What does the following quotation mean"Learn to die and thou shalt learn how to live"?

Question

How can anyone learn to die?
Is it possible to learn to die?
Please answer this question explaining in detail.

Answer 1

dying is easier than living purposefully.

Answer 2

The issue put forth by mystics, philosophers, and legendary religious figures is that humans are not conscious of their very selves--the soul, or that principle of divinity which is in tune with the One. For if one were to have this knowledge, the mysteries of life and death would become apparent. If one knew oneself as spirit, death would lose its surprise--its sting. Hence the mystical dictum "die while living."

Answer 3

I think it is christian based and means to die from your evil ways, and or sins and learn to live life with the Lord. In the Bible Jesus died for the sins of the world, I think it is off that reference that the saying is told.

Answer 4

I may be wrong, but I would interpret it as meaning; for one to learn how to live, one first must learn to die. Because by dying, you no longer have fear of anything else in the world, because death is the ultimate thing most people usually fear. And when one lets go of fear, then they become free, and as fear is usually a construction of confusion. Then you must as a result, also no longer be troubled in life with confusion about the philosophical quaries you have about life and about what's after life. When someone has finally "Let go" of their self distructive fears, then alas one will be FREE and would finally Learn how to truly LIVE! This however must not (like all famous philosophies) be taken literally. It is simply meaning to teach yourself how to "die" another words how to Let go, like the whole being reborn thing. Another interesting thing is that when most near death experience patients have come back to life, they have talked about how they have wasted their life, and how they understand now, how to start living a happier more peacefull life, and they usually start going sky diving, extreme sports, and take up courses etc, another words they then start "living" because they have "LEARNT" what's important in life! What we all work morning til night for, what we all dream of; and that is simply Happiness. Now all we have to do is Learn what are the most intelligent actions to acheive this. (also when one realises they do not have control, they learn to no longer want control and tend to surrender themselves to the world, as they no longer feel they need to be in control of their life or to seek power, as they know now they are not superior, rather they are just part of creation. However this does not bother them anymore because they understand now, that there are alot more important things in life, like the love of their spouse or the happiness from fun, then their petty fighting and emotions/fears). Anyways this is how I interpreted it, as a message to not let yourself become controlled by your fears and confusions in life, rather to learn what is important in life, what will make you and others happy and to then start living life no longer too scared to communicate with others or get out and become confident. However I would like to note, even though this is a site specifically for Q&A. I think you should decide upon an answer that you have come to yourself, rather then depending on what the average society thinks. As this is the whole point of Philosophical sayings. Thanks for reading this ramble' hope it answered your question?:)

Answer 5

I think what the quote may be getting at is that if we learn to cope with death, we are better able to deal with some of those fatal distractions that often consume us. In other words, once we accept death and its inevitability, we're able to appreciate life so much more.

Answer 6

LEARNING TO DIE, I believe it means to live each day as if it was your last, no hanging on to unimportant things, and love is the only important thing in life, how much have you allowed love to flow through you is the only important thing in life, as in a day and a life.

To die is to live only as a spirit and if we learn to do that while still living in the body, we have triumphed over the biggest barrier in human life to lead a spiritual life, the illusion that this body is all that I am, and only the meaning I give to it and is given to it, is the meaning is has or will ever have.

I think to die, is to live only through the spirit, not an ego lead life, but by the Spirit that we long to be.

In short, it means while making each choice asking yourself, will it make my spirit happy and joyous, and that is the right choice to make, which enhances my spirit not diminish it, in anyway. Because every thing of this body will one day perish, turn to ash, but not of spirit, as it is eternal and everything of it. Don’t get centered into anything that is perishable, of this body, or created by it. When we stay centered in our spirit, we stay eternally happy, blissful and joyous as the Spirit remains, despite all its incarnations and lifetimes. That I believe in truest sense what the quote, To live as if you are dead to the world, but alive to the spirit, but most of us live in the reverse way these days, but when we open up to our spirits it does take over and we get to live life in the truest sense, alive both in the body as well as in spirit.

Answer 7

a seed dies before it sprouts a growth. so does man. we all need to "die" in order for us to live.

dying here refers to the death of the sinful, conceited self-- as opposed to the humble self that relies solely on God for divine provision. learning to die is learning complete surrender: you acknowledge that you have a free will but you voluntarily surrender this free will to ask for God's will for you instead.

dying to one's self is thinking of yourself last and the others, first-- you die (you surrender your needs AND wants), that others may live (theirs might be survival) and you lift up everything to God, believing that He provides for you according to your needs.

Answer 8

if you learn to die you'll have a bit of wisdom and life will be easier to understand.

Answer 9

If you know when you are dying then you can make the most of the time you have left.

Answer 10

it means that life is a game of death