Getting Over Fear of Death – Conquering the Anxiety
Most understand death is inescapable. Yet many are anxious due to the fact that “death” is an enigma. So, what really happens next? Discovering truths connected to death, however, seem to somehow ease fears of the otherwise unknown. The enigma of death producing anxiety is apparently squelched when an individual develops the ability to face the inevitable with confidence and clarity.
The following is an interesting outlook on conquering the anxiety and fear of death.
In Dada Bagwan’s Autobiography of the teachings of Gnani Purush, the Enlightened One, the enigma of death is explained in this way. The intrinsic nature of anything and all things is the inherent fact that it consistently and inevitably ends. In other words, what starts or begins always ends. At birth we each receive mind, speech, and a body, each full with power. The full power of each begins to release as life is lived, ultimately ending with all power having been disbursed thru the course of existence, leaving none.
However, whereas power is releasing, new power for the approaching new life is developing. During this time, the effects of karma and the causes of karma still occur, which inevitably generates a new birth with each death. Thus the explanation why once there is a death, there is a rebirth following.
Where this next birth occurs depends on the following. With four life forms to be “re-birthed” into i.e. heaven, human, animal or hell, the determination of which form is determined from and by the record of deeds thru the past life.
Whatever good deeds were performed in the past life on behalf of others with no self-serving personal interest, will allow the reaping of rewards in the next life. On the other hand, a devious life lived solely for personal gain will yield a less desirable rebirth or next life.
This is why Gnani Purush, the Enlightened One, urges utilizing mind, speech and body in our current life doing good works for others. That having been said, having lived a devious self serving life and knowing a less desirable rebirth is coming, also conjures the fear of death.
To save ourselves from less desirable rebirth, we need to perform ‘pratikraman’ for all devious deeds performed during life; unhealthy acts performed either knowingly or unknowingly.
There is significant strength in pratikraman. It deteriorates the power of the karma’s. When charged at rebirth they will have crumbled away, thus not triggering the less desirable life form at rebirth. For this reason, any free moment in life should be used performing pratikraman.
Just how to perform pratikraman? Remember the pure Spirit within the individual whom we invoked pain or hurt during our lifetime. Confess the transgression i.e. devious act, repent and ask forgiveness, promise to never repeat this devious act ever again.
Is there a way to prevent destiny altogether, becoming independent from the cycle of birth and death?
The charging of karma’s occurs as a result of the individual’s ignorance or lack of knowledge regarding the wrongness of his genuine Self. As long as his idea of genuine Self prevails, as well as abhorrence over everything in life continuing to occur, this will trigger brand-new sources of mind, body and speech. However, as soon as this mind set belief of Self is replaced with the belief that ‘I am pure’, abhorrence, and new causes will cease to occur.
Thus, Getting Over Fear of Death – Conquering the Anxiety is accomplished ‘By realizing my Self with the grace of Gnani.’
As long as we have actually not recognized Self, which is the Spirit, we will certainly experience anxiety. It is due to and as a result of our conviction and also belief that ‘I am John and this body is mine’ that there is death. This belief is called vanity, or ego. It is this vanity that experiences anxiety over death, not the Spirit.
Birth, as well as death, are of vanity or the ego. The Spirit is never-ceasing, it was never born thus it will never die. Therefore, when we recognize ‘I am Pure Spirit’, we end up being never-ceasing. When one comes to be never-ceasing, one clearly can not have death, ultimately removing the anxiety of death and dying. So awaken now, while alive, go to Gnani to discover the true answer to ‘Who Am I’, striving to recognize ‘I am Pure Spirit’, therefore conquering the anxiety of death for life!