To riff on your second quote from Henri Nouwen “I have a deep sense, hard to articulate, that if we could really befriend death we would be free people.” I wonder if he came across Seneca's work? In my Stoicism philosophy book club run, by my teacher Massimo Pigliucci, we're currently studying a compilation of Seneca's views on dying called "How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life" https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/36582041. The Stoics have a practice which they recommend to do daily called "memento mori", meaning remember that we must die. All things come to an end. Rather than being morbid, it's a powerful practice of appreciation & gratitude for all that is here now.
To riff on your second quote from Henri Nouwen “I have a deep sense, hard to articulate, that if we could really befriend death we would be free people.” I wonder if he came across Seneca's work? In my Stoicism philosophy book club run, by my teacher Massimo Pigliucci, we're currently studying a compilation of Seneca's views on dying called "How to Die: An Ancient Guide to the End of Life" https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/36582041. The Stoics have a practice which they recommend to do daily called "memento mori", meaning remember that we must die. All things come to an end. Rather than being morbid, it's a powerful practice of appreciation & gratitude for all that is here now.