BillKephart Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 As human beings we are to the best of our knowledge the only creatures who are cognizant of our own mortality. Cats, birds, snakes, ants, and mono cellular organisms do not dread their end. It is man alone who caries the knowledge and fear of death. But consider this, if we fear it do we actually know it? It is common to say one only fears that which they do not understand so does it really make sense to in one breath claim to have knowledge of death and to still fear it? It is my opinion that the fear of death is an unnatural thing. It is a recognizable inevitability no different from any other milestone in life and it profits man none to fear it. In fact it is this fear which holds us back from achieving our full potential. So it would be a good idea to try to overcome this fear.To know a thing is to lose fear of a thing. We cannot know death, not with certainty. But we can know the possibilities and if none of those are to be feared then death is not to be feared. Here are the possibilities1. There is no afterlife, you merely cease to exist as a conscious thing upon deathThis is not to be feared for there will not be a you to know you are dead.2. There is an afterlife, no final judgment, everybody goes to the same placeThis is not to be feared because as everybody goes there it is an inevitable state and if there is an afterlife that means there must be a god responsible for this afterlife. Since god must be just (note god can mean any unifying immaterial principle of the universe, so this is true for any religion) our afterlife must be just.3. There is an afterlife and final judgment, people go different places based upon their performance in life. This is not to be feared because if humans were created by god then god endowed us with reason and conscience. It would not make sense for a just god to condemn us for following the very reason and conscience he himself endowed us with therefore if you do your best to follow your reason and conscience you have nothing to fear from the judgment of a just god.Those are the possibilities. None are to be feared, death then is not to be feared. So go and live life without fear of your natural end. Bill Kephart: Chito-ryu Karate, BoxingContributer-Arthur's hall of Viking Manliness http://www.arthurshall.com/index.shtmlModerator-Arthur's Viking Forum http://cybermessageboard.fatcow.com/arthurshall/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yingampyang Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 These are your opinions on what fear is, but everybody fears different things. And i have never feared death. Thats me. I think that there is no 1 style , and that to truly become a great martial artist and person you must take information from where ever you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushido_man96 Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 As humans, we make gains in life; monetary, familial, friendships, etc. Many of us don't want to leave these things behind, and therefore dread death. We don't want to leave our families, or part with our possessions. I think that these are some of the biggest contributors to the fear of death. https://www.haysgym.comhttp://www.sunyis.com/https://www.aikidoofnorthwestkansas.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted March 5, 2008 Share Posted March 5, 2008 I agree with Bushido Man the reason why I fear it is the impact it will have on the people that I love.I personally think number 1 is corrent and that you just cease to exist. Therefore I will not know when I have passed which is a good thing but I find it hard to imagine not being here if you can understand that. That concept is alien to me. The key to everything is continuity achieved by discipline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillKephart Posted March 6, 2008 Author Share Posted March 6, 2008 In actuality I probably could have simplified it.There are really too possibilities afterlife and no afterlife.If we have an afterlife there must be a god responsible for that afterlife and god must be just so our afterlife must be just. And one does not fear justice (a good thing) hence no fear.We have already established no afterlife merits no fear.I find that losing your fear of death and accepting your inevitable fate is necessary to the practice of martial arts. The mind without fear is the mind without weaknesses. If there is nothing you fear nothing can truly conquer you. Bill Kephart: Chito-ryu Karate, BoxingContributer-Arthur's hall of Viking Manliness http://www.arthurshall.com/index.shtmlModerator-Arthur's Viking Forum http://cybermessageboard.fatcow.com/arthurshall/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yingampyang Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 There is also some meditation techniques which train the mind to let go of connection of the heart or emotion. I think that there is no 1 style , and that to truly become a great martial artist and person you must take information from where ever you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Throwdown0850 Posted March 7, 2008 Share Posted March 7, 2008 These are your opinions on what fear is, but everybody fears different things. And i have never feared death. Thats me.no offense ying yang, but if someone hung you above the empire state building and said he was going to let go, you would fear death.. You must become more than just a man in the mind of your opponent. -Henri Ducard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yingampyang Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 no i would fear hight not death , because im scared of heights lol I think that there is no 1 style , and that to truly become a great martial artist and person you must take information from where ever you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Throwdown0850 Posted March 8, 2008 Share Posted March 8, 2008 no i would fear hight not death , because im scared of heights lolthere is just no breaking you is there ying yang? You must become more than just a man in the mind of your opponent. -Henri Ducard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yingampyang Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 Na there isn't sorry. lol I think that there is no 1 style , and that to truly become a great martial artist and person you must take information from where ever you can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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