Coming to terms with death

[Mentally Ill]

I have very recently been contemplating my death (not in a depressed suicidal way, but as a curious critical thinker) and have finally come to terms with it's inevitability.
I always knew that I would die eventually and haven't been suffering from illusions of grandeur that I might live forever, but I had never actually considered the significance of my future death.
After giving it much thought, accepting my death has released me from many of my past preoccupations with material wealth. I will go about my day-to-day activities, day by day, until my body can no longer function well enough to support my consciousness, and I will cease to exist.
I can truly say, I am now ready to die. And, now, I feel more than ever, that I can truly say, I am ready to live.

Does anyone else here share my thoughts and does anyone here have any philosophical analysis of this story?
I would greatly appreciate a plurality of viewpoints on this topic, as I am still currently fascinated by the notion of my own death.




P.S.
I've also tried LSD multiple times over the course of the last 8 months and I can honestly say that my experience with the universe during those times has changed me from an atheist into a person who believes there is something more than the physical realm. I would not call what I believe in "god" because of the connotations that come along with that term, but I would call it a unity of existence, perhaps, or a shared universal energy that permeates everything.

P.S.S.
Please do not attempt to judge my drug use. I know my rights as an individual and will not tolerate any holier-than-thou attitudes. Thank you.
If you have also tried LSD, I would appreciate any insight you gained while on the drug, as I truly believe it to be a consciousness-expanding experience.

[IntoTheLight]

Originally Posted by Mentally Ill

I have very recently been contemplating my death (not in a depressed suicidal way, but as a curious critical thinker) and have finally come to terms with it's inevitability.

Good. Most people never consider it.

I always knew that I would die eventually and haven't been suffering from illusions of grandeur that I might live forever, but I had never actually considered the significance of my future death. After giving it much thought, accepting my death has released me from many of my past preoccupations with material wealth. I will go about my day-to-day activities, day by day, until my body can no longer function well enough to support my consciousness, and I will cease to exist.

Join the club. =)

I can truly say, I am now ready to die. And, now, I feel more than ever, that I can truly say, I am ready to live.

"When I thought I was learning to live, I found that I was really learning to die." -- Gallileo

Does anyone else here share my thoughts and does anyone here have any philosophical analysis of this story?

Well... I wouldn't say that I "share your thoughts" exactly, but I, too, realize the inevitability of death. In fact, I'm kind of looking forward to it.
I"m not suicidal (though I have been several times) nor depressed (though I have been in the past). I simply recognize that death is the natural end of life and I don't fear it.

This life, for me at least, has been really difficult and I won't be sad when it is over. Oh, sure, I've had some great times and will likely have some great times in the future, but when it's all almost over for me, I won't be sad.

I have absolutely no idea about any sort of "afterlife". This life is complex enough without worrying about another life.

I would greatly appreciate a plurality of viewpoints on this topic, as I am still currently fascinated by the notion of my own death.

We all die - as simple as that. Coming to terms with it is, I think, a very rational place to be.

I've also tried LSD multiple times over the course of the last 8 months and I can honestly say that my experience with the universe during those times has changed me from an atheist into a person who believes there is something more than the physical realm. I would not call what I believe in "god" because of the connotations that come along with that term, but I would call it a unity of existence, perhaps, or a shared universal energy that permeates everything.

LOL - You're talking to a long-time acid user. I quit in 2000, but I've fried on acid many, many times. I've also candy-flipped.

Please do not attempt to judge my drug use. I know my rights as an individual and will not tolerate any holier-than-thou attitudes. Thank you.
If you have also tried LSD, I would appreciate any insight you gained while on the drug, as I truly believe it to be a consciousness-expanding experience.

We could have an entire discussion about acid. I've fried over 200 times, usually taking between 3-4 hits. Most of my trips lasted from 2-3 days (quite exhausting, I'll tell you). Even though I quit acid in 2000, I still have a lot of 'fry-toys' at my house.

-ITL-

[prothero]

Birth is the beginning of personal experience.
Death is the end of personal experience.
Forget about heaven and hell and the afterlife, just maximize your experience while you have the chance.
Take Sominex tonight and sleep, deep and restful sleep, sleep, sleep.

[Mentally Ill]

well, we can't exactly be sure death is the end of personal experience, but that seems to be the most logical belief...
if you believe that the observer behind your ego is a soul, then death could be something completely different than we think it is
when I took acid one time, I felt detached from my body, like it was alien to me, and I felt like a soul inside a machine
"I" was an observing consciousness and my body was just my body
but what's most likely the case is that my observing consciousness is a product of my biology, in which case, it will be gone when I die

[3k1yp2]

yeah, i pretty much have always accepted death as inevitable, but with me its a sort of apathy towards my death. People (friends and family) have told me that i should care more about my own death because then i'll cease to exist, but if Death comes aknockin, then whatever. Maybe things'll change when i have kids. I'm only 18 now, but one day... either way, i intend to enjoy life best as i can because so far I've spent my childhood raising my brothers.

[martchelo]

i just wish i could have an insight just like you. i mean, death is so natural that i find it hard to actually care about, and maybe that means i havent learned how to live properly.
i had an experience with lsd once. i had some crazy toughts. i guess these drugs that make you lose your inhibition just make you accept your inner truths, easily...

sorry for the english!

[andy1984]

i am afraid of dying. i'm a vegan, and my reasons for being vegan are partially to do with my own fear of death and dying. perhaps if i was a hunter or a fisher i would better be able to understand death, having personally inflicted it in something more similar to myself than an annoying insect.

i killed a mosquito last night, it was noisy and i couldn't sleep so i found it and squashed it. there was no moral thought or feeling associated. i'm glad that it is dead. i guess since i couldn't look into its face i don't mind. a dead mammal would be different, i could see its dead face and see my own future.

i feel very isolated from death. i haven't experienced anyone i know dying. my family thought my grandma was going to die a while ago and i went to visit her. a part of me perversely just wanted to see what this death thing was all about. she didn't die (yay).

i do think about death, but until i have more experience with it it will remain alien to me. maybe when i am older and wiser.

[Mentally Ill]

you will never experience your own death. because it will happen when your life is over and you are no longer in existence to experience it. so don't be afraid of death.
and dying...dying is just another word for living. it's your transition into death, happening as we speak. for some, it is longer than others.

[Zetherin]

Originally Posted by Mentally Ill

you will never experience your own death. because it will happen when your life is over and you are no longer in existence to experience it. so don't be afraid of death.
and dying...dying is just another word for living. it's your transition into death, happening as we speak. for some, it is longer than others.

Dying is another word for living?

[mister kitten]

If one wants to look at life that way, then they could Zeth. I sometimes refer to myself as a dying artist (I'm only 15-years-old).