And now the questions...

What is death and what does it mean to die? Is it an ultimate end with nothing following, or is merely an intermediary stage that allows for various post-mortem options such as a rebirth or afterlife? Are life and death opposites or complementary? Is death a good thing or bad thing? Is it a long-awaited release or a dreaded untimely ending? On the flip side, what is life and what does it truly mean to live? Does merely breathing necessitate life or must one have some higher consciousness of one's existence? Is there ascribed meaning to be found in life and death, or are they both just meaningless periods that all creatures and entities pass through? Can one be fully aware of one's death, or even control its timing without the aid of self-mortification? I don't presume to know the answers, but asking the questions is the first step required to facilitate the conversation.