Being around death — by @babaramdass
For many of us, the thought of death,
thinking of when we or someone we love is going to die,
keeps us from being here now.
When will we die?
How will we die?
What will happen after we die?
What will happen to our loved ones?
What about all the things we hoped to accomplish?
These deep fears and anxieties about our survival keep us from living fully in the present moment.
Most of us are convinced that we are our egos,
which is who we think we are.
The ego is part of our incarnation.
It dies with the body, which is why we are so afraid of death.
Death scares the hell out of who you think you are,
especially if you think you are this body.
Being around death forces you to open to a deeper part
of yourself. The shadow, especially the shadow of death,
is the greatest teacher for how to come to the light.
When you are fully present in the moment,
there is no anticipatory fear, no anxiety,
because you are living here and now,
not in the future.
Words by Ram Dass. Listen to his beautiful talk “what do you believe happens after death” | Photo: Lachlan Bailey and Anja Rubik for VOGUE PARIS April 2018.