From Death to Immortality
Following is an article by a student devotee, Gaurav Khanna
Death remains yet as an unsolved riddle. Where men go after death is the question many ask. Few know the answer. Lord Krishna told Arjuna, “Ja-athasyahi dhruvo mrithyu” (For everyone who is born, death is certain). But we do not accept death as a normal occurrence. Even when an aged person dies, men wonder why. Young people should not die at all. Though we hear of death, we witness death, of course we do not accept death. We all hope to live forever. This is the reason why Krishna had to remind Arjuna that all those who suffer birth have to suffer death.
Swami subscribed to the Hindu view of death. It must be said that people everywhere will find it difficult to practice this attitude. When confronted with death, especially of one very near and dear, we react sorrowfully. Swami teaches us to be wise and brave. Swami’s mother, Easwaramma, died in Brindavan during the 1972 summer course, when there were a thousand students from all over India. No one knew that this had happened; Swami sent the body to Puttaparthi for burial. The classes continued and Swami moved among the students as usual. But when devotees confront death, Swami considers and comforts them. He assures them that the person who has passed away is happy in the new place. On the death of Walter Cowan in the United States, Swami sent a telegram to Mrs. Cowan, “Walter arrived in good shape.” He is the same Walter whom Swami had resurrected 19 months earlier at Madras. “Accept the inevitable,” says Swami.
Swami’s concern is about what we do, how we behave, in every moment of our lives rather than when and how we die. The only way to overcome the fear of death is to live in such a way that one has no time to think of the end. A life filled with selfless activity is the best solution for facing the problem of death. Swami says, “You must live with the constant thought of God as well as another fact, death.” Though we appreciate the basic attitude to death determined by our philosophy, we avoid as inauspicious any mention of death in our day-to-day life. If by chance one utters the word, one immediately negates it!
Swami says, “Death is considered as something to be afraid of, something that should not be spoken about in happy circumstances. But death is neither good nor bad. You have no choice in the matter; you cannot get it sooner if you welcome it, nor can you avoid it if you condemn it. From the moment of birth, the march to the cremation ground starts. Some reach the place more quickly than others. Some may go by a roundabout route and arrive late; that is the only difference in death between one person and the other. Yet man talks about death as if it is a distant calamity.” Swami encourages us to live in the constant remembrance of death. He says, “The body is the car in which you are riding to death. You may meet death at any moment while riding. Remember death.”
Swami says, “Intent on a journey and having purchased a ticket for the same, if you enter a train, whether you sit quiet, lie down, read, or meditate, the train takes you willy‑nilly to the destination. So, too, each living being has at its birth received a ticket to death and is on a journey. So whatever your struggles and safe‑guards and precautions, the place has to be reached someday. Whatever else is uncertain, death is certain. It is impossible to change the law.” We do not have to struggle hard to reach death; it is the only thing that comes to us without effort. The thought of the certainty of death and the equal uncertainty of the time of the event should give us a sense of urgency and heighten our awareness of the value of each moment as a fresh gift from God.
What man needs is a change in perspective regarding life, death, and immortality. Bhagavan declares that “Immortality does not imply that one can avoid death and continue living in the physical body for all time. It means that one’s name and fame will shine in the memories of people if his character and achievements are noble and beneficial.” Through this point, Swami is emphasizing the need to live a good life and the life dedicated to service.
Leading a good life is itself a sadhana [spiritual effort] that helps us to break the cycle of birth and rebirth. Good life rescues us from the snare of desires. Rebirth is determined by the nature of the thoughts during the last moments of our lives. But Swami reminds us that unless we have lived in the constant remembrance of the Lord, we will not be able to call on Him at the last moment. It has been said that the actions of this life are the destiny of the next.
Swami has related the story of the shopkeeper who had given his children the names of God in the belief that when he talked to them at his deathbed, he would be uttering the names of God. Swami said, the moment came at last and according to program he called the Lord by proxy six times in all. The boys came and stood around his cot. The last thought that came to the dying man’s mind just before he was about to quit was, “Alas, all of you have come away. Who will look after the shop now?” Swami added, “You see, his shop was his ruling passion all through his life and he could not switch to God at short notice. The latent tendencies will have their say, whatever you wish. The thought of God cannot survive in a climate of acts marked by pride and greed.”
Swami reminds us that we are responsible for our death whenever, wherever, and however it happens. “The ‘God of death’ does not bring a noose when he comes to drag people to his abode. The noose is made by the victim himself and he has it round his neck, awaiting the arrival of Yama. He has only to take hold of the rope and pull you along! It is a three‑stranded rope, the strands being: egoism, sense attachment, and desire.”
Swami’s advice runs thus: “Consider Kennedy! How death was lurking around him waiting for the chance! Did he not have men to guard him—soldiers, security men, body‑guards? But it was all in vain. So while life persists do good, speak soft and sweet, never injure or insult another, serve those in need, and keep the image of God ever before the mind’s eye.”
Swami has gifted us a beautiful picture to ponder upon so that we can frame our attitude to death. “How do you know that is the last moment?” The ‘God of death’ does not give notice of his arrival to take you away. He is not like the photographer who says, “I am about to click. Are you ready?” If you wish that your portrait be hung on the walls of heaven, that it must be attractive, if you want your stance, your pose, and your smile to be as attractive as possible, then be ready for the click day or night with His name ever resting on the tongue.”
Swami has said that the inquiry into death is actually inquiry into one’s own reality. Those who have the inner urge to achieve the higher wisdom that confers liberation have, therefore, to reflect upon and investigate the phenomenon of death. Do not postpone the reflection on death, feeling that it is inappropriate and profitless. Every mystery latent in human existence is entwined with the mystery of death. The glory and majesty of the Divine are fully revealed only when death is investigated.
To sum up, Swami’s recipe for facing death is as follows: ‘Live every moment as if it were the last, fully, intensely, purposefully, selflessly, and joyfully, so that we are not too busy to worry about death. When death comes, welcome the click with a smile.’
Swami says, “Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow.”
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, April 1988
