The poignant verses from the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 2, Line 28) encapsulate a profound perspective on life and death:
“Avyaktadini bhuthani
Viakta madheyani bharatha
Aviyakta nidhanani ava
Tatra kha faridevana”
“Invisible is the formation of the living
Visible is their short physical appearance
Invisible again when they perish
So, no place to mourn”.
These lines illuminate the Hindu approach to human destiny, transcending conventional notions of life and death. In this worldview, existence unfolds as a continuous oscillation between appearance and disappearance. Life manifests with a physical form, only to retreat into invisibility upon the cessation of the mortal coil, leaving no room for mourning.
Embedded in the belief system is the understanding that life and death are not discrete events but a seamless continuum. The physical body is perceived as a transient garment, a disguise for the true human essence — the spirit or Aatma in Hindi. Rituals surrounding the departed find their roots in this profound philosophy.
Having observed numerous funerals in Varanasi and Kathmandu, a conspicuous absence of sorrow struck me. Instead, the air resonated with chants, dances, and the fragrance of incense, and flowers with bells chiming in harmony. In a poignant moment, a grieving father expressed gratitude to Swami Nithyanananda, acknowledging the gift of two decades with his departed son. The emphasis lay on releasing the departed from earthly obligations and extending wishes for an inspirational journey in the next realm.
This approach gains clarity when contextualized as viewing death not as an endpoint but a transition to another realm. It is a milestone in a concealed journey, unveiled only when the Aatma dons the physical form, addressed by name.
In the Hindu tradition, immortality takes on a profound meaning. It transcends the notion of perpetual physical existence, emphasizing instead the inner knowledge that the human essence persists. It undergoes numerous appearances along its journey — some visible with a body, most invisible without. Consequently, there exists no space for sorrow and mourning when an individual ‘leaves the body.’ The absence of graveyards and the tradition of cremation along the Ganges River exemplify this philosophy.
This belief system liberates the mind, challenging the conventional question, “Is there life after death?” to a more profound inquiry: “Is there life before leaving the body?”
In conclusion, may your life be infused with magic and the ability to soar beyond conventional perspectives and FLY,
Ted Barr
