Death is not an event in life: we do not live to experience

Host: The room was quiet, the soft light of the lamp casting a warm glow across the table. Outside, the world had quieted, and the peaceful rhythm of the evening filled the air. Jeeny sat at the table, her fingers gently tracing the rim of her cup, absorbed in thought. Jack, standing near the window, gazed out at the darkened world, his expression thoughtful. There was an unspoken understanding between them, as if the conversation was about to turn toward something more profound.

Jeeny: (breaking the silence, her voice calm but reflective) “I came across something by Ludwig Wittgenstein today that really struck me. He said, ‘Death is not an event in life: we do not live to experience death. If we take eternity to mean not infinite temporal duration but timelessness, then eternal life belongs to those who live in the present.’ What do you think about that?”

Jack: (pauses, his voice thoughtful) “It’s such a deep reflection, isn’t it? Wittgenstein is challenging the common notion of death as something that is always ahead of us, something we’re constantly moving toward. Instead, he’s saying that death isn’t really something we experience—it’s just an end, but it’s not a part of our lived experience. And when he talks about eternity, he’s not talking about a long stretch of time but about a kind of timelessness—living fully in the present, in the here and now. Eternal life, in that sense, is about being present, embracing each moment without being preoccupied with the future or the fear of death.”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly) “Exactly. Wittgenstein seems to be saying that the focus on death, or the idea of it as something we’re constantly headed toward, keeps us from truly living. Instead, he suggests that eternal life isn’t about time at all—it’s about how we live in the present. If we live fully in each moment, aware and mindful, that’s where eternity resides—not in waiting for something to come, but in experiencing life as it is right now.”

Host: The stillness in the room deepened, as the conversation unfolded. Jack turned slightly toward Jeeny, his expression softening as he considered the deeper meaning of Wittgenstein’s words. Outside, the world had quieted, but inside, their conversation had turned inward, reflecting on the nature of life, death, and the timelessness of the present moment.

Jack: (his voice quieter now, more introspective) “What strikes me is how Wittgenstein redefines life and death. We usually think of death as this distant event we’re all moving toward, and we live our lives with that sense of inevitability looming. But Wittgenstein is suggesting that death doesn’t belong to life—it’s something that happens outside of it. What truly matters is how we engage with life itself. By living fully in the present, we transcend that fear of death and experience timelessness.”

Jeeny: (softly) “Yes, and I think it speaks to how often we’re preoccupied with the future, with what’s coming next. We’re always living in anticipation of something, whether it’s the next big event, the next milestone, or even death itself. Wittgenstein is saying that if we can just be present, we’ll tap into something more meaningful than the endless cycle of time. Eternal life doesn’t come from what’s ahead of us—it comes from how we experience the now.”

Jack: (nodding slowly) “Exactly. And I think there’s an underlying freedom in that idea. If we’re not constantly worrying about death or what comes after, we can really experience life as it is, without attachment to the past or future. It’s about appreciating each moment for what it is, rather than living in expectation of something beyond it.”

Jeeny: (smiling gently) “Yes. It’s a reminder that life is what we have right now. If we can embrace the present, we’re already living in eternity. The fear of death, or even the anticipation of it, can cloud our ability to fully experience the beauty of the moment. By being present, we find eternity in the smallest moments of everyday life.”

Host: The quiet between them grew deeper now, as the conversation continued to unfold. Outside, the world had quieted, but inside, the room was filled with the realization that Wittgenstein’s words offer a profound truth about how we experience life. Jeeny and Jack had uncovered a deeper understanding—that by focusing on the present and embracing each moment fully, we not only overcome the fear of death, but we also experience the timelessness that defines eternal life.

Jack: (smiling softly, his voice more assured) “It’s a reminder that life doesn’t exist in some distant future or in the shadow of death. It exists in the now, in how we live each moment with intention and presence.”

Jeeny: (nodding warmly) “Exactly. If we’re truly present, we transcend the boundaries of time. We’re not waiting for life to happen to us—we’re living it, fully and without fear.”

Host: The world outside had quieted to a peaceful stillness, but inside, the room was filled with understanding. Jeeny and Jack had uncovered the deeper meaning in Wittgenstein’s words—that eternal life is not about what comes after, but about how we choose to live in the present, fully embracing each moment. The night continued outside, but inside, the room felt full of the realization that true eternity lies in the timelessness of the now.