Death; An Inside Story

1. Death is a natural process, not a calamity to be feared

"Death is in fact life in a very intense form. People who have experienced moments of great danger in their life clearly know this."

Death is inevitable. Everyone who is born must die, yet most people live in denial of this fact. This denial stems from our strong identification with the physical body and our inability to explore other dimensions of existence.

Fear of death is unnatural. Sadhguru argues that the fear of death is not innate but a learned response, often perpetuated by society and religious teachings. This fear can be overcome by developing a deeper understanding of the nature of existence and by living life fully in the present moment.

Accepting mortality leads to a more fulfilling life. When we acknowledge our mortal nature, we become more conscious of how we live our lives. This awareness can lead to:

• Greater appreciation for each moment
• More meaningful relationships
• A sense of urgency to fulfill one's purpose
• Reduced attachment to material possessions and ego-driven pursuits

2. Understanding the mechanics of life and death through Yogic philosophy

"What you are calling as life, right now, is like soap bubbles being blown. The entire Yogic process or the entire spiritual process is to wear this bubble thin, so that one day when it bursts, there is absolutely nothing left and it moves from the bondage of existence to the freedom of non-existence, or Nirvana."

Life as energy and memory. According to Yogic philosophy, life is a combination of energy (prana) and various forms of memory, including:

• Elemental Memory (governing the interaction of five elements)
• Atomic Memory (guiding the behavior of physical substances)
• Evolutionary Memory (determining human form)
• Genetic Memory (influencing individual characteristics)
• Karmic Memory (accumulating impressions from past lives)

The process of death. Death is not an instantaneous event but a gradual process involving the withdrawal of different aspects of prana (life energy) from the body:

1. Samana Vayu (maintaining body temperature)
2. Prana Vayu (governing respiration and thought processes)
3. Udana Vayu (controlling buoyancy and communication)
4. Apana Vayu (managing excretory and sensory functions)
5. Vyana Vayu (knitting cells together and preserving the body)

Chakras and exit points. The quality of one's death is influenced by which chakra (energy center) the life energy exits through. Higher chakras, such as Vishuddhi or Sahasrara, are associated with more evolved states of consciousness at the time of death.

3. The importance of preparing for a good death

"If you want to die well, you have to cultivate a certain amount of dispassion towards your own death."

Conscious living leads to conscious dying. Sadhguru emphasizes that how we live our lives directly impacts how we experience death. By developing awareness and equanimity in our daily lives, we can approach death with greater grace and acceptance.

Practices for a good death:

• Develop a meditative practice to cultivate awareness
• Regularly remind yourself of your mortality
• Practice detachment from material possessions and relationships
• Engage in spiritual practices that help transcend bodily identification
• Create a conducive environment for dying (e.g., peaceful surroundings, minimal medical interventions)

The concept of Vanaprastha Ashrama. In Indian tradition, there is a practice of retiring to a forest or ashram in the later stages of life to prepare for death. This allows individuals to:

• Detach from worldly affairs
• Focus on spiritual practices
• Create distance from familiar surroundings and relationships
• Develop a deeper connection with nature and the cosmic reality

4. Assisting the dying and performing after-death rituals

"A bodiless being is a completely defenceless life. That is why that aspect of life must be conducted with utmost responsibility. When someone gives this being a little bit of help at the last moment, it will go a long way."

Creating a supportive environment. When someone is dying, it's crucial to create an atmosphere that supports a peaceful transition. This includes:

• Maintaining a calm and positive emotional state around the dying person
• Using appropriate sounds or chants to guide the departing consciousness
• Ensuring proper body positioning (e.g., north-south alignment)
• Minimizing unnecessary medical interventions

After-death rituals and their significance:

• Tying the big toes together to close the Muladhara Chakra
• Washing the body to facilitate complete withdrawal of life energy
• Avoiding sleep near the dead body
• Performing cremation or burial within a specific timeframe
• Conducting rituals like Kalabhairava Karma to assist the departed being

Importance of timing. The first 14 days after death are considered crucial for performing rituals that can help the departed being. These rituals aim to:

• Dissolve the person's karmic structure
• Prevent the formation of ghost-like entities
• Assist the being in its journey towards liberation or rebirth

5. Exploring the concept of reincarnation and past lives

"Right now, most people are not even able to handle what is happening in this life, so why do they want to dig into their previous lives?"

Reincarnation as a continuation of karmic journey. In Yogic philosophy, reincarnation is seen as the process by which a being takes on a new physical form based on its accumulated karmic tendencies. This process is not a simple transfer of personality but a complex interplay of energies and memories.

Caution against past-life exploration. Sadhguru advises against casual exploration of past lives, as it can:

• Overwhelm the mind with unnecessary information
• Create confusion and emotional entanglement
• Distract from the present moment and spiritual growth

Exceptions for spiritual seekers. In some cases, under the guidance of a realized master, exploring past lives can be beneficial for:

• Resolving deep-seated karmic patterns
• Gaining insights into one's spiritual journey
• Accelerating the process of liberation

6. The role of karma in shaping life and death experiences

"Karma is stored on the level of your mind, physical body, sensations and energy. Once someone has shed their physical body, sensations don't exist. The mind is there, but it has lost its logical nature. So, fundamentally, for a disembodied being, the karma is in the energy body."

Understanding karma. Karma is not a system of reward and punishment but a complex mechanism that shapes our experiences based on our past actions, thoughts, and intentions. It operates on multiple levels:

• Sanchita Karma: The total accumulated karma
• Prarabdha Karma: The portion of karma allocated for this lifetime

Karma's influence on death and rebirth:

• Determines the quality of death experience
• Influences the choice of next birth (if applicable)
• Shapes the tendencies and inclinations in the new life

Working with karma:

• Conscious living to minimize the creation of new karma
• Spiritual practices to "burn" accumulated karma
• Developing equanimity to transcend the effects of karma

7. Achieving liberation (mukti) as the ultimate goal of spiritual seekers

"Mukti means you want to become free from the process of life and death, not because you are suffering. People who are suffering cannot attain mukti."

Liberation as the highest aspiration. In Yogic philosophy, the ultimate goal is not to achieve a better rebirth or heavenly realm but to attain complete liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Characteristics of liberation:

• Transcendence of individual identity
• Dissolution of all karmic structures
• Merging with the cosmic consciousness
• Freedom from the limitations of physical existence

Paths to liberation:

• Intense spiritual practices (sadhana)
• Cultivating awareness and equanimity
• Developing dispassion towards worldly attachments
• Surrendering to a realized master or divine grace

Mahasamadhi: The conscious exit from the body by a fully realized being, resulting in complete dissolution and liberation. This is considered the highest form of death and the ultimate achievement of a spiritual seeker.

Last updated: August 11, 2024