Eckhart Tolle argues that acknowledging your mortality deepens presence and dissolves ego's grip. Without awareness of the body's temporary nature, you stay trapped in illusion. He uses a Mark Twain anecdote to show that pre-birth non-existence caused no suffering, reframing how we fear death.
It's very important to sometimes be aware of your mortality. Otherwise, you live in some illusory realm. When you see how temporary the physical form is, the contemplation of impermanence can have a deepening effect on you. In other words, the contemplation of death Can have that deepening effect. To the ego, the egoic mind, it's very fearful. It says, I'm the body and I'm going to die. How is that possible? How could the world exist without me? Mark Twain said, I have no fear of death. Before I was born, I had already been dead for millions of years and I haven't suffered the slightest inconvenience from it. Well, that's true. Was it so horrible before you were born? I don't say I wasn't unhappy.
Why alcohol feels like relief, and what it is really giving you | Eckhart Tolle
