Fearing the Unknown- 4th October 1991

TO be death-defying does not necessarily mean that you take outrageous risks and risk your life - it could mean rather, that throughout life you defy the fear of death.

There is always anxiety about change, particularly those changes that lead into unknown regions; and understandably much disagreement upon speculations, and sadness upon loss.The pictures range from the whimsical to the sublime, from the nonsensical and ridiculous to damnation - and all in all there can be nothing less than confusion when one merely enters the subject which has locked doors.

Whilst we know of the power of regeneration with regards to living forms and their component cells, one may ask if in fact, such abilities may also be transferred in ways that pertain to our own higher substances. Even when the answer is 'most surely', it is small comfort to those who have little 'proof' of this being correct, sound and true to the life of the spirit.

Also in this, one may wonder as to personal identity and be fearful and guarded that that which we have acquired, nay shafted onto our higher self, may be cast away and dissipated, proving of no use or remnant, and rendering our persona incomplete. 

So we are uncomfortable at the prospect of passing at the moment of death, when all that we have come to recognize shall be removed from view and we no longer make an impact on the life we have come to know. There is sadness at the thought of non-participation and all of us do humbly come to such release, with sadness in parting. Yet in time the burdens of the world press in, and if a man has outlived his middle years he begins to know of the separation which takes place, as the sensory images become shadowy and the handshake grip less firm. There is an attraction drawing him away from the world, and the world itself loses the magnetism which once attracted him so. It may be that there is a transitional period between the two worlds, a pre-death condition in this the 'twilight years'.

Regardless of the passage, and to some extent the preparation for death, it can be said that great courage is of necessity, courage which assures us that come the time all will be well. We know of course that it is eventual - whenever, whatever, the outcome is ordained and explicit. To come to recognition of this in a way which denies the fear of such passing is wholesome to the individual, as reminder of the limitations we have in our term of a lifetime. As a reminder it serves well, that we may begin to view our life moment to moment with precious savor, rather than disregard this time, in belief that it shall remain forever the same.

Although there is nothing new being said here, it is important to ponder, for there shall always be 'unknown' destinies ahead of us, death itself being but one of the first. There are locked doors everywhere. There are doors concealed from us, in this our life. We are curious about one, but ignorant of so many, which can in fact become less of a mystery were that we truly endeavored to explore.

Of course opinion can be, 'I don't want to know', as in the case of death all mysteries may become unspeakable. This condition of soul is something else again. It really does not pertain to the reality of a situation, of expected findings or disappointments, it relates moreover to 'not wanting to know'. It is important that we should root out the dilemma of the one who emphatically maintains this, time and time again, when met with the unknown. It is important because such an attitude is almost self-fulfilling. It is self-denial and most difficult, for there can be many a rude awakening. For as a traveller who sets about to see the sights upon the agenda, and not upon the landscape, he may miss out on much beauty, and much which makes the journey worthy. However, the dips and the curves that are not mapped out, will still be made apparent and catch the unwary. Even dips and curves can of themselves be quite negotiable when visible, but prove hazardous to the blind man who may not adjust and calculate accordingly.

And so, in the first instance, we must accept that there is much we do not presently understand - the after-death condition being just one of the mysteries that will one day be encountered. Secondly, we must hold the attitude which says, 'I seek to understand, I am ready for the unknown, so that when it comes upon me, I shall be ready to learn - make it known to me'. That the mysteries become a challenge, and with vigor and refreshment we approach change and all that is indefinable to us, with confidence again.

Many of us view our little children, who in innocence are eager to make discoveries and eager to tread the unexplored path. We impress upon them our concerns in the world and necessarily watch over them for the main part; fearful for them in the ways we have found to be dangerous and harmful. Of course, as an adult we have limitations also and learn that we cannot do entirely as we please- we cannot run willy-nilly headfirst into danger waving a flag of discovery. Apprehension may well be warranted and informed concern a necessary approach; and adulthood, our maturity, is a strict keeper who accordingly dictates the alarms of limitations.

Once we have reached the sober point of knowing best how to watch out for ourselves, we can also compensate such necessity with an overview as to the nature of all of that which is still widely unknown by us. We dearly wish for a 'fix-it man' who may instantly fix the immediate problems. We have no fix-it man and therefore there will be times where we may feel quite helpless, and that no remedy or advice is available to us.

Perhaps in the short-term we shall not be satisfied and will have to look to the longer term, that we might find answers to adjustments and keys to the past. And so, there will be dark, unknown periods. It is in these times that we need the outlook which defies our fears and trusts in the unknowable becoming known.

If our attitude is always that we can keep destiny apart from us simply by ignoring her, then we are mistaken. If we are to glean any knowledge from her, then we must learn to accept her and begin to see and interpret her, as she presents herself. If we close our eyes to her as from the start, we shall be evermore frightened and startled at first greeting.

We must never act against our conscience, for this is a personal violation of oneself, as well as of others. We must heed concern in all seriousness, when called for. As past experience decides, we learn to discern accordingly.

However, when one approaches the realms of that which is utterly unknown by us, at that moment one need not fear, especially if the fear is unwarranted. We carry a great burden of this 'fear of the unknown' within us. It inhibits much of our thought. It makes for much nervousness. That we cannot accept something which is beyond our personal control, and we have lost unto this fear that stable feeling of surety. But it is not because the world and its aspects, the Cosmos and its aspects, are so much larger than ourselves, that makes us fearful, it is rather the fear itself. For conditions in life are kindly to the soul and are not destructive.

There are episodes of grief and pain, which are in respect to the soul only endured for brief periods. A single lifetime is alike to a change in the wind and its course, and is measured quite differently to our immediate perceptions. We know inwardly that we are supported and nurtured in this our Cosmic home, and that conditions do change, but we endure and endure happily. The connection therefore is to be made from us, in our daily perceptions, to us in our highermost aspects. This connection cannot be effected if we are fearful and completely hesitant to make such connections.

We hiccup, we jolt, we jerk, we run the other way - all of these reactions and more, are an overreaction if we are truly facing the unknown. For the unknown, being unknown, cannot tell us of dangers if it is the unknown. We might as well believe there to be as much happiness and wonder, as dangers concealed. If there are dangers, there is little which will help us until we know what they are - and we shall not come to know what they are unless our eyes are open to them. Fear does not help in either extreme.

As to death, it can be said that the expression on the face of the departed usually will speak to us of the moments prior to passing. It is not only that the muscles are relaxed so, it is the expression of serenity, the expression of one who has faced the unknown and found old friends. For there is nothing which is unconnected from the rest, all roads adjoin, no one road jumps apart from another - and although not clearly visible, death is only around the next bend!