Death and Transformation: How Death Saved My Life

I knew I would meet the Angel of Death before his visit—and that encounter would lead to my most significant transformation.

At first, I felt trepidation and angst. I didn’t know what to expect from such a powerful spirit, but I knew he might be coming to collect me, even if I wasn’t ready to go.

I had been diagnosed with Stage IV-b of a rare blood cancer. Although my oncologist couldn’t state if I was going to live or die, he made clear that I had a 15 percent chance of survival. In other words, 85 percent of the people diagnosed at the same time as me with this rare blood cancer are now dead.

I am not. Death saved my life.

Death and Transformation Begins with Listening

Recently, after one of my Zen meditations, a fellow Buddhist practitioner approached me and asked: 

“You’re a survivor! You fought, Death lost; how’d you do it?”

I didn’t fight, I said. I learned. I chose to be a student.

Becoming a Student of Death

Cancer was my teacher, and Death was my guru.

Opening myself to the teachings of both cancer and Death led me to the realization that disease and Death are not to be feared and both provide eternal wisdom.

We cannot learn their lessons when we close ourselves to the teachings of disease or Death.

When I was diagnosed, I made a couple of essential choices.

Wisdom for anyone who is suffering or dying.

I chose not to be a victim.

I decided to keep my agency by remaining positive and learning from the experience. The paradox of nearly dying: it taught me how to live.

Rather than deny the Angel of Death’s arrival or hide in the hope of eluding Death, I decided to set the table and invite Death into my life.

Preparing for the Guru’s Arrival

And, like any good student, I prepared before the guru’s arrival.

As loved ones prepared a warm bone marrow broth, a plate of fruit, and some hot peppermint tea, my teacher—cancer, dressed me as nicely as she could in 160 pounds of flesh over my 6’3″ bony frame. Cancer stripped me down to the bald, raw nature of my being before the guru arrived, and she cried with me, quietly whispering, “To live, sometimes you must die.”

Death came to my house. Although weak, I lifted myself from the confines of the couch and did my best to crawl to the door. I was too frail to walk, but I could crawl. I opened the door, graciously inviting him in, “Come,” I said. Upon entering, he reached toward me, touched my shoulder, and said, “Whether you leave with me is up to you.”

I did my best to pull myself to my feet. I turned toward the mirror and looked. I saw a man whom I could no longer recognize standing before me. I accepted it, but it was dark. I didn’t know if I would leave with the Angel of Death that night. But, I knew then that he was deeply compassionate and greatly respected life despite his eternal commitment to Death.

Teach me, I said.

The Lessons of Death and Transformation

At that moment, I lost everything, including my body, my heart, and my mind, but not my spirit of respect for Death or his wisdom. As we sat at the table, his wisdom nourished my soul.

We spoke for hours, days, and then months. As chemotherapy ensued, the teacher began to leave the room, and the guru’s wisdom filled the empty spaces more and more each day. The lessons came continuously, and Death’s wisdom slowly taught me how to lose my mind and begin living in my heart while restoring my body so that I might also live in the spirit of truth.

The Angel of Death was committed, and so was I. He taught me that for most people, the wisdom that comes with Death happens far too late in life and, sadly, often leads people to regret the life they never lived.

At the end of each day, he would ask, “Are you living?”

Are You Living?

“Not yet,“ I would reply as my cheeks washed in tears.

The lessons ensued. Death told me:

The temporal nature of life and the existential anxiety accompanying it remain when people do not open the door to my teachings. I am liberation. I am freedom. And I will always be your friend and teacher, but you cannot live in fear of that which you do not know.

As I opened up, Death showed me the limits of Western medicine and took me on a journey east. The portal led me to deepen my meditation and yoga practices while introducing me to Reiki, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and a range of alternative health practices. I realized that I did not need to choose between East and West but to integrate both values.

Death asked again, “Are you living?”

“More than before,“ I replied.

And Death responded:

Those who deny, fight, or resist succumb to me. Those who open themselves up to me and then sit with me will allow the unknown to become known, the invisible to become visible, and the materially irrelevant to vanish so that one can live more fully. Live or die, it’s up to you.

On the final night of my guru’s lessons, he put on his cloak, picked up his scythe, and reached out his hand.

“Shall we?“ he asked.

I responded, “No, but thank you.”

He departed by giving me the gift of life.

A Gift—and a Choice

His final words: “This gift can be taken away at any time; to keep it; you must live fully each day.“ I accepted the gift as tears streamed down my cheeks. My heart infinitely expanded in love for what he had taught.

After all of my years in school and struggling through life’s experiences, Death taught me how to live. Death is the most liberating and freeing force in life if we take the time to learn its lessons.

I no longer live to meet the world’s incessant neediness or the ego’s relentless desire to attach to ideas or realities that only offer the illusion of certainty or control.

I now know deeply that the only sure thing is the unknown. Life, like Death, remains unknown.

“No man can step into the same river twice.“ ~ Heraclitus

Honoring Death in Life

I no longer view Death as taboo and instead honor it in life. One does not exist without the other.

Since Death’s visit, I have let go of relationships that do not serve my life. I let go of friends, acquaintances, colleagues, or clients who do not see me or accept me for who I am. I do not try to convince them of who I am, nor do I try to make them see me. I simply let go. Space opens for others who do see me so that the empty spaces in my life are filled with the light of unconditional love.

Yet, I still struggle.

I continue to let go of old career goals and ideas, acquaintances, outdated friendships, and the antiquated constructs that prevent me from being the best version of myself. I choose from a more open and honest place in the heart and soul.

I’ve learned to quiet the ego mind and open more space for spirit. I do not want to waste a moment or allow others to waste my time. I show up as the best version of myself in each moment that I can. I always give life to my fullest by standing in gratitude for the most insignificant moments so they might be imbued with new significance. We create our meaning.

I maintain a deep and undying respect for both cancer and Death. And I will never forget to embrace the temporal nature of existence and the impermanence of life as a core truth while always leaving a seat at the table for Death and its teachings.

The next time you’re with a family member or friend suffering the pains of disease or Death, suggest that they invite these things into their lives as teachers and gurus. Death and disease are not enemies; both can be great friends on our journey through life. We should embrace them.

Some people may resist the idea or suggestion at first, but once they open themselves to learning from Death and disease—wise elders who come with life—people can begin to heal and live transcendentally in heart, spirit, and truth—even when it may be their last moment.

So, here’s to Death and to a vivid and unimaginable life well lived.

Originally published here:

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2017/02/how-a-visit-from-death-saved-my-life/