向死垂詢生的意義
思考死亡,永遠只可流於想像,因為從來沒有經歷過死卻又再活過來者,可以慢慢跟你分享死亡的經驗。極其量我們只能回憶或想像一些貼近死亡的經驗(上周五在團契主領了一個有關死亡的週會,當中給團友互相分享自己曾經貼近死亡的經驗,我也寫了一點但實在太忙還沒完成,唯有遲些跟大家分享吧),但這些經驗卻又不是死亡本身。在死亡面前人人平等,因它會毫不留情地取消了我們一生所建立的東西和擁有,也取消了我們的勞苦愁煩和喜怒哀樂,叫我們赤身歸回。所以思考死亡,其實最主要是詢問生命:如果我會死,那我一生的意義為何?一談論死,就無可避免地觸動生,關於意義、關於方向、關於如何停下來思索、關於優先次序、關於調整、關於放棄...
然而這麼一個老套的問題,這麼一個人生處境的大哉問,往往是我們最想迴避的問題。為了迴避死亡這個課題,人更將它圈在醫院和殯儀館裡,盡量不讓它發生在家中 —— 我們寧可用不見、不談、不想這等方法迴避它。
昨晚自己所教其中一科的同學終於作了final presentation,幾乎至午夜十二時才下課!最後present的一位同學的實驗課題正是以死反省生:她造了這台原大的黑色紙棺材,配以幫助人冥想的影像和音樂,讓人躺在裡面安靜反省人生?
死亡雖能為一切帶來終結,然而有一位,能給死亡也帶來終結的一位,他叫死亡也不能再狂傲:
耶穌說:「我就是復活和生命;信我的人,雖然死了,也要活著。所有活著又信我的人,必定永遠不死,你信這話嗎?」∼ 約翰福音11:25-26
3 Comments:
i read a few things about medieval and renaissance notions of death because the composer I studied wrote many songs about death and dying. Probably due to both the natural and man-made diasters of plagues, war, famines ..., death and dying was a huge topic that people must deal then. There're many writings on the "Art of Dying Well," most of which talk about preparing for dying by knowing how to live right.
A side note - you must have seen or read about art works using human skull and music instruments (i.e. to suggest music) as icons to convey the notion of human frailty and mortality. Fascinating!
It is the thought of where I would go after I die that brought me to Christ. Death is not a pleasant issue to think and talk about, however, it is so essential to think about it in order to live a life that is fulfilling and purposeful. Avoiding talking about something that every human being has to go through is not only illogical, it is also irresponsible.
Yes, Christianity is a wonderful belief which talks about not only the idealistic, but also the pragmatic.
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