How to Deal with Death
JAMUNA RANGACHARI
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Isn't it amazing that we never think of death as a real possibility in our own lives? Coping with death -whether dealing with the possibility of one's own death or that of a loved one -remains one of the greatest challenges of our lives.Spiritual masters and philosophers since long have said and written much on how to reach and remain in a state of acceptance. The following story of a grieving woman and Buddha's advice to her illustrates the fact that death is universal and unavoidable, and so should be accepted as being an inevitable part of life.
A woman grieving the loss of her son asks the Buddha to bring him back to life. The Buddha asks her to bring a single mustard seed from a house where there has never been any death. Failing to find a single home where there had been no death, the inconsolable mother now accepts her loss. Realising that the world is impermanent and seeking an end to the cycle of suffering, she joined Buddha's order and diligently followed his teaching. Hence, coping with her loss was the first step on her spiritual journey .
Most rituals associated with death are designed to enable us to reach a state of acceptance, of coming to terms with death as a natural, inevitable event.Whatever our belief system, it is clear that by focusing on helping the departed soul, our grief vanishes slowly but steadily . In doing so, we would perhaps move closer to understanding the impermanence of life.A medieval book on the craft of dying says, “Learn to die and thou shalt learn how to live.“
A woman grieving the loss of her son asks the Buddha to bring him back to life. The Buddha asks her to bring a single mustard seed from a house where there has never been any death. Failing to find a single home where there had been no death, the inconsolable mother now accepts her loss. Realising that the world is impermanent and seeking an end to the cycle of suffering, she joined Buddha's order and diligently followed his teaching. Hence, coping with her loss was the first step on her spiritual journey .
Most rituals associated with death are designed to enable us to reach a state of acceptance, of coming to terms with death as a natural, inevitable event.Whatever our belief system, it is clear that by focusing on helping the departed soul, our grief vanishes slowly but steadily . In doing so, we would perhaps move closer to understanding the impermanence of life.A medieval book on the craft of dying says, “Learn to die and thou shalt learn how to live.“
