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How remembering death teaches us to embrace the present

‘Knowing the means of an end is knowing why you were born, that you must die.’

“You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.” — Marcus Aurelius. Have you ever pondered over this intriguing quote? It poses a profound question: What if you were aware of your impending death? How would that influence your lifestyle, thoughts, and words? Would you remain authentic, unburdened by societal expectations and false identities? 

It’s not just about acknowledging the inevitability of death (Momento Mori); it’s about comprehending and cherishing the miracle of birth. Let’s not merely commemorate our birth and take pride in our physical existence. If we grasp that death signifies we have yet to unravel the profound question of our purpose here, we can truly live. 

This saying allows you to trace back the moment you are about to die, the very first moment you are born, or the events you remember yourself present in this world. It never talked about the future. It tells you to trace back the dots and understand the meaning of birth. Again, distinguish it from going to your past. Lamenting on your past terrible events or reminiscing about even those events that you believe to be your best days, years or moments never allows you to understand the meaning of what is happening to you while you live your life. 

The event had just taken place. The event is happening. The event is supposed to happen. It’s a way of life, a way of nature to occur. The way this world moves and acts towards endless things relies on this essential approach, being practical and causing unknown effects in a cyclical manner that briefly pauses for an individual only when death is accepted. 

However, if you realise through the years since you took birth that the great cycle of cause or effect is a circular trap, you understand it as life. You think you are living on your terms, having an ambition, doing action, and chasing dreams. But it is only happening because it is supposed to be happening. What matters is that it needs to be stopped, too. 

So instead of having a probe on this, let’s stop for a while, take a break, and remember that you are going to die one day; you never have to achieve everything to survive in your lifetime, but survive enough so that while you are living, you never had that moment of regret and sorrow of future and faulty underside remembrance of the past.

You can only remember your death while you are in the present. At that moment, you can recognise yourself as someone who never just wanted to be in this cause-effect cycle but, in parallel, realise your true self. Try to understand yourself by bridging your attention to things happening and why they are happening. If you think ‌why you are doing that, and if you have any dreams, why? Why do you want that so much if you are trying to get fame or money? 

When you started observing those thoughts and dreams, achieving something, going after things you were supposed to neglect or could have avoided, and just focusing on the present, living it and slowly tracing back why you would come to this world, as knowing my end is inevitable, but before I reach the end lets find out the means. 

Stop, 

step back, 

remember, you will die,

observe thoughts and actions,

and live present completely. 

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