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> > HMusapeta@aol.com writes:
>
> > > Dear Sir,
> > >
> > > I am the president o Hindu society in the city of Tulsa the
> United states of
> > > America. Recently I was confronted by a question by an American which was "
> > > Meaning of Death in Hinduism " . I really could not find the
> exact answer for
> > > the same , for the depth he wanted was immense.
We are told that when we are born, we begin a walk to the burning
ground, and that for some, it will be longer than for others. Also, we
are told that it is not death which is the problem, but birth. What we
do on that walk from cradle to cremation ground determines how well we
deal with the problem of birth.
However, we live in a death-denying culture, and I find that even Hindus
here join with westerners in their aversion to reflecting on what it is
to prepare for death, and to die well. It's unfortunate. At shanti
paths, we always read the same sections from the Gita, but with little
understanding. Often, the reading is in Sanskrit, and so the people do
not even know what is being read. That is tragic stupidity on the part
of people organizing such events.
Our religion teachs the need for realization to be sprung free from
cycles of birth and death. We also are taught that the person dying
with consciousness of the Divine, with the names and mantras of his/her
personal Deity on his/her tongue and in his/her mind and heart achieves
liberation. If we, as Hindus, believe this then the meaning of death
becomes living each day, each moment, so we can die this way.
But our ego says it is not possible, or that we are so bad we need many,
many lifetimes -- this is a perverse form of boasting, and it is a neat
way of saying we either don't believe our tradition or are not prepared
to do the work.
If I want this to be my last death, then I must live a certain way. One
of the attachments I need break to live that way is the attachment to
the idea of being me in this body, and the idea that I will live
forever. In other words, overcome my fear of dying. We believe Shivji
waits at the burning ground for us. Indeed, when I have been in the
crematorium when we do the last rituals, the feeling of Divine presence
is very great. So if Shivji is there, why should I fear?
We may think of death as a big examination, and the time before death as
a period of studying to ensure we pass. The positive side is that if we
fall short of the required grade, we will have another chance. Hinduism
generally teaches that all people will be liberated, some sooner, some
later.
In a rambling sort of way, these thoughts reflect for me the meaning of
death within Hinduism. Death is not the enemy -- it simply is. The
acceptance of death in light of our beliefs can add richness and meaning
to both living and dying. What I have written is based primarily on my
experiences as a Hindu trying to follow our teachings, and my
experiences working with people who are dying as a chaplain serving all
faiths.
Daly
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