Birth Quote by Masao Abe
“When one existentially awakens from within, the relation of birth-and-death is not seen as a sequential change from the former to the latter. Rather, living as it is, is no more than dying, and at the same time there is no living separate from dying. This means that life itself is death and death itself is life. That is, we do not shift sequentially from birth to death, but undergo living-dying in each and every moment.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Philosophy of Nothingness, Masao Abe, 1975
Life and death are not separate stages but a continuous, intertwined process experienced in each moment.
In simple terms: Life and death are one continuous flow.
Key Takeaway
Embrace each moment as both living and dying.
Themes
existentialism
interconnectedness
impermanence
Mood
contemplative
serene
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- daily meditation
- grief counseling
- end‑of‑life care
- mindfulness practice
Key Concepts
nondualism
process philosophy
ontological unity
Questions to Reflect On
- How does seeing life as death change your daily choices?
- Can you find moments where living feels like dying?
A Different Perspective
It may be hard to reconcile this view with everyday narratives of linear life stages.
