How do beliefs about death and dying shape living?

As Ninakawa lay dying, zen master Ikkyu visited him: Shall I lead you on?” Ikkyu asked.

Ninakawa replied: “ I came here alone and I go alone. What help could you be to me?”

Ikkyu answered: “ If you think you really come and go, that is your delusion. Let me show you the path on which there is no coming and going.”

With his words, Ikkyu had revealed the path so clearly that Ninakawa died and passed away.

Excerpt from " Graceful Exits: how Great Beings Die" By Sushila Blackman

I find reflecting on death to be one of the most powerful spiritual / existential contemplations. Whether or not we’re ready to look at death head on, the beliefs we hold unconsciously about it have huge influences on how we feel about ourselves and the meaning of our life. Exploring assumptions about death and dying means exploring assumptions about living!