Life Vs Death

It was a strange evening I have had so far. Being a administrator in a corporate company is a tough job though – I used to think like this at times. The earlier day I have had got a call from one of my subordinate so close to me asking for an off day. His father was not feeling well it seemed. I was always conscious of my duties and responsibilities in all ways. They often acted as masks one of which I have to wear at one time and another at in some other situation. This time the call was from him related to my duties as an administrator of my office. In a small authoritative voice I said “Please look into the matter that you arrive back soon within two days”

This day he called to my office and informed his friend, my another subordinate that his father is no more. When he informed me of this thing, the day looked so strange for me. What is all this duty consciousness, even without understanding this reality in life am I living the right way? Do I have to be really duty conscious when there is no certainty in life? What is it actually to live? What is it to be happy? Why I mean to be so strict as an officer but I struggle hard to reason myself as a man? Lot of questions arouse in my mind and made me silent for the day. That night grew up very long and my silence was broken with phone call of that another subordinate who received the call. It was clear that his voice is broken so as is his heart. I wanted him to join with me in the dinner. I got prepared myself to face him and the weariness he had thinking myself that the universal abundance will help in facing and answering him.

My silence was broken during that meet with his weeping eyes, rolling tears and broken voice.

He: Sir, what is it this life sir?

Me: Why do you get that question my friend now?

He: You know sir, he called today two times, first time right half an hour before the last call, he said his father is okay and they are moving to a bigger hospital. But within the next thirty minutes the whole scenario changed. And so what is it this life all, so uncertain.

Me: Uncertainty is universal principle don't you know that and now my question is whether do we have to really cry or shed tears for knowing this?

He: What sir, after all we are humans. Don't we have emotions?

Me: Of course my dear friend. But emotions without intelligence always lead to troubles. It ruins the present. But after all as you said life is only this present, this moment we even don't know what happens next moment. It is always good to know this and live better right in this moment.

He: Are you saying we should not cry for his loss?

Me: No I didn't say that. I understand your emotions but don't be emotionally inclined too much. The law of impermanance always states that nothing is permanent in this world. What you think as loss is not actually a loss at all. The same situation happened for Arjuna in Gurukshetra, he put all the arms down saying he won't kill anyone as he my loose his relations. But you know what Krishna said?

He: Yes Anna, you have said about that lot of times.

Me: Don't see Gita as something related to a religion. All religious books state completely about the universal laws, the word laid down even before creation. Krishna asked Arjuna, what do you think as a mere loss Arjuna, they are going to loose their body, a solid mass which is nothing but the manifestation of the unmanifest. But soul never dies. What you think as loss is not actually a loss. Because nothing is given and nothing is taken. What you think as something already existed, exists now and will exist forever. Then what do you call as Arjuna.

Do you understand Krishna's words my friend? Arjuna faced the same situation

He: But how as a human I or we can be able to accept that one anna. I am thinking in a way that what if it happened to someone near or dear to me...us..!

Me: Yes, that is our identification. What if it happens to me or my dear ones. Do you think my friend you can be able to conquer this one thing called death.

He: No

Me: Then hear you cannot conquer death of anyone. You cannot stop anyone getting to that point. One born has to die. You, me, your parents, my parents, and everyone whome we see with our eyes. But my question is whether do we die really and when that thing called death happens to someone nearer we mourn but at the same time when it happens even to our neighbour we don't feel that much burdened. Why is it so?

He: We are always fond of our dear ones, that's why?

Me: So that is Diversifying. I am coming back to Gita, do you remember the verses “What is given is given from here only, whatever is taken is taken to here only” can you tell what is that place called “here” in this verses.

He: hmmm...

Me: Have you ever heard of a bigger super consciousness a supreme soul which prevails all over the universe and that we are the manifestation of that unmanifest soul. Krishna means that soul only. In abother verse he says soul never dies and what does that mean?

He: Body dies and soul never dies

Me: And what does that exactly means..I mean what it is the meaning of soul never dies?

He: Make it more clear sir.

Me: Think of this my friend. What would have been the starting point of all this creation and what lies all beyond the active universe. Can you imagine, is it not the empty dark place where we can find nothing. Just imagine yourself. Now?

He: Yes sir. Beyond all these planets and everything there is nothing.

Me: Can you imagine what existed ever before this creation of this active universe, the universe made of planets, stars, galaxies etc.,

He: Nothing.

Me: Now tell how we were created from that nothing. Doesn't that mean we carry the same particle or share the same soul. Notice the word same soul. Aren't we?

He: Yes sir, you are correct. We share the same soul.

Me: Absolutely. We are just the manifestation of the same unmanifest soul and there is no actual end for it. We begun from there and we are going to end there. Does that mean actual death?

He: No, not really. It is just the death of the body as Krishna explained.

Me: Now tell me why do you feel so heavy? When that dead person's soul has not yet died. Let me ask you another question if we share the same soul and then actually that person has not died, tell me now, aren't we part of him too. So is it necessary to identify him as somebody's father and mine as my father, the subject being all are manifestation of same soul.

He: No sir. Not really. We carry the same soul as his. He is not actually dead. Only his body is no more efficient to carry over his routines.

Me: Yes, that is what it is. Now with this you can distinguish life and death, which is permanent and which is impermanent, that distinction I feel will lead you to peace, Am I right?