What's more important, money or the idea of money?
Physical money, whether it be paper, salt, or gold, has little to no inherent value in itself. (Gold may be an exception here, but only in modern times where it has use in high-tech devices. But, in the past it was just rare and pretty, with no practical value.) It is the idea of money that makes it so valuable. So, I would argue that it is only the idea of money that has value (because of its ability to give value) and not money at all.
And, I'd say the same thing about life. The fact that no one lives forever denies the physical form of life --- our body --- any value at all. When the body dies it will cease to exist and hence lose all value. And yet the idea of life does not die with the body, just as the idea of money does not cease when our money is lost or stolen.
If you understand that the value of money is in the idea of it and not the physical form, then you will rarely have any trouble obtaining the physical form. You may be broke, but never poor, as those who understand this concept often say. And so it is true with life. When you realize that the physical form of life is not what gives it value then and only then will you be able to live according to the idea of life, never in fear of death or losing the physical form which has no real value.
This is what it means to "live forever". The body must die so the idea can live. When you realize this then you will be free from the idea of death, and the idea of life will become your religion.
[J.D. May 22, 2019]
