On Sunday I told the story of my mother. She was born in May, named May, and died in May. She was a beautiful person and I learned much from her that continues to have a positive influence on my everyday spiritual practice.
I shared with all that I was there with my mother at the time of her leaving her body. It was a powerful experience with my sister on one side reciting prayers from the Bible and I on the other side chanting our mantra. She left peacefully on the wings of sacred sound.
What I didn’t mention was how I felt so prepared for that moment. Of course, she had been sick for sometime so it wasn’t sudden, but still I had an awareness, or an understanding of the dying process that others around me didn’t have. I knew she wasn’t ultimately dying, that she, as the soul, was leaving one body and traveling onward – either to another body or returning to her original spiritual place of belonging.
The study of the Krishna philosophy has left me with a whole new approach to life and living, death and dying. It’s not either/ or anymore, it’s both/ and. I have learned that the body covers the soul, is animated by the soul, and death is simply the soul moving on. And the soul is me, is us – having conscious participation in the whole event. It’s like leaving one apartment and going to another, or taking off old clothes and putting on new ones.
Philosophy helps us step back and remember in times of death or crisis. The dying process is never easy – either for those leaving or those watching. But having a positive spiritual practice grounded in a sound and logical philosophy can give tremendous shelter, relief, and comfort. It allows us to say good bye with joy, and to remember with peace. It allows us to live without fear, and move on with confidence. It’s compared to the sun – that which gives light and vision.
Our main book of teachings, the Srimad Bhagavatam, says it well:
“This Bhagavat Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krishna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana.”1.3.43
A little regular reading of philosophy can go a long way to creating peace in the world. Go read and make some peace today.
Comments