How to face death?

Death can be more beautiful than birth....

Death is a mystery because no one comes back to tell you what it is. It remains a fearful enigma. 

In the modern world, a whole lot of business has burgeoned around death, like, Life insurance, mediclaim, monstrous hospitals where the old and sick are propped up fat hospital bills. This is sad.

Commercialization of life, has blocked invaluable information from our scriptures on how to prepare for death. All the worry, the old people's homes, the stress the children of old parents go through struggling to look after the old while supporting their own lives, can be smoothened out for both those who are going to leave their bodies and for those that live with grief and nowadays financial crisis in the wake of taking care of their old and ill.

Must we die like this?

It may seem audacious to sermonize on death or more so on how to face it. But, the Creator has been kind to leave for his creatures gems of revelation of how to prepare for death. It depends on people to follow, experience and realise its truth.

In my second reading of the Bhagwat Puran, in Section II, chapter I, page 130 ( Gita Press), I came across precisely this question asked by Raja Prakshit to sixteeen year old Shukhdev, the enlightened son of Vyas who wrote the Bhagwat Puran.

When Prakshit knew that because of the curse of the son of sage Shamik, he had only 7 days to live and that he will die of snake bite, he gave his kingdom to his son, and sat on the banks of the Ganga to introspect and meditate. A galaxy of Rishis of all gotras gathered at the Ganga and finally Shukhdev and Vyas also came there.

It was then that Prakshit asked Shukhdev, how must a person prepare to face death.

I will divide the answer Shukhdev gave into two parts. The first one deals with the preparation for death. The second one deals with preparation for post death. It states what specific practice should be followed so that you can decide if you want to be re-born on earth, or choose between the many lokas ( planes of existence) like, the Mahaloka, Dev Loka or finally if you want to merge with the creator and never return.

What is written is simple to follow. All it needs is consistency and honesty of purpose.

Here is my translation of what is a Hindi translation of the original Sanskrit by Gita Press. I am writing from the heart and do not claim to be proficient in Sanskrti or Hindi. But, if this leads someone to dive into this text and discover for himself, my task is done.

Preparing to move to our next destination.

Shukdev says in answer to Parikshit's question:

"When a person is faced with the prospect of death, then he should not fear or get nervous. With the weapon of vairagya (detachment) he must cut all ties with the body and all things for which one has mamta ( belonging). With courage & forbearance leave your home and go to a thirtha ( holy) river, take bath and according to scriptural traditions set up your asana ( sitting place) in a quiet peaceful place. After that, with eyes closed, chant the eternal, pure mantra Om which is made of the three syllables, A, O, M.
Then focus on your pranavayu ( breath & vital life force), get control over it and thus get control over the mind. Do not let go on the focus on the pranavayu. Then with help of your buddhi ( intelligence) and manas (mind) detach your senses from their object and the desire for action as prompted by the senses to the mind, and just hitch your mind on the beautiful form of the Lord ( it could any form from any religion or even symbolic like candle flame). Thus with a steady intent focus your mind on any one part of the Lord, say eyes, crown, etc. Then focus on some other part, and go on this way until your chit (consciousness) is completely focussed on the Lord and there is no space for any other thought to detract the mind.
You will find you are full with the ananda (joy) of the Lord.
If at any time, there arises in you restlessness led by Rajo guna ( which is dynamic) or feel lethargy and laziness, Tamo Guna, then do not panic. With the help of Yoga dharana ( concentration) both these can be dispelled. With the help of concentration when one sees the Lord, then in that instant bhakti (devotion) springs in his heart.
Thus the end of such a person comes with full of joy, peace and there is no fear of death."

Needless to say, the practice is easier if the preparation with asana & pranayama starts at least a decade or two before the average life span. Thus the asana practice can lead you to be able to sit in a steady asana ( posture) for any length of time and  pranayama will help you disconnect with the gross breath and connect you with the life force, prana, which is the vehicle which you help you travel from this life to the next.
( More later)