Art of Living is to Master the Art of

Dying

The last thing people would like to discuss or even think is Death. But they
often dont last till last to discuss or even think about what really death is!
Man has made so much innovation in technology that with little remote

control he can control satellites from thousands of miles away. Or he can put
so much complexity into a small electronic chip to work wonders. But death
challenges all human advancements.
It is an affront to the genius of modern human. Nobody wants to die but
everybody has to die. It is beyond their control. So much research has gone
into eliminating death but the wonder is no body has escaped cruel death till
now even the researchers. The death rate is same everywhere i.e. 100%.
In my childhood I used to deliberate so much on death. The more I used to
deliberate the more I used to get befuddled as there seemed no solution for
this enigma. I used to cry at night thinking that one day I have to leave my
beloved ones. How can I never be separated from them was my relentless
anxiety. I used to ponder when we come in this world there are attachments
growing around us. Attachment for mother, father, friends, etc. gives us
boost to struggle in this world. Without attachments rarely one can survive.
But the paradox is at the time of death all attachments are abruptly severed.
How ghastly! How Painful! Death means end of everything. Death means
perpetual separation from loved ones, never to meet again, ever! How
horrifying is the idea! Just as some dry leaves on river surface come
together and with a surge of wave are separated for ever. Thinking thus I
would cry whole night.
One who thinks profoundly about death cannot afford to bear attachments
for anyone and anything in this world. But people dont want to think about
death rather they want to forget it so that they can cultivate attachments for
their loved ones which is source of pleasure for them. Just like when we are
ailing we know something is erroneous with the body and we take
medication. In this world we cant live without attachments but death severs
those very same attachments brusquely and makes us suffer bitterly. Hence
we can conclude that we are at wrong place. This world is not meant for
gentlemen/women.

Once when Pandavas, great devotees of Lord were in exile they were
extremely thirsty while nomadic in the forest. Yudhistir asked his brothers to
search some lake nearby. When after long time they didnt return he himself
went in search of them. No sooner he found them near a lake in unconscious
state than a supernatural voice resonated,
Your brothers didnt care to answer my questions before drinking water
from my lake hence their current state. If you too dont answer you will
follow them.
Yudhistir nodded solemnly.
One of the many questions asked by the supernatural voice was What is
most astonishing thing in this world?
Yudhistir impeccably replied One sees death everywhere around but he
thinks he is an exception. This is most astonishing.
Later after perfectly answering all other questions the brothers were
resurrected back.
So the most astounding thing in the world is not the 7 wonders of the world,
but the attitude that I will never die inspite of seeing death around.
Everyone who dies thinks like that. Nobody likes to die.

In the Light of Scriptures

While voyaging throughout 84 lacks species of life every time we
encountered death. We were in species of dog, ant, tree, snake, fish, tiger,
elephant, eagle, demigod, pigeon, spider, scorpion, lion, whale, shark,
bacteria It is thrilling!? But surely not fun. Every animal species is filled
with immense angst for survival. Even the kings of jungle have to famish for
weeks to catch their prey. Its not a tranquil life.

If we deliberate deeply we can observe that for every kind of desire we

have, there is facility in nature. If someone desires to fly freely in the air
there is birds body, someone desires to swim there is aquatic body,
someone desires to eat a lot there is elephant body, someone desires excess
sex is given pigeon body, someone desires to sleep a lot there is polar bear
body, someone likes to be naked there is tree body, someone desires to eat
flesh there is tiger body and so forth. God has provided facility for
accomplishing every kind of desire. You just think of it and it is there in
nature. Of course we need to deserve before we desire. Now the desire for
living eternal is there in everyone without exception. Nobody wants to die.
So is there any facility for that in nature? Yes of course! Hence the quest for
supernatural is natural. Many movies are also made portraying such a
supernatural place where one doesnt die and can live eternally happy. It is
described in Bhagavad Gita 15.6
na tad bhasayate suryo na sasanko na pavakah yad gatva na nivartante tad
dhama paramam mama
That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire
or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world.

Death for Transcendentalists

It is explained in vedic texts that we are not the body but spirit soul. And the
body has death not the soul. So actually we dont die rather the body does
at the time of death. Good news! How relieving it is. Soul is indestructible
while the body is destructible. Soul is driving force for the body. A
transcendentalists understands this fact and goes further to know the source
of the soul. The original home of the soul is the kingdom of God. Somehow
the soul has landed in this foreign land and is suffering like an orphan.
Hence the duty of the living entity is to go back to his original home where
there is eternity, bliss and complete knowledge in association of God

It is explained that just like a cat when she hunts for rat her teeth appears
like death knell to rat but for a kitten same teeth are loving embrace of
mother. When death appears a materialists feels petrified. But for a
transcendentalists death is Gods loving embrace, a call back home.
When two prisoners are escorted out of a jail into a van it may seem both
are heading to same destination. But one is released completely from the jail
because of his good bearing while the other is confined to rigorous
imprisonment on account of his impish conduct. So death is same for
materialists and transcendentalist but what happens after death is
imperative.
So a transcendentalists practices bhakti yoga. Bhakti yoga is more powerful
than death. Even death cannot check progress on this path. Best way of
practicing it is by chanting Gods names
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
One who practices sincerely and seriously will surely at time of death acquire
a spiritual body which is absolutely free of any deficiency. So death is a time
to change body from an inferior one to superior one. Hence for a
transcendentalists death is time to revel!

Conclusion
Finally my crying for my loved ones came to an end. I understood if we
perform Bhakti yoga and achieve perfection then we all can meet again in
spiritual world never to be separated again. Srila Prabhupada, founder
Acharya of ISKCON once said, When we go back to spiritual world we will
have another ISKCON there! Path of Bhakti yoga is best welfare activity for
the family members and all. Even if one performs bhakti yoga alone he can

deliver his beloved ones. In the holy pages of Srimad Bhagavatam 4th canto
the story of Dhruva Maharaj appears where his mother guided him to
practice Yoga in forest to achieve Lord. At the culmination when Dhruva
achieved perfection and was about to leave for spiritual world he asked his
beloved mother also to be taken along although she didnt practice yoga
herself. So if I practice seriously enough and when time comes for soaring
back to spiritual world I shall take my beloved ones along. Then we shall live
happily ever after together with God in the kingdom of God!!! Happily ever
after