During chapter 2: Self Realization, in The Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna tells Arjuna that "Death is inevitable for the living; birth is inevitable for the dead. Since these are unavoidable, you should not sorrow." On the battlefield standing before his relatives, Arjuna is distraught with emotions over the deaths of his family that are about to take place. Why does death have to be the answer? Why does his family's blood have to suffer as a result of hatred between the relatives? Can't there be any other option? Sri Krishna's response to Arjuna's fears struck a chord with me, because like Arjuna, I have worried about death.
The topic of death is brought up constantly in life, whether it be the result of a funeral, reading the obituaries in the local newspaper, or a passionate discussion in World Religions class. And truthfully, the idea of death scares me. I am afraid because the outcome is unknown. What really lies beyond the life of a human? Will I follow a light in the darkness like the ghosts on the television show Ghost Whisperer have said? Will I stand floating over the earth as a spirit? What will become of me after I am finished here? The human beings on this earth are not indestructable and will not live on this planet forever. However, as an adolescent, this fact seems too incomprehensible and far away.
Sri Krishna's statement brings peace to my worried mind, for he simply speaks the truth. In life, birth and death both occur, and they can't be stopped. So why be sad when there is nothing that a person can do about them? Just like the tautology, "whatever will be, will be," I cannot let the truth get to me. There is no point dwelling in sorrow and letting negative thoughts of the subject dwell in my mind. Humans need to realize, and many have, that death will happen eventually, so why not go after their dreams and the paths that they were meant to travel on? Today is the day to accomplish my goals in my life. Thank you, Sri Krishna, for putting that gentle reminder into my mind. Maybe reading this novel was a sign....
Your post reminded me of something my grandmother used to say, "When you are born the only thing you know for sure is that you're going to die"
ReplyDeleteSounds depressing but is actually a rather liberating way of looking at life and death
That's really true! At first, the quote sounded harsh, but at second glance it is also strangely comforting to have knowledge about the future....
DeleteI find it so, too -- immortality I find really frightening. Remember that the Upanishadic idea that the Atman is deathless might be less a comfort than a curse, unless we can find some way to stop reincarnating...
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