(05-02-2010, 05:57 PM)Bring4th_Monica Wrote: We know that intellectually. But I'd venture to say we'd all run, with the same degree of terror, if chased by a tiger.
You had me until the tiger part. What you said is true and I am finding the same thing that there are some people who do exactly what you just described above. I would like to at least think that there is another group of people who are not as troubled by the death. And they not only intellectually understand that death is a transition but also understand it in a more deeper and real way.
In my own life- My mom is terrified of death and I can not even talk to her after I mention it. It just brings all kinds of guards up. On the other hand my wife and my daughter (10 yrs) have had several detailed conversations with me about the topic. As a child my daughter was very afraid of the death and kept asking us about dying and what would happen to her if she dies or what would happen to her if one of us die or both of us die. It gave us an opportunity to talk to her about the spiritual aspects of death/birth/life and continuing life after death. She is very comfortable about the whole subject now. I guess when she realized our true peace on this topic it had a calming effect on her mind. Just the other weekend we had my author friend come for lunch. He has written about the life plan before the birth. He talked about his discoveries and my daughter was curious and asked a question.
Now coming to the tiger
. I don't think we will all run with the same degree of terror. Some people would surely run Helter-Skelter and right into a tree, they would be so terrified that their mind would freeze to their own disadvantage. While on the other hand there would be some people who would keep their wits and may take a different course of action. They may still be running but only until they find a potential weapon, or lead tiger away from other loved ones or lead the tiger right to a trap or even fight the tiger with an intention to either kill it or damage it enough to not do further harm to others.The reason I took time to explain this in detail is that it does not have to be just one way, the way of being terrified. The life presents other wonderful options as well...