Thursday 29 December 2011

If death developed a conscience one day.....

Yamraj, is the Lord of death. There was a lovely movie, Meet Joe Black. Brad Pitt played death, come to earth to experience life....What beautiful irony...I began to wonder, what would happen if Death (Yamraj) developed a conscience, or rather a guilty conscience?

Most people are uncomfortable talking about death, a lot are afraid.People don't want death, their own, their loved ones, they go into severe depression when encountered by "unexpected death". People living in extreme poverty, chronic illness, the worst conditions of life, still want to live on. They may be old, so ill, they are bed ridden, they still cling onto life . I remember during my first marriage, I came across an article, that put my husband in a high death risk category, due to his frequent flying. The article suggested, such people should always have their wills ready. So I tried to talk to him about writing a will and nomination papers. He got so angry as though I was wishing death upon him. I wasn't, I just found the article very practical. I understand, a twenty something man doesn't want to think death can touch him, and hopefully not for a lot more decades. What confuses me is, what makes some death "unexpected", what is far more perplexing is why is everyone so afraid of death? Its a natural conclusion of life...

If one day Death, decides, he doesn't want to kill any more. Lets imagine the scenario. The illness, prolonged forever, every person growing older each year, with no rest or respite, all lessons spread over various lifetimes, now crammed into one endless life. Failing eyes sights, weaker limbs, an exhaustion, unimaginable consuming every person. The population increasing, no space left for any more, yet more and more people crowding into this planet. All resources getting depleted faster than getting replenished. Injuries would happen, degrees of burns , that kill now, every form of suffering continuing endlessly. Yet no death would come. Decadent ruins of people, with no life in their will, they would hate life more than they hate death now....

Death is not to be feared. Death is merely a comma, its not a full stop. Death gives us, the much needed respite and rest in between lives. Death is more loyal than life, it shadows us from birth, almost like an obsessed lover, to come to you , spend some time with you, recharging you, giving you time to reflect over the life you just completed, the regrets you want to undo, the lessons you've learnt, the love you accumulated. Death, is that lover who waits patiently, to take you in a possessive embrace and lets you go, when its time to come back to life again....

Talking about death and wills or nominations doesn't bring death upon you. It brings a practicality to those who are left behind. Celebrating the life one led, does not mean you must mourn the death, beyond a limit. Why would any one who loves another want to see them suffering, no dignity in their life, yet so afraid to let go, they keep praying to keep the beloved alive. Death is kinder in certain circumstances. DO I mean, one must not mourn the passing away of a beloved, sure. Yet, remember to celebrate his life more. Let not a grief, that is but natural, overshadow, the life you still have. Cherish the memories, but don't burden them with your grief. The garb may changes, the face, the gender yet the soul lives on. Know inside you, everyone dies, yet every soul is eternal. life ends in death, and life begins from death....here is one more fear to let go and accept as inevitable. The more grace you show, the easier it is for people you leave behind....

1 comment:

  1. HA ..HA ... HA ... This article really ribs us on our funny bone and also lets us thinks .... the grim reaper on a holiday will actually create more of a problem than alleviate .... Well , this is a brilliant way to push us to understand death :)

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