---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We often wonder: \"How will I be when I…"
description: "\"We often wonder: \"How will I be when I die?\" The answer to that is that whatever state of mind we are in now, whatever kind of person we are now, that'..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_answers_we-often-wonder-how-will-i-be-when-i-die_1246662.png"
---

#  We often wonder: "How will I be when I die?" The answer to…

![“We often wonder: &quot;How will I be when I die?&quot; The answer to that is that whatever state of mind we are in now, whatever kind of person we are now, that's what we will be like at the moment of death, if we do not change. This is why it is so absolutely important to use this lifetime to purify our…” quote by Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_answers_we-often-wonder-how-will-i-be-when-i-die_1246662.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_answers_we-often-wonder-how-will-i-be-when-i-die_1246662.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_answers_we-often-wonder-how-will-i-be-when-i-die_1246662.png)

> “We often wonder: "How will I be when I die?" The answer to that is that whatever state of mind we are in now, whatever kind of person we are now, that's what we will be like at the moment of death, if we do not change. This is why it is so absolutely important to use this lifetime to purify our mindstream, and so our basic being and character, while we can.”

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Our mental state at death mirrors our present character; without transformation, we die as we live now.

**In simple terms:** We become at death what we are now.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate mindfulness and ethical behavior now.

Themes

mortality mindfulness personal development

Mood

reflective urgent

Type

spiritual philosophical

When to use this quote

- daily meditation
- ethical choices
- life planning

Key Concepts

impermanence character formation

Questions to Reflect On

- What aspects of your mindstream need purification?
- How can you practice change today?

A Different Perspective

Changing deep habits is difficult and may be resisted.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Lifetime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifetime/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [State of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-of-mind/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/)

## Related quotes

> [The death-change comes. Death is another life. We bow our heads At going out, we think, and enter straight Another golden chamber of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-james-bailey/the-death-change-comes-death-is-another-life-we-bow-our-heads-at/)

[Philip James Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-james-bailey/)

> [“We never fully die even in what we think of as actual death. We change again and become echoes in others, and they carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-overby/we-never-fully-die-even-in-what-we-think-of-as-actual-death-we-change/)

[Eric Overby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-overby/)

> [Thirdly, Death is nothing else but a change of a short and temporary for an unalterable and eternal condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pearson/thirdly-death-is-nothing-else-but-a-change-of-a-short-and-temporary/)

[John Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pearson/)

> [The body is only a garment. How many times you have changed your clothing in this life, yet because of this you would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/the-body-is-only-a-garment-how-many-times-you-have-changed-your/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [Only love and death will change all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-love-and-death-will-change-all-things/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

> [A human being does not cease to exist at death. It is change, not destruction, which takes place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/a-human-being-does-not-cease-to-exist-at-death-it-is-change-not/)

[Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/)

> [“To want more was not just childish, but cowardly, and somehow constpatory too. Death was change; it led to new chances, new vacancies, new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/to-want-more-was-not-just-childish-but-cowardly-and-somehow/)

[Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/)

> [“You but winnowed out those who have made their pride a funeral shroud." Jaren met Rain's eyes. "Our world has changed, Feyreisen. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-wilson/you-but-winnowed-out-those-who-have-made-their-pride-a-funeral-shroud/)

[C.L. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-wilson/)

> [“Nobody cries because of a person's death; death for them is a change of clothes, nothing else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-m-rabolu/nobody-cries-because-of-a-person-s-death-death-for-them-is-a-change/)

V.M. Rabolu

> [“What is inevitable is not death but change. Change is the only abiding reality. The metaverse evolves, fractally and forever. Saints become sinners, sinners…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-charles-wilson/what-is-inevitable-is-not-death-but-change-change-is-the-only-abiding/)

[Robert Charles Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-charles-wilson/)

> [“The only thing in life that's forever is death. You can change your mind about everything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/the-only-thing-in-life-that-s-forever-is-death-you-can-change-your/)

[Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/)

> [Death is never an ending, death is a change; Death is beautiful, for death is strange; Death is one dream out of another flowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-aiken/death-is-never-an-ending-death-is-a-change-death-is-beautiful-for/)

[Conrad Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-aiken/)

> [Just as a little bird cracks open the shell and flies out, we fly out of this shell, the shell of the body. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/just-as-a-little-bird-cracks-open-the-shell-and-flies-out-we-fly-out/)

[Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/)

> [There is no death, only a change of worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chief-seattle/there-is-no-death-only-a-change-of-worlds/)

[Chief Seattle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chief-seattle/)

> [“Everything you do in life, whether it's good or bad, makes you who you are. Don't maybe your decisions to death because you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karyn-bosnak/everything-you-do-in-life-whether-it-s-good-or-bad-makes-you-who-you/)

[Karyn Bosnak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karyn-bosnak/)

## More by Sogyal Rinpoche

> [That goodness is what survives death, a fundamental goodness that is in each and every one of us. The whole of our life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/that-goodness-is-what-survives-death-a-fundamental-goodness-that-is/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [Why exactly are we so frightened of death that we avoid looking at it altogether? Somewhere, deep down, we know we cannot avoid facing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/why-exactly-are-we-so-frightened-of-death-that-we-avoid-looking-at-it/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [The masters say if you create an auspicious condition in your body and your environment then meditation and realization will automatically arise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-masters-say-if-you-create-an-auspicious-condition-in-your-body/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [At every moment in our lives we need compassion, but what more urgent moment could there be than when we are dying? What more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/at-every-moment-in-our-lives-we-need-compassion-but-what-more-urgent/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [Theories are like patches on a coat, one day they just wear off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/theories-are-like-patches-on-a-coat-one-day-they-just-wear-off/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [{While meditating} I sit quietly and rest in the nature of mind; I don't question or doubt whether I am in the "correct" state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/while-meditating-i-sit-quietly-and-rest-in-the-nature-of-mind-i-don-t/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [The most essential thing in life is to establish an unafraid, heartfelt communication with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-most-essential-thing-in-life-is-to-establish-an-unafraid/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [The definition of mantra is "that which protects the mind." That which protects the mind from negativity, or that which protects you from your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-definition-of-mantra-is-that-which-protects-the-mind-that-which/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [If all we know of mind is the aspect of mind that dissolves when we die, we will be left with no idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/if-all-we-know-of-mind-is-the-aspect-of-mind-that-dissolves-when-we/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [Western laziness consists of cramming our lives with compulsive activity, so that there is no time at all to confront the real issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/western-laziness-consists-of-cramming-our-lives-with-compulsive/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [The key to finding a happy balance in modern lives is simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-key-to-finding-a-happy-balance-in-modern-lives-is-simplicity/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [The purpose of meditation is to awaken in us the sky-like nature of mind, and to introduce us to that which we really are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-purpose-of-meditation-is-to-awaken-in-us-the-sky-like-nature-of/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [The real glory of meditation lies not in any method but in its continual living experience of presence, in its bliss, clarity, peace, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-real-glory-of-meditation-lies-not-in-any-method-but-in-its/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [Samsara is the mind turned outwardly, lost in its projections. Nirvana is the mind turned inwardly, recognizing its true nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/samsara-is-the-mind-turned-outwardly-lost-in-its-projections-nirvana/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [“The simplicity of total trust is one of the most powerful forces in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-simplicity-of-total-trust-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-forces-in/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

[Explore all 144 Sogyal Rinpoche quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

## More Answers quotes

> [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/)

[Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/)

> [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/)

[John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/)

> [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/)

[Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/)

> [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/)

[Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/)

> [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/)

[Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/)

> [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/)

[Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

> [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/)

[Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/)

Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We often wonder: \"How will I be when I die?\" The answer to that is that whatever state of mind we are in now, whatever kind of person we are now, that's what we will be like at the moment of death, if we do not change. This is why it is so absolutely important to use this lifetime to purify our mindstream, and so our basic being and character, while we can.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sogyal Rinpoche"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/we-often-wonder-how-will-i-be-when-i-die-the-answer-to-that-is-that/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Answers"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/we-often-wonder-how-will-i-be-when-i-die-the-answer-to-that-is-that/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_answers_we-often-wonder-how-will-i-be-when-i-die_1246662.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_answers_we-often-wonder-how-will-i-be-when-i-die_1246662.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_answers_we-often-wonder-how-will-i-be-when-i-die_1246662.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We often wonder: \"How will I be when I die?\" The answer to that is that whatever state of mind we are in…” — Sogyal Rinpoche",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Sogyal Rinpoche",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We often wonder: \"How will I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/we-often-wonder-how-will-i-be-when-i-die-the-answer-to-that-is-that/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/we-often-wonder-how-will-i-be-when-i-die-the-answer-to-that-is-that/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
