I am in a queue of death. Would I die is not a possibility but a certainty. If I look healthy and strong today, Do we know if we will still be alive tomorrow? We all, know that death is inevitable but we still pretend, act and behave as though we are not going to die.* We live with mistrust, anger, animosity, hate, revenge with our sibling's and even parents who brought us doing their best. How could, than we live happy with the community and the rest of World? Death is a reminder for us to live an inspired life.
Every moment, hour, every day for life, respecting each other, united and living happily.**
That seems impossible, one may ask, show me one person, one family, fully happy…
When we could live happily rather than arguing and living in disbelief.
If one gave up mistrust, anger, animosity, hate, revenge and vindictiveness, etc.
If I developed communication without profanity, listened to others rather than blaming and calling everyone wrong and being angry with the world.
We have a possibility to celebrate and enjoy happiness, if I fix my own attitude & learn to co exist even though they may be my adversaries.
We also pretend a lot at dead by expressing sad feelings, cry and pray for the departed soul.
Also prefer that many relatives and friends show up and say lofty words for the dead.
When we don't lovingly communicate among living siblings, relatives and old time friends.
With such an attitude for family, would we show compassion or extend help to a stranger?
It seems to be a fact that majority of us think less of others, blame and misuse people for our financial gains.
We do a lot of irrational things to dead bodies on the other hand, to make the dead look good: Body Manicure-Pedicure, dye their hair, put cosmetics, some wash dead body with yoghurt and spend a bunch.
My Guru=Teacher teaches:
ਜੇ ਮਿਰਤਕ ਕਉ ਚੰਦਨੁ ਚੜਾਵੈ ॥ ਉਸ ਤੇ ਕਹਹੁ ਕਵਨ ਫਲ ਪਾਵੈ ॥
jay mirtak ka-o chandan charhaavai. us tay kahhu kavan fal paavai.
If a corpse is anointed with sandalwood oil, what good does it do?
ਜੇ ਮਿਰਤਕ ਕਉ ਬਿਸਟਾ ਮਾਹਿ ਰੁਲਾਈ ॥ਤਾਂ ਮਿਰਤਕ ਕਾ ਕਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਜਾਈ ॥੩॥
jay mirtak ka-o bistaa maahi rulaa-ee. taaN mirtak kaa ki-aa ghat jaa-ee.
If a corpse is rolled in manure, what does it lose from this? -
Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1160
Does it matter if the body is washed with milk, yoghurt, and honey, etc., or if it is smeared with anything of less value? Does it matter if the body or the pyre is sprinkled with ghee (clarified butter), or if the casket is decorated with flowers and fragrance or sandalwood?
What good is veneration of a dead body then?
Such rituals cannot bring any good or any peace to us or the dead.
It is more important to realize and revere/respect the people around us and serve them.
Friends, Family & Neighbors - when I die:
My body's all possible parts to be recycled. Kidneys, Eyes, every bit possible; skin for grafting…rest may be used for medical students, left over (minuscule) to be disposed in ground to be eaten by pest or ashes may be sprinkled in a flower bed.
My stuff, to be given to, needy and poor.
No gathering of family. See someone who is living, old or a sibling, you had no communication with.
Increase/makeup your communication with whom you may have a gap with in the family.
While living I would love to connect, not on Whatapps, face book or any other social media. This is what you will also expect from your children, cousins and friends.
Lesson of happiness for life are made simple by our revered gurus and gathered in SGGS.
For your own joy- read them, whenever it's possible.
Following lines tell us, what to avoid, to be a happy person.
ਜਾ ਰਹਣਾ ਨਾਹੀ ਐਤੁ ਜਗਿ ਤਾ ਕਾਇਤੁ ਗਾਰਬਿ ਹੰਢੀਐ ॥
jaa rahnaa naahee ait jag taa kaa-it gaarab handhee-ai.
Since one is not destined to remain in this world anyway, why should he ruin himself in pride?
ਮੰਦਾ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਆਖੀਐ ਪੜਿ ਅਖਰੁ ਏਹੋ ਬੁਝੀਐ ॥
mandaa kisai na aakhee-ai parh akhar ayho bujhee-ai.
Do not call anyone bad; read these words, and understand.
ਮੂਰਖੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਨ ਲੁਝੀਐ ॥੧੯॥
moorkhai naal na lujhee-ai.
Don't argue with fools. P 473
ਨਾਨਕ ਫਿਕੈ ਬੋਲਿਐ ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਫਿਕਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
naanak fikai boli-ai tan man fikaa ho-ay.
O Nanak, speaking insipid words, the body and mind become insipid.
ਫਿਕੋ ਫਿਕਾ ਸਦੀਐ ਫਿਕੇ ਫਿਕੀ ਸੋਇ ॥
fiko fikaa sadee-ai fikay fikee so-ay.
He is called the most insipid of the insipid; the most insipid of the insipid is his reputation.
ਫਿਕਾ ਦਰਗਹ ਸਟੀਐ ਮੁਹਿ ਥੁਕਾ ਫਿਕੇ ਪਾਇ ॥
fikaa dargeh satee-ai muhi thukaa fikay paa-ay.
The insipid person is discarded in the Court of the Lord, and the insipid one's face is spat upon.
ਫਿਕਾ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਆਖੀਐ ਪਾਣਾ ਲਹੈ ਸਜਾਇ ॥੧॥
fikaa moorakh aakhee-ai paanaa lahai sajaa-ay. ||1||
The insipid one is called a fool; he is beaten (with shoes) in punishment. Shalok, First Mehl:
ਜਿਤੁ ਕੀਤਾ ਪਾਈਐ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਾ ਘਾਲ ਬੁਰੀ ਕਿਉ ਘਾਲੀਐ ॥
jit keetaa paa-ee-ai aapnaa saa ghaal buree ki-o ghaalee-ai.
Why do you do such evil deeds, that you shall have to suffer so?
ਮੰਦਾ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਕੀਚਈ ਦੇ ਲੰਮੀ ਨਦਰਿ ਨਿਹਾਲੀਐ ॥
mandaa mool na keech-ee day lammee nadar nihaalee-ai.
Do not do any evil at all; look ahead to the future with foresight.
Sikhi is a simplified-practical-perfect- way of life. Guru Granth teaches us delightful living. (Good + Happy)
Good for today better for tomorrow. Follow it.
*
ਜੋ ਆਇਆ ਸੋ ਚਲਸੀ ਸਭੁ ਕੋਈ ਆਈ ਵਾਰੀਐ ॥
jo aa-i-aa so chalsee sabh ko-ee aa-ee vaaree-ai.
Whoever has come, shall depart; and take their turn. SGGS Ang 474
**
ਇਹੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ਸਭੁ ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣਾ ਮਨ ਮੂਰਖ ਚੇਤਿ ਅਜਾਣਾ ॥
Eihu Sansaar Sabh Aavan Jaanaa Man Moorakh Chaeth Ajaanaa.
This whole world is engrossed in coming and going; O my foolish and ignorant mind, be mindful of this. Raag Sorath Guru Ram Das Ang 607
Jasbir Singh
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What other wise men say for Death:
Don't live with pride & ego.' For pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love or contentment, or even common sense.' - C.S. Lewis
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. Because 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. - Steve Jobs
It takes so much strength to say to your ego, 'You know what? You're going to keep me lonely, so I have to ignore you.' - George Michael
Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live. - Bhudha
"I have come to know that it [death] is an important thing to keep in mind - not to complain or to make melancholy, but simply because only with the honest knowledge that one day I will die I can ever truly begin to live." - R.A. Salvatore, The Halfling's Gem
"Life is for the living.
Death is for the dead.
Let life be like music.
And death a note unsaid." - Langston Hughes, The Collected Poems
The ego is only an illusion, but a very influential one. Letting the ego-illusion become your identity can prevent you from knowing your true self. Ego, the false idea of believing that you are what you have or what you do, is a backwards way of assessing and living life. - Wayne Dyer PhD
