On 20th September 2020, I had written a poem titled "Music, Dear Music" extolling the virtues of music, what she means to me and the important role that she has played in my life. Towards the end, the lines read
" Would love it, if in my last days
I got to listen to you, oh music divine
Even as I leave this world
And travel to the other world... "
Although the poem itself was liked by many readers, a blogger friend commented " Why think of the last moment when we can enjoy music in the present?". One can understand as to what prompted her to make such a remark. We generally tend to see "Death" as unpleasant, something not to be discussed. Yet, we know that death is certain for everyone who has taken birth on earth. In a person's life there are many events like joining school/college, getting married, becoming a mother/father, meeting with an accident or being felicitated on a promotion. Death is also one such event.
But in our reluctance to acknowledge or discuss it, we have given it a bigger status over other events, something to be feared. Traditionally, it is seen in our culture and in cultures all over the world that there were/ are rituals associated with death. Mourning, participating in a funeral procession, engaging in the associated ceremonies etc. made death real and happening around us. While some cultures focus on mourning the loss of a loved one, others focus on celebrating the life of the individual who passed away. They rejoice in knowing that their loved one has moved on. One of Mexico's biggest and most widely known traditions is 'Día de los Muertos' which means 'Day of the Dead. In India also we have a day every year for remembering our ancestors, seeking their blessings and performing related rituals.
When we see death happening before our eyes and participate in a 13th day ceremony ( तेरहवीं in North India ) or 16th day ceremony as in Kerala, we are coming to terms with death and accepting it as a normal part of life itself. It is in the changed circumstances of modern living with nuclear families replacing joint families and the family members living in various parts of the country and the world, that often times all family members are unable to be present during the funeral or see the dead body of their loved one. "Death" slowly has become more and more distant as happening to "someone else" and not to "us."
Interestingly in the same year ( 1st October 2020) I ended up writing a poem "Departing" conveying some of the things discussed above and suggesting that we prepare ourselves for the event by ironing out relationships, preparing wills etc and see death as merely a transition to the next state of existence ( You can read the poem here: https://rajeevianlinesandverses.blogspot.com/2020/10/departing.html ). One of the reasons for fear of death is that almost all religions say that you have to account for your deeds during the life on earth and pay for the sins which includes rotting in hell . Interestingly, if we are from a hot country "hell" is described as 'burning hot' and if from a cold country as 'freezing cold' so that you are sufficiently miserable and scared about the consequences.
It was in the year 1981 that I came across the 1975 book "Life after Life" written by Raymond Moody which is based on a qualitative study of 150 persons from diverse backgrounds who had undergone Near Death Experiences (NDE)**. All of them reported an overwhelming feeling of peace and well being including freedom from pain on leaving their body. They also reported coming into contact with a bright, compassionate and benevolent light (which they referred to as Jesus, Allah or Jehovah depending on the religion practiced by them) that interacted with them with love and compassion. None of them had experienced anything like "hell". At that time I remember being fascinated by the revelations in the book.
In recent times I have been following Anita Moorjani, a cancer beater whom the doctors had given no chance for survival. She had an NDE experience the details of which are shared in her Newyork Times Best Seller book "Dying to be me" . The book was followed by a second book "What if This is Heaven?". Her latest book "Sensitive is the New Strong" has just been released. From her experience Anita makes it clear that there is nothing to fear about death. In fact, the climate is so loving and inclusive in the other realm that her father who had bitter differences with her when he was alive was unconditionally loving and compassionate on the other side. Unlike as in the past, now more and more people with NDE experiences are coming forward to speak up and dispel the fears associated with death. Their interviews including those of Anita can be watched on "Passion Harvest" and other channels on you tube.
This then, is the thought dear readers that I would like to leave you with as I conclude. Do not fear or be unduly obsessed with death. What we should be engaging with is living- Living with the focus on "Love" which is the universal energy that drives the universe. In fact I had written a poem titled "On the Eternal Journey on 2nd January of this year on similar lines. ( https://rajeevianlinesandverses.blogspot.com/2021/01/on-eternal-journey.html )
** In an NDE Experience, a person who is clinically pronounced dead (all outward signs of life such as heart beat and functioning of vital organs stop) is revived and comes back to life after remaining in a condition of being 'dead' for some time.
NB: This is powered by Blog Chatter's # A2Z Challenge Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2021
You've taken an elegant look at a difficult topic. It's not easy to discuss death. My most recent experience with death was my cat's departure after a snakebite. The cat killed the snake and the snakebite killed the cat. I saw with much agony how the cat's condition deteriorated slowly, the tears that welled up in his eyes as he looked at me helplessly lying in my lap... and the final quiver of the body. A moment and he was no more. It's painful for the living. Yet it's inevitable for everyone.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for sharing your feelings on the subject. I know how much your cat meant to you. If the NDE accounts are true, you will be reunited with your pet.
DeleteYou have the ability to discuss the nuances of life without much reservations and the fact of duality in life like start/end, birth/death,pain/pleasure, win/lose etc. Death as such is not negative and if we realise that one can charter the course of life with noble deeds. Thanks for sharing the core synapses of few books on the subject and I must appreciate you wholeheartedly. Great going 🐵🐒🐶🐕🦮🐤🐥🐦🐧
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot sir for your appreciation and feedback! So happy you liked the post!
DeleteYes, it is true that generally people don't like some one talking of death. At home, parents do not want to take their children to a death house thus denying an opportunity to learn how to cope up with such inevitable happenings in life. Thanks to you sir for giving a pleasant picture about the life after death.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Mr Shivkumar for sharing your thought and feedback on the subject!
DeleteVery well said. Death is a permanent possibility but fearing and worrying it will just make us stop living.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts on the subject Neha Tambe!
ReplyDeleteSuch a difficult topic, such a lucid take!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Mridula for your appreciative feedback!
ReplyDeleteVery creative of you to choose 'D' for death to write up on after writing on 'C' for Creativity 😊
ReplyDeleteQuite a lively writeup on a subject as dead as Death 👍
Thank you so much for your appreciation and feedback!
ReplyDeleteA sensitive topic sensibly discussed. Liked this post. keep them. Coming.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for your feedback!
ReplyDeleteDeath is something most people avoid talking about or even thinking though that is the one sure thing that will happen in life. Nowadays with the onset of the second wave of Covid, the Grim Reaper is extra busy.
ReplyDeleteYou have covered the topic well.
Take care and stay safe.
Thank you so much for your feedback Monalog! Take care and be safe yourself!
ReplyDelete