Why must we believe *before* we die?

Honestly, I think in some sense everybody does. I would submit that happiness is often that moment when we "lose ourselves" and become "engrossed" in what we're doing. Great climbers love climbing, because they "lose themselves" in the climbing, they have to give "100% concentration". Same with baseball. Same with chess, etc etc.Annihiliating the "self" doesn't mean losing experience; it means changing the fundamental way "you" view life and the world. (I think) I think clearly the fact that some people can do it, be so peaceful and in control, is an interesting reason to honestly and openly try to answer this question. Not just by thinking, but by attempting--by doing. It's one of those things that don't happen by thinking about it--you have to do it. I think if you're equating self-annihilation in the Buddhist sense to suicide, you don't have any concept of what it is to lose self-conscious and still live. Or to lose the function of discrimination of objects. It's not a swipe at you. But I think this comment suggests that.I think it's really worthwhile to investigate. Even just to find out more about how people work.BenP.S. I didn't read all previous posts; I'm jumping with no holds barred