The source material defines death as a 'characteristic of the soul's nature' and life as its 'modification'. Can you explain this concept further?

This statement from Chapter 43 delves into a profound metaphysical understanding. It suggests that the fundamental state or nature of the soul is not continuous physical existence. 'Life' as we know it, the union of body and senses, is considered a 'modification'—a temporary, altered state. 'Death,' the separation from the body, is described as a 'characteristic of the soul's nature,' implying a return to a more essential, un-embodied state. This is why saints, who have placed their 'feet on the head of Time,' do not care for the span of life. They understand that the physical body and its life are transient modifications, while their true essence is beyond this cycle, as detailed throughout Chapter 43.