A great German philosopher, perhaps the greatest of the 20th century philosophers, Martin Heidegger, observed that man is a “living death” (Sein zum Tode). People only live authentically when they are aware that they are on a journey back to their most fundamental source, which is death. Since ancient times, few people have not trembled at the thought of this end, except for perhaps the heroic heroes who proudly declared, “Life is from the ancient lobes to death\/The hand and heart shine brightly” (Nhan Born in the past, no one will die\/ A heart that shines through green history. Poetry by Van Thien Tuong). Much of human philosophy and religion stems from the attempt to respond to this ultimate challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But is death the end of everything?\u00a0Does the dust return to dust?\u00a0Is “A World of Return” by Bui Giang or “A World of Others” by Nguyen Du the only consequence of a human life full of longing for immortality?\u00a0What do we know about death?\u00a0According to philosopher Wittgenstein, a man no less great than Heidegger, “death” is not a matter of human life, not a part of “life,” so we have to give up considering it as something abnormal. enlightenment.\u00a0Author Rodney Smith, a Buddhist practitioner who practiced for many years in Thailand and Myanmar, provides us with an interesting insight based on his experiences with people near and far in hospitals.\u00a0He strongly criticized the attitude, mainly of Western people, when they worshiped life and feared death, seeing it as a destructive force, taking away the best.\u00a0When we fear death, we close the door to new experiences that connect life and death.\u00a0For a long time, the Eastern mind, nurtured mainly in Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, has always maintained a calm, peaceful attitude toward death.\u00a0Westerners, under the influence of Christianity, view life as unique, completely separate from the darkness of Death.\u00a0Jesus Christ is glorified because He conquered the lord of the underworld.\u00a0In the thinking of most Asian religions, both “death” and “life” are just two sides of the same living reality that is always circulating.\u00a0\u201cBeginning\u201d or \u201cending\u201d only has relative value.\u00a0The most important attitude of mind is the attitude of letting go.\u00a0Just the word “equanimity” in the four words “love, compassion, joy, renunciation,” is enough to summarize the essential spirit of Buddhism.\u00a0“Equanimity” (upeksha<\/em>\u00a0in Sanskrit) is translated very accurately in English as “equanimity”, expressing an open attitude towards all forms of “reality”, without being entangled. caught in anger, greed, or sadness when \u201creality\u201d changes.\u00a0Death is also one of the “faces” of human “reality” that we need to recognize in an inseparable relationship with present life.\u00a0Death is not the ultimate end.\u00a0It could very well be the beginning of unknown experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But that is not the most important message that Rodney Smith wants to send to readers.\u00a0A person with strong religious beliefs (a Buddhist a Christian, or a believer who worships Allah) is not haunted by death.\u00a0People who do not have religious beliefs (like most scientists) see death as the end, the end of a natural biological process.\u00a0But neither of these groups sees contemplating the meaning of death as a gateway to a truly more fulfilling life.\u00a0Living, existing, for many people is anxiety, sorrow, and regret.\u00a0Worried about an uncertain future, one must collect and hoard a lot of wealth.\u00a0Greedily enjoy and hunt for as many material pleasures as possible because they think that death is the end, there is nothing left.\u00a0And that will inevitably lead to trouble because with our boundless desire, will we ever be satisfied?\u00a0While lying on the hospital bed waiting for Death to come and take him away to a strange land, people regret the countless sorrows and mistakes of the past.\u00a0If only we could go back.\u00a0If only we weren’t so passionate about making money that we forget about our families.\u00a0If only we were aware of the true values \u200b\u200bin life sooner.\u00a0According to Rodney Smith, death itself is the great teacher who helps us truly live better.\u00a0Most of us never ponder this until it’s too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The book is a philosophical treatise on death and life.\u00a0It is really necessary for those who are busy in life and want to stop and reflect on the value of existence.\u00a0The Buddha replied to the murderer Angulimala who was chasing him when he cried out: “O monk, stop!”: “I have stopped.\u00a0Only you haven’t stopped yet!\u201d\u00a0Sometimes we need to stop in the flow of life to ask ourselves the question: “Where are we going?”\u00a0Can you stop yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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