Tomato, Crocodile mentioned fear as an innate form of self preservation. I mentioned it as a form of high respect. I believe we speak of the same thing.
I'd like to distinguish fear from worry and panic; though I have a hard time doing that with words. Perhaps that fear is a positive force in our lives while worry accomplishes nothing in a circular manner, and panic is what happens when we just don't react rationally.
I've often read that people caught in deeply perilous moments feel fear but face the situation with a clear mind, reacting as best they can; even as they see their lives ebbing away. The hunter attacked by a bear, who has the sense to feed the bear his arm just to keep it from his head; and then going limp and playing dead as the bear knocks him about and finally loses interest.
On the Metaphysical level. I don't view death as very metaphysical; at least from a personal level. Dead is dead. I'll do what I can not to get there, for as long as I can. Other's may contemplate my impending death and assign metaphysical content to it; but that won't have much effect on me.
This is not to say I don't prepare for death; I just see no reason, at the moment, to place anything more than a negative on it. Ending terminal suffering is simply a choice of sooner or later death; in a very immediate sense. My Uncle passed away recently and it was sad to follow his slow meandering path through his last days. When they finally refused the respirator it was a relief for everyone; particularly him.
IMO Spiritual practice must deal with the 'right now'. All the yesterdays and all the tomorrow's sum to zero. The message must be 'of the moment'. Going one step farther, I think the value of any particular thought is in how it helps you live the 'right now'. And for me, personally, this is, and has been, a very physical experience.
We can read all the books around; all the pretty contemplation's about what we are and where we came from, and where we will go-- but if we can't get through the day properly it doesn't help much.
Finally a disclaimer: I believe these things but am not very good at putting them into practice. My goal remains just getting through the day well, of dealing with each situation well, of keeping the despair and suffering I experience from overflowng into the lives of those around me....and finally of remembering my boorish tendency toward academic lecture and pontification; for which I apoligize.
regards,
mnmuench |
