“If You Die Before You Die Then You Won’t Die When You Die.”
Epigram from the gateway of Mt. Athos Monastery in Greece
“A seed breaks open and dissolves into the ground. Only then does a new fig tree come into being. That is the meaning of die before you die.” Rumi, Sufi Mystic and Poet
Dying Before You Die: A Reflection on Life, Death, and Liberation**
The concept of “dying before you die” reflects a profound aspect of the healing journey, highlighting the challenging yet beautiful dance between life and death. This idea, often found in Eastern philosophies and sacred practices, underscores the interconnectedness of life and death as a single, unified concept.
In Taoism, for instance, the notion of “life after death” is expressed through the idea of cosmic energy. This energy is seen as the driving, binding force that connects all things, guiding individuals through life and beyond. Similarly, Buddhist teachings emphasize the importance of understanding death as an integral part of life. Within these teachings, it is suggested that one should begin the journey of grappling with death long before it actually arrives, thereby allowing for a deeper acceptance and understanding of its place in the cycle of existence.
In contrast, Western society often resists the natural process of death. With a strong inclination toward control, people in the West frequently find themselves caught in a cycle of exhaustion and mental strain, endlessly striving to hold on to what is ultimately impermanent. The idea of surrendering to death—whether it be the death of dreams, relationships, behaviors, values, or perceptions—runs counter to this tendency. Yet, it is precisely this surrender that offers a path to true liberation.
When one allows themselves to embrace this concept, to metaphorically die before they die, they open the door to higher states of freedom. By releasing attachment to the physical form and letting go of the identity they have clung to so tightly, individuals can free themselves from the suffering driven by ego. This act of surrender enables the experience of total, undeniable liberation, even while still living in this reality.
The journey toward this state of freedom is not easy. It involves a continual process of letting go—mourning the passing of old behaviors, beliefs, and stories about who we are and what is true. This process requires courage, as it means allowing parts of oneself to die over and over again. Yet, it is through this repeated surrender that one can truly begin to live.
This reflection on “dying before you die” is a testament to the transformative power of surrender. It is a reminder that in letting go of what no longer serves us, we can find a deeper, more liberated way of being.
“The secret of life is to “die before you die” — and find that there is no death.”
― Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
Sacred Texts:
The concept of “dying to self” is a recurring theme in various sacred texts and spiritual traditions, symbolizing the process of letting go of the ego, personal desires, and attachments in order to attain spiritual growth or union with the divine. Below are some references from different sacred texts that touch on this theme:
- Christianity (New Testament)
– Galatians 2:20:
_”I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”_
– Luke 9:23-24:
_”Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.'”_
– John 12:24-25:
_”Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”_
- Buddhism (Dhammapada)
– Dhammapada 279:
_”All conditioned things are impermanent—when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering. This is the path to purification.”_
– Dhammapada 21:
_”Heedfulness is the path to the deathless; heedlessness is the path to death. The heedful do not die; the heedless are like the dead.”_
The concept of “dying to self” in Buddhism is often associated with overcoming the illusion of the self (anatta) and attaining Nirvana, where the ego is transcended.
- Hinduism (Bhagavad Gita)
– Bhagavad Gita 2:19-20:
“Neither he who thinks the living entity the slayer nor he who thinks it slain is in knowledge, for the self slays not nor is slain. For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. It has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval. It is not slain when the body is slain.”_
Here, the idea of dying to the false self (the body and ego) is key to realizing the eternal, unchanging nature of the true self (Atman).
- Islam (Qur’an)
– Qur’an 2:153-157:
_”O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, ‘They are dead.’ Rather, they are alive, but you perceive it not. And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.'”_
The emphasis is on submission to the will of Allah, which involves a form of dying to one’s own ego and desires.
- Taoism (Tao Te Ching)
– Tao Te Ching, Chapter 22:
_”If you want to become full, let yourself be empty. If you want to be reborn, let yourself die. If you want to be given everything, give everything up.”_
The Taoist view sees the process of “dying to self” as aligning oneself with the Tao, the ultimate reality, by relinquishing control and surrendering the ego.
These texts highlight the transformative power of “dying to self,” where surrendering the ego and personal will is seen as a necessary step toward spiritual awakening, enlightenment, or union with the divine.
