"We are alive, therefore we will die."

The Prophet ,Kahlil Gibran, On Death  

"You would know the secret of death. But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heath of life? The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light. If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life. For life and death are one, even as the river and sea are one. In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond; and like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring. Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity. Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honor. Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king? Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling? For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered? Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance." 

What is Death
" Death is the cessation of the connection between our Mind and our body." 
Although intellectually we all know that one day we shall die, generally we are so reluctant to think of our death that this knowledge does not touch our hearts, and we live our life as if we were going to be in this world forever. 
As a result the things of this world – such as material possessions, reputation, popularity, and the pleasures of the senses – become of paramount importance, so we devote almost all our time and energy to obtaining them and engage in many negative actions for their sake. We are so preoccupied with the concerns of this life that there is little room in our mind for genuine spiritual practice. When the time of death actually arrives we discover that by having ignored death all our life we are completely unprepared. 
What is death?  
Death is the cessation of the connection between our Mind and our body. 
Most people believe that death takes place when the heart stops beating; but this does not mean that the person has died, because his subtle Mind may still remain in his body. Death occurs when the subtle consciousness finally leaves the body . Our body is like a guesthouse and our Mind like the guest. The Mind is neither physical, nor a by-product of purely physical processes,( the Mind is not the brain) but is a formless continuum that is both a separate entity from the body and at one with the body. This pardox allows us to know the Higher Mind while living in the body. When the body disintegrates at death the Mind does not cease. 
Although our superficial conscious mind (the daily chattering mind) ceases, it does so by dissolving into a deeper level of consciousness, the very subtle mind; and the continuum of the very subtle mind has no beginning and no end. It is this mind which, when we spend time and effort to understand and let go our worldly attachments, including fear,anxiety, misery and the idea that material goods and societies pressure to live with prestige will make one happy.  
The transition of death can be made easier through an active forgiveness of self. 
Some people do it by actively gathering friends and loved ones around. Others do it by themselves. Still others do it long before the last stages life knowing that dying to grievance and arising to the life of forgiveness, daily,  affords us the ease to pass over without the baggage of fear.

 Peace of Mind
  Peace with my heart Peace, my heart, let the time for the parting be sweet. Let it not be a death but completeness. Let love melt into memory and pain into songs. Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of the wings over the nest. Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like the flower of the night. Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment, and say your last words in silence. I bow to you and hold up my lamp to light you on your way. ~Rabindranath Tagore   

I will come to you to talk of these things, death,life,forgiveness, love.  If  you are in the last stages of life, or you or a close friend or family member is dying. I can come in person if you live near to me on the Gold Coast , Queensland, Australia or we can talk by email margo@gracefultransitions.com.au or by phone or skype . please contact   Margo Knox  http://www.gracefultransitions.com.au

Bereavement & Listening

Bereavement & Listening
A bereaved person who has not sucessfully grieved is more prone to illness, both physical and psychological.
There are several basic principals to remember:
It is normal and healthy to express intense and painful emotions relating to loss.
Grieving is important for healing the wound of seperation
A bereaved person may experience a wide range of feelings ; shock, sadness, anger, guilt, depression, and despair, as well as relief, hope and acceptance.
The painful feelings will diminish with time. if they remain intense and prolonged, then professional help may be required
A total absence of grief, when a person carries on as thought nothing has happened, is not healthy sign and also may indicate the need for professional help.
(Thanks to Mal McKissock, "Coping with Grief")
When listening to friend or relative who is grieving, firstly listen and listening deeply.
They do not want to be "fixed up"
Their grief is normal and real for them.
If  it makes you afraid or not know what to say.
Then dont say anything .
 Remain calm and open.
Then at a later date ask yourself what the fear is?
Is there grief you haven't dealt with?
Are you afriad of the death and dying process?
All these questions will come up for you when you have a close friend or relative die.
They are wonderful questions to tackle in life
Because they are life's big questions
All the best
The questions you face for yourself or your family can be worked through with someone like myself,

Margo Knox
Iam available by email or phone or in person on the Gold Coast , Australia
margo@gracefultransitions.com.au
ph 0409476803

http://www.gracefultransitions.com.au