How can one be free of sadness in the presence of death?

Osho, you say sadness isn’t right, but in the presence of death, how can one be free of sadness?

It’s a matter of vision. Where is death right now! Right now you are alive. One thing is certain: you haven’t died yet. If, while life is here, you are not filled with the joy of life, then by bringing up death... Death hasn’t happened yet; it may happen someday. And who knows whether it happens at all! For those who know say: it never happens. They say death is the greatest lie. It doesn’t happen—only an appearance. The body does not die, because the body is already dead. And the soul cannot die, because the soul is immortal. The conjunction of the two breaks. The breaking of the conjunction is called death—that’s all. Understand it this way: the needle and the thread have come apart. Just that. Nothing more. The needle is there; the thread is there. You can thread them again. If a little desire remains, the thread…

Someone asked Osho's views on death and dying.

There is nothing as sure as death. Where there is life, there is bound to be death. He who bears not this fact in mind, wastes life, whereas he who knows this truth, obtains that which is immortal. I do not feel depressed at anybody's death, because there is no need to feel anything about it. However, it is a matter of sorrow, no doubt, if I see a life wasted. We have not to grieve after a dead body, but over a wasted life. You know, King Janak was called 'videh', i.e., without or beyond the body. Once, a young minister of his asked him, 'Your Excellency! How can you be considered without a body, when you do have a physical body? The king smiled but said nothing. After a few days, however, the king invited the minister for lunch. Such an invitation from the king himself was a…

Osho, when I was young I never even thought of death, and now that I have grown old, death keeps frightening me all the time. What should I do? Is it possible to get rid of death?

Ramnath, Freedom from death is not possible. But who told you that you will die? You have never died before, nor can you die now. The one who dies is not you; it is someone else. The body dies—that is merely a sheath. The mind dies—that is a subtler sheath. Within these two peripheries sits the master, the indweller, who is neither born nor dies. This life has happened many times. You are not new. You have come many times and gone many times. But the one seated within is eternal. Neither birth touches it, nor death touches it. Until you know and recognize that inner witness, this fear will go on tormenting you. When a person is young, naturally the worry about death does not take hold. Why should it? Human vision is not far-seeing. Our sight is shallow, small. We see just a few steps ahead. We have…

Question: Third question: Osho, I am very afraid of death. What should I do? This existence is filled with benediction. Here, in truth, the inauspicious does not happen. Yes, if you label something “inauspicious,” then the trouble begins. It is all a matter of attitude. You say, “I am afraid of death.” This bitter wine too must be drunk one day. Bitter, granted, is the wine of death, but one day it must be drunk. This bitter wine too must be drunk one day. Death is real enough, but it is not the purpose of life; It is not the destination of the caravan of longing and love. How many tangled paths we still must pass through, We still have to bring to completion life’s campaign. Life, darkened by death, becomes fearful, oppressive— A heavy, stifled climate of constraint.

Osho, there is a great fear of death. Is there any way to be free of it?

I have heard that on his campaigns Alexander reached a place where he learned there was a spring whose water, if drunk, makes one immortal. He went in search of it. When he reached the spring, he rejoiced; never had he seen water so crystal clear. He was about to cup it in his palms when a crow perched on a branch said, “Stop, Alexander! You will regret it. First hear me.” Alexander was astonished—one marvel: water that grants immortality; another marvel: a speaking crow. “What do you want to say?” The crow said, “I too drank this water. I am no ordinary crow; as you are Alexander among men, I am Alexander among crows. I spent my life searching and found this spring. I drank—and now I writhe. I have been alive for thousands of years; I cannot die. I throw myself from cliffs, dash my head on rocks,…