Embracing Death: The Transformative Gift of Acceptance
When a person learns to accept the inevitability of departing from life, they open a path to profound inner transformation. This readiness is not expressed through heroic resistance but through humility and the renunciation of egocentric pursuits, turning the final stage of existence not into a tragic end but into a transition to a higher level of being. Letting go of self-centeredness and embracing higher spiritual values enables one to meet death with dignity and calm, much like an enemy transforming into a friend, and the bodily struggle yielding to the blissful dissolution of the self.Conversely, egoism becomes a serious obstacle on this path, sparking internal conflicts and robbing a person of the opportunity to experience the true transformation that occurs in moments of sincere humility. The awareness that death may arrive at any moment urges living life to the fullest and striving for harmony with higher forces, so that the final breath is filled with meaning and the promise of the soul’s future renewal. Ultimately, readiness for the end of life is not merely a farewell but a stirring transition that offers the chance to discover new horizons of existence, where the ego recedes into the background and the true “self” unites with the eternal.
How does a person’s readiness to accept death influence its arrival, and why might egoism hinder this process?A person’s readiness to accept death has a profound impact on its arrival, transforming that moment into an opportunity for inner metamorphosis. When one is prepared to relinquish egocentrism and humbly face the inevitable, death can be seen not as a tragic conclusion but as a passage to another, more valuable reality. For instance, one source states:“Readiness is everything.” Of course, this does not refer to a heroic preparedness but to humility and the abandonment of the self. We humbly welcome the enemy, and he becomes a friend. The monster of carnal death transforms into the blissful death of the self... (source: link txt).This kind of readiness is viewed as a means to soften the impact of death, providing an opportunity for personal transformation. In another example, it is emphasized that “Readiness for death for the sake of the Lord and to please Him is an all-conquering weapon: for what else can entice or intimidate the one who possesses it?” (source: link txt). Here, the focus is on complete readiness born of deep faith and a renunciation of one’s own will, which ensures unity with mortal reality and enables one to face death with honor.In contrast, egoism is portrayed as a major barrier to such transformation. It is described as a force that holds a person in a state of constant internal conflict and prevents them from admitting their mistakes. For example, one source notes:“Egoism is a great evil! Although the egoist finds no peace, he still stands his ground! For instance, Ary. His mother said to him, ‘So many people claim you are wrong; can’t you understand?’ ‘I know,’ he replied, ‘but I cannot submit to their opinion.’ Ary’s egoism prevented him from acknowledging his mistake. What a dreadful thing egoism is!” (source: link txt).Another source adds:“If egoism is present, do not rush to help it; leave it be, let it die on its own. When egoism dies, the soul is resurrected. One must strive to live so that death may come at any moment and find us uplifted in spirit, with our final words not being empty. Suffering, if truly embraced, culminates in Joy, an otherworldly Joy.” (source: link txt).Thus, readiness to accept death entails a profound inner renunciation of egoism and implies a humility that allows one to consciously embrace death as a transition rather than a tragic end. In contrast, egoism traps a person in a narrow world of personal interests and obstructs this process by preventing the admission of faults and, consequently, the preparation for the transition to a higher level of existence.