--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why exactly are we so frightened of death…" description: "\"Why exactly are we so frightened of death that we avoid looking at it altogether? Somewhere, deep down, we know we cannot avoid facing death forever. W..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5e/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_corpses_why-exactly-are-we-so-frightened-of-deat_47203.png" --- # Why exactly are we so frightened of death that we avoid… ![“Why exactly are we so frightened of death that we avoid looking at it altogether? Somewhere, deep down, we know we cannot avoid facing death forever. We know, in Milarepa's words: "This thing called 'corpse' we dread so much is living with us here and now."” quote by Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5e/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_corpses_why-exactly-are-we-so-frightened-of-deat_47203.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5e/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_corpses_why-exactly-are-we-so-frightened-of-deat_47203.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5e/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_corpses_why-exactly-are-we-so-frightened-of-deat_47203.png) > “Why exactly are we so frightened of death that we avoid looking at it altogether? Somewhere, deep down, we know we cannot avoid facing death forever. We know, in Milarepa's words: "This thing called 'corpse' we dread so much is living with us here and now."” [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. It explores humanity's deep-seated fear of mortality, suggesting that death is an ever-present reality we tend to ignore, yet it shapes our existence. **In simple terms:** Confronting death reveals its constant presence. Key Takeaway Fear of death masks its inevitability. Themes mortality psychology spirituality existentialism fear Mood reflective somber contemplative Type philosophical spiritual existential When to use this quote - grieving a loss - facing a terminal diagnosis - meditative practice - philosophical discussion - cultural rituals Key Concepts impermanence awareness acceptance mindfulness Practical Applications - therapy for death anxiety - spiritual teachings on impermanence Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging death change daily choices? - What practices help integrate this awareness? A Different Perspective Some argue that fear of death can motivate meaningful living rather than being merely a hindrance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Deep down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-down/) [Facing death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facing-death/) [Here and now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here-and-now/) ## Related quotes > [“We can't control death. There's nothing either of us can do to avoid it or to hold it off. All we can control is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/we-can-t-control-death-there-s-nothing-either-of-us-can-do-to-avoid/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [“They were willing to send men and women to death to avoid being called losers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-sheinkin/they-were-willing-to-send-men-and-women-to-death-to-avoid-being/) [Steve Sheinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-sheinkin/) > [“In the United States, death is something to avoid talking about and to treat as a disease that can be cured with the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-luzzi/in-the-united-states-death-is-something-to-avoid-talking-about-and-to/) Joseph Luzzi > [Death is a vast mystery, but there are two things we can say about it: It is absolutely certain that we will die, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/death-is-a-vast-mystery-but-there-are-two-things-we-can-say-about-it/) [Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/) > [Life is short, death is forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/life-is-short-death-is-forever/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“We cannot live to be together Forever doomed to love and death, The latter bringing us together Claiming from life the final breath! So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-k-varenko/we-cannot-live-to-be-together-forever-doomed-to-love-and-death-the/) [T.K. Varenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-k-varenko/) > [“Living is really hard, but death is forever. We’re all going to die eventually, so what’s your rush' Even if you think committing suicide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-m-brackney/living-is-really-hard-but-death-is-forever-we-re-all-going-to-die/) Susan M Brackney > [We who were born were not witnesses to our birth: like death, it is something we are forever after trying to catch sight of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cusk/we-who-were-born-were-not-witnesses-to-our-birth-like-death-it-is/) [Rachel Cusk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cusk/) > [“And I? What am I? Do I live? Or am I always walking in death? Forever in love with time?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/and-i-what-am-i-do-i-live-or-am-i-always-walking-in-death-forever-in/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [“I want you as my consort.. until death do us part, and then forever after that”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-a-bartol/i-want-you-as-my-consort-until-death-do-us-part-and-then-forever/) [Amy A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-a-bartol/) > [Death is so important that God visited death upon his own son, thereby helping us learn right from wrong well enough that we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/death-is-so-important-that-god-visited-death-upon-his-own-son-thereby/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Dealing with death is there forever, really, you know, because we all have to face it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/dealing-with-death-is-there-forever-really-you-know-because-we-all/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [The man who is not frightened of life is not frightened of being completely insecure for he understands that inwardly, psychologically, there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/the-man-who-is-not-frightened-of-life-is-not-frightened-of-being/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [In his bleak mercy, Death forever strips The soul of light and memory, rendering blind Our vision, lest surmounted deeps appal, As when on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-ashton-smith/in-his-bleak-mercy-death-forever-strips-the-soul-of-light-and-memory/) [Clark Ashton Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-ashton-smith/) > [“Death is forever. Death is nothing. But to save a life, that’s everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/death-is-forever-death-is-nothing-but-to-save-a-life-that-s-everything/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [For most of us, karma and negative emotions obscure the ability to see our own intrinsic nature, and the nature of reality. As a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/for-most-of-us-karma-and-negative-emotions-obscure-the-ability-to-see/) [Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/) [Explore all 144 Sogyal Rinpoche quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/) ## More Corpses quotes > [My specialties are corpses, unconscious people and people snoring in spectacular epics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gig-young/my-specialties-are-corpses-unconscious-people-and-people-snoring-in/) Gig Young > [The enemy? His sense of duty was no less than yours, I deem. You wonder what his name is, where he came from. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/the-enemy-his-sense-of-duty-was-no-less-than-yours-i-deem-you-wonder/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [ Of course I think it's a movie for everybody \[Insane Farting Corpse\], but that's probably just because it's a movie for me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/of-course-i-think-it-s-a-movie-for-everybody-insane-farting-corpse/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [If you look at the history of technology gadget makers, hardware makers, it's littered with the corpses of Palm and RIM and companies like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-tilson/if-you-look-at-the-history-of-technology-gadget-makers-hardware/) [Whitney Tilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-tilson/) > [“The Path Of Least Resistance Is Littered With The Corpses Of The Bored To Death”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/the-path-of-least-resistance-is-littered-with-the-corpses-of-the/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [ René of Anjou \[(1409-80)\] painted a picture of his mistress's corpse as he found it eaten by worms on having it \[her tomb\] openedon… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-walpole/ren-of-anjou-1409-80-painted-a-picture-of-his-mistress-s-corpse-as-he/) [Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-walpole/) > [Religion exalts mystery as an unknowable secret that must be sealed in glass like the corpse of an enchanted princess and fearfully worshipped from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lon-milo-duquette/religion-exalts-mystery-as-an-unknowable-secret-that-must-be-sealed/) [Lon Milo DuQuette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lon-milo-duquette/) > [The government increasingly resembles somebody who is trying to give the kiss of life to a corpse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-cable/the-government-increasingly-resembles-somebody-who-is-trying-to-give/) [Vince Cable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-cable/) > [“You and I are victims of the same disease. We're fighting the same war, just different battles in different theaters, and it's way too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-marion/you-and-i-are-victims-of-the-same-disease-we-re-fighting-the-same-war/) [Isaac Marion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-marion/) > [Alas, poor Yorick! How surprised he would be to see how his counterpart of today is whisked off to a funeral parlor and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mitford/alas-poor-yorick-how-surprised-he-would-be-to-see-how-his-counterpart/) [Jessica Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mitford/) > [“Yes, and look at the corpses. Place always reminds me of that old thing in Punch, you know—‘Waiter, take away Lord Whatsisname, he’s been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/yes-and-look-at-the-corpses-place-always-reminds-me-of-that-old-thing/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [Reread, rewrite, reread, rewrite. If it still doesn't work, throw it away. It's a nice feeling, and you don't want to be cluttered with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/reread-rewrite-reread-rewrite-if-it-still-doesn-t-work-throw-it-away/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [ Reading the script \[Insane Farting Corpse\], by page two or three, I felt that way. I thought, I'm in. It was so beautiful and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/reading-the-script-insane-farting-corpse-by-page-two-or-three-i-felt/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) > [Photos are profound because they have such short lives. They are more like fingerprints, dead leaves, rain puddles, or the corpses of flies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/photos-are-profound-because-they-have-such-short-lives-they-are-more/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [Once a month I wake in the night, slippery with terror. I'm afraid, not because there's someone in the room, in the dark, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/once-a-month-i-wake-in-the-night-slippery-with-terror-i-m-afraid-not/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) Browse all 363 Corpses quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why exactly are we so frightened of death that we avoid looking at it altogether? Somewhere, deep down, we know we cannot avoid facing death forever. 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