‘Death’ explained by Pujya Bhaishri Rameshbhai Oza
⏯ Click below to watch a video with English subtitles on ‘A Life Changing View Of Death’
vāsānsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛihṇāti naro ’parāṇi | (BG 2.22)
‘It is time to change clothes,’ is what many saints say. This cloth has now been worn out.
We frequently talk about this—that ‘sunrise’ and ‘sunset’ are merely terms we use in our interactions.
In reality, the sun does not rise nor set. There is nothing like ‘sunrise’ and ‘sunset’. These subjective terms are relative to time and place. For example when it is ‘sunset’ in India, it is ‘sunrise’ at the same time elsewhere in the world, such as in America and Canada. They will say ‘Good morning.’
And when it is morning time in India, will we greet our American friends ‘Good morning’?
‘Jai Shri Krishna’ is a safer option to greet everyone with.
Is it time for ‘Good morning’ right now? Yes, if one says- it is morning time here, the sun has just risen. To that, the Americans and Canadians would disagree and say, ‘no, it’s evening time.’
One would state the sun has risen; the other would argue that the sun has set.
To resolve this dispute, suppose one were to go to the Sun, Lord Surya Dev and ask him, ‘Oh Lord Suryanarayan, have you (in fact) risen or set?
The Sun God would be puzzled and would possibly respond with the expression of the classic Whatsapp ‘thinking emoji’ upon his face.
‘What are you thinking, Lord Suryanarayan? Tell me, have you risen or set?’
Lord Suryanarayan would reply, ‘What is that? What is ‘sunset’? What is ‘sunrise’?
The Sun itself does not know what ‘sunset’ and ‘sunrise’ are; because neither does the Sun rise, nor does it set.
The Sun just is. Similarly, our consciousness isn’t born, nor does it die; it just is.
na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin nāyaṁ
bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ |
ajo nityaḥ śhāśhvato ’yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre ||
(BG 2.20)
The Shrimad Bhagavat inspires us to develop an all-new perspective towards Death—to absolutely give up the fear of Death.
Listening to, remembering and singing the Lord’s Glories are means to being liberated from fear of Death.
tasmād bhārata sarvātmā
bhagavān īśvaro hariḥ
śrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś ca
smartavyaś cecchatābhayam
(SB 2.1.5)
Interested to explore this subject further?
🎧 Click here to hear Pujya Bhaishri Rameshbhai Oza speak on various dimensions to developing a deeper understanding of Death.
Many reflect upon Death,
Few realise how to truly understand it. Don’t miss these short clips!
This ‘Being You’ series of talks is aimed to help each human being realise their fullest potential, in the light of that One Universal Truth. All Sandipani school campuses and students in Porbandar, Saputara and Devka shall be engaging in this core human values program.
If you have any favourite stories or quotes by Pujya Bhaishri on Death to share with our students, do share in the comments below.
Audio -Video- Article Contributors:
Manishaben Mittal (India);
Shivaniben Suchak (Tanzania);
Homnyben Bhanji (Portugal);
Roshniben Radia (Portugal)
Richilbhai Laxmidas (Portugal)