SIRD Malaysia

All the differences and variety come to an end at death. Death is the only natural and sure outcome for all living beings. Also its consequence is uniform for all. The fate of the body, be it of a King or of a beggar, is the same after death; it begins to decompose. Whatever pomp and glory one may have, everything comes to an end at death. However much land and property one might have acquired in life, the dead body can occupy only six feet of the earth and ultimately either fire consumes it or insects crawl on it. So, in the developments of life there is surprise and uncertainty, but death is the only uniform and sure fate of one and all.

In fact, the ultimate message that death imparts is that of immortality. All sorrow, confusion and difficulties about death will vanish when the mind and intelligence reflect upon the supreme Truth of immortality of the Soul. The suffering about the departure will subside only when one realizes that the individual has not died. As he was existing with the body, now he continues to exist without body. The 'He' part was not born, nor did it ever die. What has died is the body which would have died if not now, a few months or years later.

See, ultimately for man, strength and clarity will come only when the mind intelligence begin to reflect constantly on the Truth of life and death. So, whenever a death takes place, rather than getting involved in rituals and ceremonies, your mind should enquire about what is birth, what is death and what is it that dies. An event of death alone inspires and compels us to think about deathlessness or immortality. Our very embodiment is to reveal immortality. That is why our tradition exhorts us to read Kathopanishad on the occasion of death and after-death rites. Kathopanishad repeatedly tells us through the teachings of Yama to Nachiketas, that there is only one eternal existence present everywhere and the knowledge of That alone will give us peace.

(c) Narayanashrama Tapovanam, 2010
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