(Inspired by talks by Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa)
Make your way through this impermanent, transitory life in whatever way you can, keeping the goal of worshiping the Lord foremost in your minds.
Don’t abandon this goal, even in the face of hundreds of dangers, insults, or persecutions.”
Shrila Bhaktisiddanta Sarasvati Thakur 1874-1937
The allure of this world can be overwhelming. We are spirit souls living within material bodies. There is matter all around. It is easy to forget we are only here temporarily and that this is not our real home.
It is seductive to think we can be happy here, because there is some happiness here. But it is temporary happiness; it does not last. At some stage in our lives all that we are attached to – family, friends, house, our possessions – will be taken from us at death.
We do not like to think about losing someone close to us, so how much more pain is there when everyone and everything we love is taken from us? That’s what death is!
I need to obtain my happiness from something that is non-changing – that something is God’s love. This does not mean I cannot love others, but during this life I need to develop my love for God. Then my love for others becomes spiritual love. I simultaneously love God and all others as His children, His beloved servants.
If I can do this, then at the time of leaving this world, I will have no fear of leaving the temporary behind.
Namaste
Chaitanya das
Wow thanks for your amazing insights from the past. Can I ask how far back these teachings go and what is the origin?
Thanks Bryan…..The knowledge from these teachings goes back thousands of years in Vedic scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam.
Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to his friend Arjuna over 4,000 years ago, it was initially passed down orally from spiritual teacher to student but then later written down. The most authoritative English version for both texts is translations by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami over 50 years ago.
While the Bhagavad Gita and The Srimad Bhagavatam are often described as ‘Hindu’ scriptures they should not be tied to any religion. They contain knowledge of who we are, what is our natural position, and what is our natural function? Questions that go beyond any religion and are applicable to everyone regardless of the religion you choose.
I hope this answers your question……Namaste!
Wow food for thought. I loved reading this because as a mother not only do I want answers to questions of death, but I have children who find the topic painful and want to talk about it. Thankyou for speaking openly about such a ‘taboo’ topic.
Lovely Chaitanya das. Nicely put, comprehensive yet very simple and easy to take in.
Yes, death is the most “taboo” topic. People avoid it like a land mine. When someone near and dear to us leaves his/her body, most say “passed away” or “passed on” because it’s painful to say “died”. How wonderful is it that we can overcome this pain, this fear! Thank you Chaitanya das for your inspiring blogs.