someone passes away? Personally, I tend to drift into deep thought about it quite often! It’s one of those heavy topics that always seems to pop up when you least expect it. I find myself pondering the "big picture" more than I probably should. Sometimes I think about my old grandfather—he was such a stoic man, always focused on the present moment—and I wonder if I'll ever reach that level of peace. Anyway, I’m curious! Is it something that keeps you up at night, or have you found a way to make peace with the inevitable? Let's chat!

Someone else’s passing is always such a heavy reminder that our time here isn't infinite. It hits you right in the chest! But honestly? I’ve been thinking about it lately—what’s inevitable is never truly a loss. We aren't just vanishing into thin air. Death is really just the long way home, bringing us back to exactly where we started. It’s all part of the cycle!

Honestly, we’re just standing here crying and mourning like we’re losing our coastline to the tide—but really, we’re just mourning ourselves.
We really are selfish to the core, aren't we? It’s just one of those things. I was sitting on my porch yesterday, sipping some coffee and watching the neighbors, and it hit me: humans are wired this way. We focus on ourselves more than we care to admit!

hiddenhound3 said:I have contemplated the concept of death on countless occasions. My encounters with it have rarely been direct; rather, I have witnessed it through the passing of loved ones, whether they reached the natural end of their journey or were overtaken by the heavy weight of illness or profound sorrow.
The sudden passing of an acquaintance online has once again prompted me to reflect deeply on this subject. While others offer condolences and shroud the deceased in mourning and gloom, I find myself experiencing a strange sense of lightness.
A person is finally liberated from all suffering, pain, and those endless existential dilemmas that plague us. They have finally attained ultimate truth, cast off the heavy shell of mortality, and now dwell in an undisturbed eternity. To my mind, this is news of the highest order—so profoundly good that nothing could surpass it.

How do you approach the idea of death? Do you harbor fear regarding your own end, or do you find yourself consumed by grief for those who have passed?

WIND-SWEPT TOY

Suffer without tears, live without curses,
and embrace a peaceful misfortune.
Tears are hollow, and lamentations
will not soften the bitter sleep.

Surrender your faith in life to the drunkard,
and let the winds carry you wherever they may;
allow yourself to be swirled like a leaf
within the frantic whirl of a mad gale.

Fly like a leaf caught in the vortex,
for flight is your very essence, soul.
Not for the earth, nor for the grave,
is the flower that possesses no roots.

T. U.