Understanding Death

Ultimately, the person who lives every day and admires every moment, cannot possibly have fear of death. Because he knows this very simple thing – this came to me one day, how simple it was. Because people call me. Somebody close to them dies; they are dying; they call.

I was in Honolulu; I didn’t want to do an event – because I wanted to save it. Should have done it, well, not saved it but – ended up talking to a lady who was diagnosed with a very severe disease. She wanted to meet me; I met her and I talked to her.

I said, “It’s simple as this. If I’m not here, I’m somewhere else.” Right? Right? [Audience: Yes.] Do you understand that: “If I’m not here, I’m somewhere else”? So, before I came out here, I was not here; I was backstage. Before that, I was at my house. So, if I’m not here, I’m somewhere else!

Okay, don’t overthink; it’s really simple. If I’m not here, I’m somewhere else, right? [Audience: Yes.] There is your answer: “If you’re not here, you’re somewhere else” – if you can understand that. It’s profound. But it’s so incredibly simple. Because I have understood the “I” in the “am.” I have understood the “I” in the “I am.”

And when you understand the “I” in the “I am,” then you understand, “If I’m not here, I’m somewhere else.” A lot of you are dumbstruck, going, “Why’-wha’-wha’, wha’-wha’-why’-wha’?”

I just solved the quandary for you of “What happens to me when I die?” I just did. Because when I am not here, I am somewhere else. Because that “I” in the “I am” is indestructible. And that is what it means to know the self: you understand the “I.”

You were trying to understand the whole package: “I am.” “I am” will not be around. When you die, you will not be “I am.” The “am,” (a-m) will stay. The “I,” if it’s not here, will be somewhere else.