Suffering vs Death

[GrayOwl]

@whiteraven

I think sometimes suffering is subjective, and can change for the better.
My opinion is usually. But I can be moronically positive.
Reprogramming minds, bodies, and computers; can be a tedious process.

I think humankind has spent millennia contemplating our worth and value. And is life worth it?

Never before have we had so many media advising us that our life is insignificant and that we are and worthless unless:
* We drink Hogweiser…..
*Brush our teeth with Crust.....
*Wear fancy clothes.....
*BlahBlahBlah...…blahblah…..

From every direction comes someone selling us on the notion that we have little worth. But we can attain that by using their product, their advice, their etcetcetc..... A constant assault.

Bestowing a kind word. Helping a animal. A random act of kindness. All items of great value. Things I'll be your cats see every day.
But they don't show up on socities' list of "meaningful".

Given a choice of having my evil bosses' bank account or living a life as your cat, I would probably choose to be your cat. And that makes you a person of great value. ?

 

[whiteraven]

Given a choice of having my evil bosses' bank account or living a life as your cat, I would probably choose to be your cat. And that makes you a person of great value. ?

Oh, that was just too nice. :-) Thank you, @GrayOwl!

 

[runswithwolves]

I don't understand at all why people believe it is preferable to live with immeasurable suffering than to die.

Just not getting it.

I'd love to hear thoughts...

Because even in a world with so much pain in suffering your bound to run into beauty again and if your lucky you can keep it for a while, you can keep for a moment, you can keep for a lifetime while just putting it down for the minor challenges not the big ones. If that makes any sense to anyone

 

[Ronin]

*raises hand*

... both made sense, and I think I ran into beauty reading your words, @runswithwolves :tup:

 

[runswithwolves]

*raises hand*

... both made sense, and I think I ran into beauty reading your words, @runswithwolves :tup:

aw i am so happy you could connect to it

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

I choose to live, even though I sometimes feel emotional pain, because the good times in my life make it worth it.

 

[grit]

I will throw something out there but actually a lot of people do not believe this.

This belief is very much one of our current culture being north america/western/mostly European background. Fear of death, taboo death, going when life gets tough and many other issues surrounding around death are cultural not humanity based or biologically based. Death and birth are one of most culturally sensitive and so integral it is really hard to get out of the bubble and see for what they are.

They are mostly what we are told often or what we are not told intentionally or culturally. And a lot of times it can be more political than emotional like people do not want to belief you just showed up and had no saying why you are born but god you must have everybody else weigh on why you should not go back to wherever you came from - oblivious. The belief is so strong that most people cannt depart from it.

I lost two very close people to me and I suffered many miscarriages and since then, I have had quite a bit change in me about death and grieving and suffering and I hope you make peace with both if that is the moment you find yourself. It is quite profound state of mind to find one and I hope you find relief.

On the same topic but slightly (without offending anyone) different twist, there was some headline today about that boxer who bit an ear some time ago (I cannot recall his name now) talking about death as well and even though he sort of dense (my opinion) I was quite surprised his growth and understanding about death, struggle in life, and feelings of emptiness. I was quite impressed.

 

[whiteraven]

This belief is very much one of our current culture being north america/western/mostly European background. Fear of death, taboo death, going when life gets tough and many other issues surrounding around death are cultural not humanity based or biologically based. Death and birth are one of most culturally sensitive and so integral it is really hard to get out of the bubble and see for what they are.

Thanks, @grit. I'm Buddhist, so I actually have a different understanding of death than the traditional western one. I think that how I view death and suffering right now are a product of depression primarily.

Suffering, impermanence, death - they just are. And that, for me, creates an amazing sense of peace. And I believe that how we die is important. But right now...I'm not able to connect with any of it emotionally.

 

[grit]

I felt you were projecting peacefulness.

 

[GrayOwl]

I felt you were projecting peacefulness.

?

 

[osiris]

Not a Buddhist but taking massive comfort in Buddhist teachings as I walk this current path.