"Why should I fear death ...."

Why should I fear death?

If I am, then death is not.

If Death is, then I am not.

Why should I fear that which can only exist when I do not?

Long time men lay oppressed with slavish fear.

Religious tyranny did domineer.

At length the mighty one of Greece

Began to assent the liberty of man.

Epicurus

"Never look back ...."

Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.

Henry D Thoreau

"A monk asked, ...."

A monk asked, “What is the road of Yunmen?”

“Personal experience!”

“What is the way?”

“Go!”

“Where is the road?  Where is the way?”

“Start walking!”

Yumen Wang, a Tang dynasty Chan Buddhist founder