On Death and Life

On Death from The Prophet

by Khalil Gibran

Then  Almitra spoke, saying, “We would ask now of Death.”

And he said:

You would know the secret of death. But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart 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 the 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 honour.

Is the sheered 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 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.

As I embrace the Light above and below in my life, something interesting is happening. I am finding a hunger for life like I have never felt it before, not a desire to leave, dominate or avoid it, but to embrace and celebrate it. What can a person do when Death smiles at them but smile back, what is there to fear? I do not have dreams of heaven, but instead I embrace my dissolution into something I could not begin to explain. I can’t wait for the next scene now and I find joy in the moment with fears and desires fading. The past has birthed this moment to have another chance to connect with my source.

So many different names and opinions about the source of life. That is why it must be found in silence beyond words, feelings and what you think. I’m ravenous, not to experience life, but to share the love I feel within that silence with all. I invite you to tune in, step up and out with me. Get messy. I have no idea where this train is going and I could care less, the view is to die for. Well, I might have some idea. There is this amazing other soundtrack to life I’m finding, always on. What is Death, but the ultimate celebration of life! From Gibran’s Sand and Foam:

The first thought of God was an angel.
The first word of God was a man.

You were given the gift of speech, but wait before you speak, consider your words and their power, because when you’re silent the words and visions that come are usually for you. 

Image – Mystical Vision of Death – Alex Grey