On DEATH
Today you are here; breathing, walking and
watching the world around. Tomorrow who knows you might be buried or turn into
ashes. In a blink life is over. It is absolutely unpredictable & our
journeys are mysterious. All that is true and known to me is NOW in this
present moment. The one I can feel and sense here. The one after this & the
many lined up afterwards aren’t in anybody’s control.
I don’t own my life as I have no guarantee
of its length. And surprisingly no one can give that guarantee. Not even the
astrologers, doctors, scientists, priests, nor the wealthiest and wisest human
beings. And that’s how no one owns it. The only owner of it could be this very
moment. What’s wonderful & bountiful is filled in this moment. One can only
trust that and go ahead with life as it pleases you. Beyond this there’s no
assurance or no indication of anything that might come your way. No matter how terrible or frightening it
could be, it clearly gives no such prior intimidation. Someone you used to sit,
laugh, dine with yesterday could be gone by today. That’s such a heartbreaking fact,
which of course many of us must have seen, heard or even lived.
Death is so final and unsettling. What
remains behind are only our memories. That’s especially for the ones who mourn
and are shattered after seeing their loved ones leaving the world in pain. Even
for those who become awfully silent and tearless, cold as ice. Again going
through turbulent emotions and extreme heartache but unable to let it out in
front of anyone else or even themselves. And then there are the acquaintances
who extend their condolence & remain supportive in every formal way. But
worst is the category of those who lose their mental balance or identity or go
through a physical trauma or an attack. This vulnerable chunk then becomes the
next challenge even before coming out of the grief of the dead.
There’s no category which can be defined as
right or wrong at such tragic times. And we might fall under any of these
depending upon the circumstances, our bond and closeness with the dead.
Such an intense & sensitive subject; so
far I have never had that nerve to write on this. Several times before I had
made an attempt but couldn’t get it right. And even now it’s not going to be a
guide to anyone who is going through such pain.
Nevertheless what occurred to me strongly
was the fact that among all these categories what about the one who is dead.
Who knows where he travels; what he goes through; whether or not he can feel
the emotional pain. There are all sorts of theories about ‘after death’ in
different religions and there are various rituals to be performed to ensure
that the soul is at peace or finds its way to heaven.
Apart from the theories I feel the soul
comes and leaves your life to show you something. It tries to give some
underlying message. No matter which of the above categories you fall under and
the soul might have played the smallest or biggest role in your life; the
bottom line is it came in contact with you for that shortest or longest time
with a purpose. May be a reason which isn’t so noticeable or obvious to our
normal perception. There are some things unrecognizable to us instantly. Deep
within they all have a reason to tell us, show us, teach us something new. A
message to be read & comprehended beyond the conscious world. Perhaps
something that exceeds even our bonding
or relationship with that person; a universal message of life for us to
unravel.
Like, I have surely learnt the value of my
present moment with some recent experiences. And surely trying my best not to
dwell between the past and future but to focus all my energy on my NOW.
