Just as there is life, there is death. Someone or something takes birth, grows, stays for some time, deteriorates, and then dies. Another name for birth is death. One cannot live without the other, meaning that when someone is born, some will soon die (as most species do not live very long); and when someone dies, someone is soon born. Everyone and everything in its normal state wants to live as long as possible—eternally. Eternality, however, is not associated with matter, but is a spiritual affair. Death to matter and to our material bodies is inevitable, but if we master the science of dying before dying, we will connect with that which is eternal—our soul and its home in the spiritual world. After all, death is to remove everything false and secondary.
My mother often used to say; “Give me my flowers while I can still see them.” As a child, I thought of it as strange, but as an adult, I saw it as a sign of wisdom. My mother understood the body to be transient and she celebrated life—the “now”—realizing one must show their love and affection for life at every moment. Our life or the lives of others will be taken away in the near future. If we live with proper preparation and detachment, we will master the science of dying before dying to connect with the soul and its home—the spiritual world. After all, death is to remove everything false and secondary.
When we die before dying, we put first things first. The activities that nourish our souls and help us detach from the illusion and confusion of material culture are our priorities. Since we know that life is meant to prepare for a glorious death, we can live each day as if it is our last. There is no time to waste on irrelevant, superfluous activities. Even when we must give time to somewhat superficial things, it must be done in a way that enhances the primary, significant involvements. If we live with proper preparation and detachment, we will master the science of dying before dying to connect with the soul and its home—the spiritual world. After all, death is to remove everything false and secondary.
People have cheated, disappointed, lied to, manipulated, and even abused us. When we reflect on each experience, it is as it we relive it again. Such experiences have shaped us in various ways. Many of these abusers and c heaters have traumatized us. In some cases, they have scarred us for life. The normal position is for the hurt or abused to seek revenge and severely punish the offender. It is easy to do, but will not fully resolve the problem. What is important is to address such problems with forgiveness. If we live with proper preparation and detachment, we will master the science of dying before dying to connect with the soul and its home-- the spiritual world. After all, death is to remove everything false and secondary.
Most people have special people they would like to meet, places they would like to visit, and experiences they would like to have. When we associate with important people, it makes us more important, at least in the eyes of others. When we can travel to many exciting places, life seems to be more adventurous. Most important, when we can have many exciting experiences, life seems more meaningful. We are all pleasure seekers and are always eager to experience pleasure, but the true spiritualist does not get overwhelmed by these concerns, for he understand the temporary and even illusory nature of the world. If we live with proper preparation and detachment, we will master the science of dying before dying to connect with the soul and its home-- the spiritual world. After all, death is to remove everything false and secondary.
Sometimes we are so busy doing things for those we love that we don't have time to be with them, show them, or tell them how much we love them. Sometimes others are so busy doing things for us that they also have no time to be with us, show us, or tell us how much they love us. However, if we truly understand how this life is a preparation for death, we will always make time to give and receive love.
When someone dies, much of the sadness comes from a lack of sufficient closure in the relationships. There is something we wanted to tell them or do with them, and there is something they wanted to tell us or do with us. Each of us had a tendency to procrastinate on the important opportunities and moments. Especially when a person lives solely for eating, sleeping, mating and defending, or when the person is captured by a very strong false ego, there is a tendency to miss opportunities to be fully present. The person misses the chance to say or do what will best honor other people’s highest needs and blocks the chance for others to honor his or her needs.
Quality association is most important. Where there is quality association, we are always learning something or teaching something. Such association is based on being with those who also are determined to end the cycle of birth, disease, old age and death. With quality association, we understand that just as there is life, there is death. We act with the knowledge that life is for self-realization, and that death, which is inevitable for matter and the material body, is not associated with the soul. We must die to live! That comes as we accept the inevitability of destruction and elimination of all matter. We can then honor the deaths that have happened and those that are manifesting, knowing that they can prepare the way for eternal life.
The true spiritualist profoundly appreciates my mother’s statement, “Give me my flowers while I can see them” Once they body is gone, the soul departs for its new encounter; therefore, it is important to say and do whatever is best for everyone now! Where we have made offenses, we must stop and ask for forgiveness now! While we have people to meet, places to visit, and experiences to have, we must put first things first, understanding the differences between what is temporary and what is eternal now! We must allow every day of our lives to represent healthy closure now! We are most natural when we live for love because all of our associations will be quality associations in which we share our compassion, determination and realizations, and receive the same from others.
This is the technology of how to celebrate life now and live with proper preparation and detachment, so that we will master the science of dying before dying to connect with the soul and its home—the spiritual world! After all, death is to remove everything false and secondary.
I am that lowly beggar who is desperately trying to die before dying.
H H Bhakti Tirth Swami Maharaj
没有评论:
发表评论