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Before reading
this chapter please start with chapters:
First Concepts.
WOB is Optimal
WOB controls processes in the body and distributes resources between them.
However it has no access to resources and cannot replenish depleted resources.
In need it signals the mind to get the missing resources. Following excessive
exercise the sweating organism loses water and WOB sends the mind a message
of thirst as if instructing it: “get me some water.” And so do messages like
hunger, craving for salt, sugar etc.
When the mind fails to fulfill these tasks, the organism may die, like in the patient in coma. WOB signals the mind to get resources, yet the mind is switched off (the comatose is mindless). Now the doctor fulfills the mind tasks, and creates a life-line for the missing resources, otherwise the patient will die.
Reversible and irreversible dying
This example illustrates also that withholding resources marks the onset of dying. We shall distinguish between reversible, and irreversible dying. As long as WOB can sustain life without getting resources, like during prolonged fasting, dying is reversible, otherwise it is irreversible. Like following a myocardial infarction when the heart stops beating and the organism starts dying. First the brain is switched off and the patient sinks in coma. He may still breath, yet the heart fails to distribute the precious gas. After a while the entire brain stops functioning while other organs continue living. Their metabolism goes on, and their cells continue dividing. Organs which are less dependent on oxygen, like muscles live longer than the more sensitive, e.g., kidney. Gut epithelia continue living for another day. When they die intestinal microbes spread into other organs and putrefy them. In the dying organism WOB continues to exist (function) until the last cell has died whereupon it vanishes.
WOB and death do not coexist
WOB and death are mutually exclusive. WOB sustains life and is unaware of
a subsequent death. Any threat to its existence is communicated to it by the
mind. Like when facing a lion. For WOB ‘lion’ is meaningless. Only the mind
grasps the threat and instructs it to run.
Additional reading
WOB and the soul
Repent before you die
A healthy individual is unaware of a possible death. In
light of this, the Talmud advises that "everyone should repent the day
before he dies." Obviously, since no one knows when his day of death
will be, the Talmud is recommending to set aside time every day to ponder
one's actions. In fact, Jews recite a prayer three times a day asking God
for help in repairing their misdeeds.
One begins contemplating death when WOB sends signals of dis-ease. Particularly
in a chronic disease like cancer. However dis-ease is not a death signal.
It is a message to the mind that WOB needs help. For WOB death is meaningless, only
the mind may take dis-ease as a death indicator. Why should the mind expect
death when its major role is to assist WOB in sustaining life? The notion
of death is inspired by the society and its culture. This negative role of
the mind is illustrated by the following parable by Bertold Brecht.
Culture as mask
Imagine yourself acting in a play in which nobody knows what mask he wears.
How should the actor know whom he is impersonating? He may infer his role
from the conduct of others who deal with him. At first his movement impersonates
himself and not the mask. Gradually his posture will change until it conforms
to the mask. This is how he is formed. (Bertold Brecht’s “Aus nichts wird
nichts” )
The mask of death
Imagine a cachectic patient who despite his poor condition feels well since
WOB is silent Actually he feels healthy and is healthy. Yet his mask is the
mask of cachexia.
Additional reading:
Death denial