How death sets us free

while living to the fullest

All fear is ultimately a fear of death. I’ll explain what I mean.

We all fear something. And that’s healthy. You need to keep the muzzle of fear on a leash if you want to survive physically.

When you dig into every fear you have – and most of us have veritable hosts of them buzzing around – you hit suffering. Nobody wants to suffer. Whether you’re scared of not being socially accepted, failing at something, or losing your financial or relational security, it all boils down to not wanting to suffer. Why would you?

But suffering still lurks, even in the most joyous of moments – because these moments end. Everything ends. Everything dies. Some traditions argue that, in a very real sense, we are all already dead, because all we grasp onto is doomed.

So whatever we are afraid of, it comes down to being afraid to let go. Let go of control, or rather, the illusion of control that controls you.

This is why, acknowledging the presence of death in everything we fear is so liberating and empowering.

Peering into the jaws of fear enables us to take off our rose tinted glasses – take off the entire VR headset. And it gives us agency. You can choose the path of self pity, or you can fortify your inner superhero. You can choose to show up and dare to make your little corner of the world a better place. You can defy the circumstances and death itself, not by seeking immutability, but by transmuting your fear of decay. What do you choose?

Remember. Your choice is a matter of moment to moment awareness. No choice is final, but every choice has a consequence. Such is the Law of Karma.

By releasing our illusions about permanence, we allow ourselves to enjoy the playground of this very moment. We are free to empower ourselves with as much fearless joy as we desire. It’s a paradox but it’s true in a very pragmatic sense.

Realising the temporary nature of all phenomena, including your feelings of fear, low self esteem or insecurity, opens up infinite space for creativity. This beast, too, shall pass, so why not ride it into the sunset? And move in the direction of your fear...

Art: When I die a Tree will Bloom by me, private collection