08/D.E.A.D

ATTAINING THE SUPREME

It is a sign of sanity and wisdom if one takes time to contemplate their death. During yearly festivals, Latin Americans hang skulls in their houses to remind themselves. Yogis in India meditate on the banks of the Ganges where open-pyre funerals are being conducted. Although many would consider it morbid to contemplate death, it remains an uncomfortable reality of life – nobody wants it, but everyone has to face it. The Bhagavad-gita directly addresses the subject of death – how to prepare for it, what happens at that fateful moment, and what lies beyond. The thought of death need not be seen as an inconvenient truth, but rather the ultimate meditation to reinstate clarity and perspective into every aspect of our life.

D

Doubting is a function of intelligence, and at no point in the Bhagavad-gita does Krishna reprimand Arjuna for his numerous inquiries. Krishna welcomes the dialogue, and encourages Arjuna to consider His answers and make his own decisions. This chapter begins with Arjuna’s queries on several spiritual concepts. Krishna answers seven of Arjuna’s eight questions immediately, and then dedicates the majority of the chapter to his final question - “How can one attain a spiritual destination at the time of death?"

E

Krishna explains how a person’s thoughts at the time of death sum up their consciousness and aspirations cultivated throughout life. Thus, one’s state of mind at the critical moment of departure determines the next life situation - those who remember God at death reach the kingdom of God. One may spend decades at school, but if they’re lazy, inattentive and apathetic in their studies, they won’t pass the final exam. They’ll have to retake. Similarly, the success of life is measured by how well we perform in the final exam; death. How we perform in the final exam is dependent on how diligently we prepare ourselves during the course of life. We must live with the end in mind.

A

This material world is simply a temporary university designed to dispense life lessons. Experiencing the frustration and emptiness of material life, we begin looking for something beyond. C.S Lewis once said: “If I find within myself a desire which no experience in this world can fulfil, I must conclude I was made of another world.” As spiritual beings, life in an artificial world of matter is an incompatible situation. While the material world is rubber-stamped as a constantly changing place of misery, the spiritual world is distinguished as an eternal, all-blissful abode. There are many painstaking ways in which spiritualists attempt to attain that supreme destination, and if they are indeed successful, they never return to this temporary world again.

D

Since various spiritual practices have been discussed in this chapter, Krishna concludes by outlining the most effective process to attain the Supreme. Bhakti-yoga, the path of active service to God in a mood of devotion, is described as the most evolved spiritual path. In an age of rampant materialism and temptation, coupled with individual weakness and spiritual apathy, a highly practical and powerful spiritual process is required. Through bhakti-yoga, anyone can experience genuine spiritual connection very quickly. If one can consistently and progressively saturate their consciousness in Krishna, they can remember Him at the time of passing, and thus attain the supreme destination, circumventing all the technicalities and details that other spiritual processes may stress.

“REMEMBERING THAT I’LL BE DEAD SOON IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL I’VE EVER ENCOUNTERED TO HELP ME MAKE THE BIG CHOICES IN LIFE. ALMOST EVERYTHING - ALL EXTERNAL EXPECTATIONS, ALL PRIDE, ALL FEAR OF EMBARRASSMENT OR FAILURE THESE THINGS JUST FALL AWAY IN THE FACE OF DEATH, LEAVING ONLY WHAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT. REMEMBERING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DIE IS THE BEST WAY I KNOW TO AVOID THE TRAP OF THINKING YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO LOSE. YOU ARE ALREADY NAKED. THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO FOLLOW YOUR HEART.”

~ STEVE JOBS