Bruins8000

Why do “human individuals” fear death if there truly are no individuals that exist? It’s a universal fear.

In many corners of nonduality (I.E Rupert Spira) deep sleep and death are often compared. It’s explained that your “true self”/consciousness loses all the extra layers (relationships, desires, personal stories) in deep sleep and also in death. Of course deep sleep is temporary- it isn’t feared because you have the expectation of waking up again in the morning. Why are deep sleep and death talked about by many as a way someone returns to their true self? Doesn’t that sound dualistic? There was never a someone to return to a true self- it’s all THIS. Also why is death talked about as no problem because it’s akin to deep sleep? As I said before you expect (most of the time) to return from deep sleep. In death we truly don’t know what occurs but returning to the physical life as you know it isn’t in the cards.

Why are living things born just to die? Realize I’m talking relatively here- of course ultimately there is only THIS. Nevertheless- why? Is it just the way it is?

What are the other possibilities?

Is that the only possibility though? Creation and destruction? Seems limiting. Or is that maybe just what we experience in our human reality? I have to imagine in some other dimension it could be different. All words in the end- I know

I might have been a little confusing and unclear before in why I was even pondering this. All in all, it doesn’t really matter to me on a personal level no. It matters to me on how THIS/the all is. If THIS only creates “beings” that must be born and must die- isn’t that kind of unoriginal and boring? It clashes with the idea that THIS is limitless and ultimate/full potential. THIS/the Ultimate can’t imagine a form that doesn’t go through the same old story of being born and dying? That’s what is hanging me up right now

I mean THIS i.e the infinite all/“god”

That just seems limiting and that idea has always given me issues. If THIS is infinite and all powerful there should be zero restrictions or impossibilities, up to and including non-transient forms.

I get that from a scientific framework. Are there dimensions/realities (in the relative sense) beyond our comprehension where “forms” subsist forever/don’t die? Maybe beyond time

My heart is broken right now. My beloved cat, 18 years old, passed away last evening. We had her for many years. We adopted her when she was a “senior “ after she had been in two not so great living situations. Finally when my wife and I took her home she had a place where she was the focus and could be fully loved. We gave her a peaceful and loving life these last number of years. You could see her joy that we made her such an integral part of our family. I know ultimately she’s now one with everything (and always was) and I feel her presence in my heart. I know the tenets of nonduality believe me. Maybe a foolish question but my mind is tired at the moment and I feel awful. Even in the context of nonduality there’s still that hope, that spark that after I pass in the future I may connect with her again right? Maybe in some energetic, different type of body sort of way? Maybe like Rust Cohle said in True Detective- maybe we meld together in some sort of substance after death. One that can’t be described and isn’t like being fully extinguished but something we feel is real. I don’t know…just looking for a spark of hope here. I may be grasping at straws looking for an answer that soothes me in a forum for nonduality but I respect everyone’s insights here. You guys look deeply at things. Thanks

Thank you both

Bump

Is it just me or does the idea often posited in nonduality forums that the reason for this apparent separation/reality/multiplicity is because the “Infinite was bored/wanted to pretend it wasn’t itself” seem very sophomoric and human-centric? THIS being bored or having desires is limiting….and THIS can’t be limited or shouldn’t have limits if it’s boundless. Isn’t it not one/not two? Doesn’t boredom imply a “one” that has some sort of feeling of lack? Just seems these explanations seem like something you’d hear at a Bible school class….tinted with Christianity and the “old man in the sky” having a personal reason to “create”…rather than THIS just being THIS, apparent separation or not.

Why are there bodies? And why are they so inextricably linked to conscious experience? Are they a prerequisite for any experience?

Thanks. It can be confusing to understand. @Leo Gura your thoughts here? I always appreciate your wisdom/insight.

But why? Doesn’t that seem limiting if THIS (infinity) can only perceive through form/bodies? Shouldn’t infinity be able to do anything no matter how outlandish, nonsensical, or completely out of this world?

Thanks for the reply. I don’t know though. That seems very “bible creation story”, Genesis-esque to me. I don’t think THIS has desires or wants or needs to show itself in form.

What is experience? Is there only experience? Why does experience depend on “apparent separation “? If THIS needs apparent separation to EVER have experience that seems very limiting doesn’t it?

I guess that’s my biggest question- can there ever be an experience without the seeming “you that experiences”

Care to expand on that a bit? Overall I do know all of this deep down but sometimes it gets clouded over….I tend to twist myself into a pretzel sometimes overthinking everything….

@Leo Gura Leo- curious to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks

Lack of conscious experience.

Is experience vs. non-experience ultimately a duality that must be collapsed?

Could there be a type of experience that doesn’t need to utilize spacetime? THIS is infinite so I imagine in all of its creativity there could be some type of experience humans cannot fathom that doesn’t rely on spacetime. Thoughts?

Thanks for your reply Leo. Can you give an example if you don’t mind?