Death is always with us, but most of us don’t know when we will make that great journey to the the life in the worlds of God.

I guess most people in the world would rather not know – and, yet, to some this knowledge is given, whether they want it or not.

Baha’u'llah’s teachings about death are full of joy, and yet I believe I would find it a personal challenge to look forward eagerly as you are doing to the next great adventure.

In one of her books, Marzieh Gail describes how her father, Ali Kuli Khan, when a young man in America pestered Mirza Abu’l Fadl, the respected Baha’i scholar, to tell him about life after death. Mirza Abu’l Fadl repeatedly refused, telling Ali Kuli Khan he was not yet ready to learn about death, but that the time would come.

One day – and I hope I am remembering the story accurately – Khan is sitting in the sun on a beach when some men fetch a boat from a boathouse and carry it down to the ocean. They launch the boat and begin to row out to sea.

Ali Kuli Khan notices that the boat and the men look smaller and smaller as they row away. And, then, suddenly they pop out of sight.

At that moment he understands the nature of death and the next life. To die is to cross a horizon. We are still in existence, but we can no longer be seen by those in this life.

I greatly admire the spirit in which you have written and want to thank you for your very personal and great contribution to our understanding of how to approach the one journey we must all approach.

I am posting anonymously for reasons that will be apparent.

I have found that many people, even/especially Baha’is, have a very positive, welcoming attitude toward their own death. As Baha’is, of course, we have many fine examples of martyrdom; but I find also that in those cases that I meet, where it is clearly not an instance of dying for the Faith, the nobility of our calling shines forth in greeting death with affection.

I have two Baha’i friends who know that my life will soon be over (I am mid-50’s with a wife and two children) . They understand my eager looking forward to the next great adventure. – one, because he is also dying and, though he regrets leaving his wife and numerous children, is ready to accept the call; the other, because he is tired and ready for More Life.

Perhaps as Baha’is we have an advantage over the theologies which portray the next life as simply another version, in almost physical terms, of this temporal existence. Who would wish to die if it provided nothing more? However, through the Writings we understand that endless growth and learning is before us – who cannot desire that?