i always marvel that death/death of loved ones isn't a more common answer to this question. the span of our lives is a rounding error in a number that stretches to infinity.
1. Presently, what is your single biggest fear in life? -Having someone be completely dependent on me. Or in general be resposible for someone elses well-being. 2. How, and to what extent, do you think this fear has either helped or hindered you? It has a terrible effect on my relationships. Even more so now that I'm married. I thought it would subside, but it hasn't. 3. If you have found that, on balance, your fear has hindered you, what steps do you think you would need to take in order to overcome that fear? Not sure. Need some more time to think about it.
I DO have a fear of going blind. It really bothers me to even think about it. Everytime I walk past a blind begger or a blind musician, I donate big in the hopes that it can buy me an insurance against going blind. I could lose my other senses (I am partially deaf anyway) but not my sight. I think it has something to do with controling my environment. I like to be very aware of my surroundings so I can make whatever choice is necessary in an emergency. I actually count the rows front and back to the exit row on the plane. As a trader having a plan for any contingency is critical to being successful. I believe that is true for "real life" situations as well. Gunn
Falling through the ice and drowning> Its helped me be reasonably cautious. I don't want to change because it has kept me alive.
Personally death doesn't scare me as much as what I will be thinking about just before I die. I believe in reincarnation and it is my belief that my thoughts at or just before my death will determine to a large extent how my souls passage will be. Certainly, the thoughts that I would have cultivated throughout life (especially doing meditation daily) will no doubt influence that period, however, anything can happen. So my biggest fear (even though I prefer not to dwell on it) is the thought that I will not be thinking of the Supreme Consciousness (to the best of my understanding) at the time of death.
Let us be clear that the comments you posted about death and dying, at the top of page 21, were yours and not mine. However, that was not entirely clear because you placed such comments of yours where you were quoting me. Further, and with due respect, it appears that you did not read my post at the bottom of page 19.
One of my biggest fears is this...so i took out a nice life insurance policy to kind of balance things out.. fear of losing that loved one who is dependent on me is another story and perhaps the only thing I truly fear. I have learned to cope with it because i acknowledge that anything can happen and most of the fear is in my head if you think of it in terms of probabilities, it is really not probable that something bad will happen ( I also dont look at that part of the news ). I also dont like to fly not that i fear it, but it just doesn't sit well with me....so again i aplly the probabilities and see it as a no way that of all the dates and flights within those dates and destinations within those flights is there any chance in hell im sitting on the plane thats going down....
Cool thread guys. I find it hard to believe nobody mentioned the worst fear humanity has had to endure since the beginning of time. Flying cows......