Death is the only certainty about life - one day, we must all die. That is certain.
All the scriptures tell us that we can expect love/harmony/peace/bliss on the other side. So passing over should be a good thing.
Unfortunately, some of the scriptures also warn us about judgement and punishment for sins/infractions. The people who are unsure about how they are going to be judged would surely feel some trepidation. Those who are quite certain that they can expect punishment would be worried, no matter how unconcerned they appear to be. Whatever the case, there is uncertainty about what to expect. The burden of death can be heavy.
For some, the strongest affinity may be for the material possessions that they have acquired and learned to enjoy, but for most, it is the relationships they develop with other people that they cling to and are reluctant to give up. That makes them want to live on for ever.
The net effect is that most people prefer not to think about death, even though they know that it is inevitable. That is a reality which they prefer to avoid facing. For some, even talking about death is taboo, like talking about it could bring it closer. Many plunge headlong into enjoyment of the material world as if to take in as much as they can before they are dragged out of here. And people go to extraordinary lengths to extend their lives. Even with people who are terminally ill and suffering the ravages of disease, medical devices are used to "keep them alive". Why does staying or keeping alive matter so much?
There is often talk about "missing the presence of people" who have died or are at risk of dying. No doubt, there are some people who have become so close to each other that they need to maintain frequent contact. They would feel an emptiness if they are unable to have that contact. But generally, people are only missed when they are no longer present, whether temporarily or permanently. While they are present, they don't seem to matter so much. This is because we get so caught up in our own lives that we have little time to spare for anyone else. It is when a person is at risk of passing away or has already passed away that the loss is felt and there is an outpouring of grief.
I attribute this situation to a failure on the part of society to prepare people for the inevitability of death. Death is a certainty! The only uncertainty is the when - we cannot know or predict when a person's end is due. Statistical averages and medical certifications amount to nothing. Death can come from so many directions. Many people, whose death has been predicted, have taken extraordinary measures to prevent the death. The scriptures and historical records are replete with examples. And usually, those measures have failed. Paradoxically, persons who, by all logical assessments, should have died, manage to survive, sometimes not even through their own effort. So the occurrence of death will remain a mystery.
What society can and should do is to constantly remind people that death can come to them at any moment. That should not mean that people become morose about the inevitability of their life ending. Instead, they should learn to live each moment with gusto, make every moment of their life worthy of being the last thing they ever do. This is a conditioned attitude. If everyone around them thinks that way, a growing child will also develop that attitude towards life. Every time we wake up in the morning, we should be grateful that we are blessed with another day of living and seek to make the best use of that gift. Can you imagine the positive vibrations such a society would generate?
If we remember that an encounter with another person could be our last one, wouldn't we treat that encounter with so much more care? If we remember that a request we receive from someone could very well be their last request, wouldn't we treat that request with so much more consideration?
My post today was inspired by my classmate and good friend who passed away early yesterday morning. He was suffering a terminal illness which gave him and his family the blessing of being able to prepare for death. I enjoyed the pleasure of being able to talk to him a couple of weeks ago. Although we didn't address the matter of death, I knew that he was aware that the treatments he had been getting were not making him any better. He was already at the end stage of his life, yet his positivity was inspiring. He did not complain about anything and simply took whatever was happening with equanimity. I'm pretty sure he realised that I too was aware of what was happening to him. So we were sort of able to say goodbye without really saying so.
I only wish that more people can have that opportunity.
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