One of the first signs of the beginnings of understanding is the wish to die. This life appears unbearable, another unattainable. One is no longer ashamed of wanting to die; one asks to be moved from the old cell, which one hates, to a new one, which one will only in time come to hate.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The desire to escape unbearable life signals a shift from ignorance to awareness of suffering.
- In plain terms
- Wanting to die shows you realize your current life is painful and the next is out of reach.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognizing suffering often comes with the wish to escape it.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does your wish to escape say about your current state?
- Is awareness always a burden?
Another view
Not all desire to die stems from understanding; it can also stem from untreated depression.
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