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irossall Special user Snohomish, Washington 529 Posts |
Pyrojeffnic asked what the meaning of life was, so I thought that I would ask the opposite question.
I tend to think that Life is eternal for us all, and that Death is just a passage into our next Life. We may all be part of one collective, which would give credence to the old saying that "As you do to other's, You do to yourself". I am angnostic, so I really don't have any belief system but I am always interested in what other's have to say on this subject. Iven
Give the gift of Life, Be an Organ Donor.
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ChrisZampese Veteran user Hamilton, NZ 341 Posts |
The meaning of death? Hm, maybe its to get rid of us before we have a chance to figure out what the meaning of life is!
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
I've always liked the line from THE END, which is a Burt Reynold's movie where he wants to commit suicide. His friend keeps asking him what he means by death and he says, "You know, death... that's where you hold your breath forever and there's dirt on your face!"
Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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Tom Cutts Staff Northern CA 5925 Posts |
Death... it is when you can legaly pay no taxes.
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
What death? Or perhaps whose death?
Meaning is a thing that exists within the living and sentient. Lots of chickens, cattle, fish and plants died today. Their lives and deaths mean nothing to me as a person. Their existence and meaning was and remains somehow contained in the notion of 'food'. Many people died today too. As far as I know, I did not meet any of them. Perhaps I know someone who has met or is a family member of one of them. Still a bit abstract, though I feel more for the ones they leave behind. No personal connection. A few weeks ago Peter Kane passed on. I never met the man. I did develop a version of one of his tricks, 'wildcard'. I had twenty odd years between the time I invented the thing and when he passed on to show him the thing and thank him for sharing his trick with the magic community. I didn't. He is gone. I have some feelings about that. A friend lost a brother a couple of years ago. I watched the loss affect his family. I have some feelings about that too. Does this walk along awareness of mortality help you? Do you drive carefully along the road that may end suddenly and without so much as a 'bridge out' sign? Have you learned from any of those who left markers along your road? Have you left any useful signs for those that follow?
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Greg Arce Inner circle 6732 Posts |
Another one I remember is from Woody Allen: "I don't believe in an afterlife, but I am bringing a change of underwear."
Greg
One of my favorite quotes: "A critic is a legless man who teaches running."
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irossall Special user Snohomish, Washington 529 Posts |
It seems to me that we were all dead before coming into this life. If this is true, then my thoughts are, why can't we have more lives after this one?
Iven
Give the gift of Life, Be an Organ Donor.
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Bernard Sim Inner circle Singapore 1095 Posts |
Chinese believed what you'll be in your next life will depend on what you do in this present life. Wheels of Karma? Upon death, the dead person will decend to hell and get punished for the sins committed.
Different punishment for different sins. Eg, tongue will be cut over and over again if one tell lies. A total of 18 levels of hell. Once the punishment is completed, then the spirit will be reincarnated to human, animal, insect etc. True or not depends on individual.
Bernard Sim
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Scott Cram Inner circle 2678 Posts |
Death is that state in which you exist only in the memory of others.
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Kjellstrom Inner circle Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe 5203 Posts |
Eternal sleep.
Get a comfortable bed before you die...its a long sleep. |
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Reg Rozee Special user Vancouver, Canada 592 Posts |
The eternal equalizer. No matter how great or how lowly, how rich or how poor, how strong or how weak, when the reaper comes all are helpless before him.
Death gives meaning to life. It is the other half of the greatest duality. One can not exist without the other. If life had no end, how many of the events we cherish would become dull and routine, knowing we can always find that person again, return to that spot again, or have that experience again? Death is an agent of change. It is an essential part of evolution of all kinds. Since we live in finite space, there would be no room for anything new if nothing old passed. Knowing it is waiting for you but not knowing when, it provides an impetus to live your life as well as you can before you can't. -Reg {*}
Reality is what doesn't go away when you stop believing in it. -Phillip K. Dick
Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes? -Chico Marx |
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Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
The lack of echo that comes back from the abyss cues us to impose some voice upon the silence and some meaning upon the words we wait to hear.
Very difficult to mark a place on a meta-map without recoiling from attempts to associate into the place itself. Most sweeping generalities fail to patch the growing void where the spot was marked. The spot has become an abyss of its own in our vocabulary, syntax and grammar. re: Death gives meaning to life We often flee from the abyss even as we try to gain some focus upon it from a safe map. Notice how the sentence above makes every attempt to avoid personal contact with the subject. The phrase becomes a plea for questions that the writer may wish unanswered; Whose death? What meaning for whom? Whose life? I've often wondered how to draw, paint or graphically illustrate a black sun that casts darkness in the same way our sun casts light. I have trouble making that picture work. The sky or even a still life with the addition of a source of darkness as well as the usual source(s) of light. I suggest we focus on what comes before death and making every moment of being something positive.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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irossall Special user Snohomish, Washington 529 Posts |
If death gives meaning to life, does life give meaning to death?
As far as life getting dull, it seems to me that death (if it is eternal) would be dull as well. I have too many things to learn and see, and life is just too short for a slow learner like me. If I could live for 10,000 years, maybe I could be as good a magician as Dai Vernon. Iven
Give the gift of Life, Be an Organ Donor.
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kid iowa Loyal user Oklahoma 300 Posts |
Question:
We all hear about people who died, went to Heaven (or the white light at the end of the tunnel with relatives, etc), but how come we never hear about people who go to Hell and come back? Does Hell have a "no return" policy? For the record, I do believe in an afterlife, I don't really adhere to any specific version of what it is, and as a hobby I like reading books about people who have been there, or are somewhat "connected" to it, like that Brown lady who is always on the Montell show. Don't bash me for it! Just an interesting hobby for me, doesn't hurt to expand the mind or imagination Anyone know of someone who had a near death experience? Here's mine: I was a Navy Corpsman for the Marines during the first Gulf War. We had a Sgt. get hit and clinically go dead, no pulse/breathing/reflexes/NOTHING. He was sent to the rear (the large field hospital), pronounced dead by a doctor and was about to be put in the morgue when he started talking. I had a friend who was there and he said that the Sgt. was calm as can be. Said that he knows that he's going to heaven when it's really time to go. He was walking in a field and came to a huge wall, he followed it for some time, and when he reached the end he turned the corner and saw a huge line of people. He was walking toward it when his brother (who had died in a car wreck) came up to him and told him to go home. The next thing he knew he was scaring the pee out of the medical staff. I tend to believe this guy, he was one of the "stick up the butt, the Corp. comes first, hard core all the way" Marines and wasn't prone to telling stories.
Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile...can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, "I served in the United States Navy." J.F.K.
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Samuel Catoe Inner circle South Carolina 1268 Posts |
Death is just nature's way of telling you to slow down.
Author of Illusions of Influence, a treatise on Equivoque.
PM me for details and availability. |
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leefoley3 Elite user Texas 402 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-04-08 07:56, irossall wrote: I think yes. I'm not sure about a "meaning" to life or death but I can agree that death gives meaning to life and vice versa. Knowing that death is inevitable gives you the opportunity (if you choose) to make choices in your life based on the fact that we never know when our time is up. For me, death is a reminder that we can't keep procrastinating, taking tomorrow for granted. If it's a priority to you, do it as soon as possible. Before you "buck the kicket"! Motivational, yeah, that's the word I was looking for! If I get time over the weekend I'll check back, unless I've "cashed the check"! Lee.
In December of '06 I was diagnosed with a very rare cancer, Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans. One in a million people worldwide are diagnosed with this type of cancer annually. Sarcomas account for 1% of all cancers. Knowledge is power!
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Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
Interesting topic and lots of great responses!
For me, my philosophy has been that most of the population fears death where in reality it's actually life they fear the most. They may not realize it, but, the "Fear of Failure" syndrome prevents many from living to their full potential. How many people never try things because they are afraid or stuck in dead end jobs wishing they had the guts to have fulfilled their dreams? Those that take chances and overcome the dreaded Fear of Failure, in my opinion have much happier and fulfilling lives that there are no regrets on their death beds. As to what happens afterwards...I'm not sure but keep an open mind about it. C |
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Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5444 Posts |
The End! That’s it! Goodnight! Nothing else follows!
I don’t really fear death. I fear pain and suspect that most events that could lead me to my death are painful experiences. But I could be wrong!
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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Samuel Catoe Inner circle South Carolina 1268 Posts |
The reason people fear death is because they have not lived enough. Live each day as if there is no more. Leave nothing left unsaid. If it can wait until tomorrow to be said, it is not worth saying. If it can wait until tomorrow to be done, do not worry over it today. Live each day as if it were your last and live it to the fullest. Find life in death. That is the meaning of Death. Leave nothing undone, for when you are dead there is no more you can do.
Author of Illusions of Influence, a treatise on Equivoque.
PM me for details and availability. |
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Mya Angel Special Assistant California 1396 Posts |
Isn't it interesting that people who profess they don't believe always have their own idea of what it is period.
But to answer your question, I think death is to remind us to live. Mya
There is nothing that remains so constant as change. Don't end up like concrete, all mixed up and permanently set.
He who slings mud will surely lose ground. |
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