Three friends from the local congregation were asked, 'When you're in your casket, and friends and congregation members are mourning over you, what you would like them to say?' The first one said: 'I would like them to say that I was a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader, and a great family man.' The next one commented: 'I would like them to say that I was a wonderful teacher and servant of God who made a huge difference in people's lives.' The third guy said: 'I'd like them to say, 'Look, he's moving!’
The third guy certainly represents an average human being, ever anxious to continue in this world, though in pain and agony. People are afraid to die; the truth is that the real reason of this fear is our own ignorance only. It is humorously said that religions owe greatly to human fear of death. Whatever, those who have realised the depth and meaning of death advise that it is not a thing to be afraid of. Sages remind us that we are not humans on a spiritual journey but spirits on a worldly journey.
Every moment molecules and atoms in our body are being replaced and we virtually get a new body each year. This however is not death or resurrection. So far, no body is heard to have returned to the old physical home alive with the same old consciousness to authenticate or deny any of our assumptions/conclusions in this regard. An exclusive study on a batch of people who have been through near death experiences shows that they later lived at no fear of death. Study on ‘Near Death Experiences’ (NDE) was virtually initiated by Raymond Moody. Some consider NDE to be hallucinatory and some others evidence of afterlife. However, researches show that it is not a matter of awakened awareness or increased intuitive feelings. NDE is defined as the reported memory of the whole of impressions during a special state of consciousness. Moody’s book (Life after Life) published in 1975 actually sparked much research interest and it continued through ‘International Association of Near Death Studies’ - IANDS). NDE experiences however vary from sensations like detachment from the body, feelings of levitation, extreme fear, total serenity, security, or warmth, the experience of absolute dissolution and the presence of a light. Dr. Jeffrey Long explains that people who have survived death shares in common, a travel experience to another dimension of light. One another common factor was that almost all seemed to have understood the cosmic law that everything one does to others will ultimately be returned to oneself: hatred and violence as well as love and compassion.
All NDEs have reported that after regaining consciousness, they had experienced clear consciousness with memories, emotions, and perception out of and above their body during the period of their coma, also “seeing” nurses, physicians and family in and around the bed. Many questions like ‘what is actual death?’ and ‘what happens to consciousness when we die?’ come to our mind. According to most of us, death of our body is the end of our identity, the end of our thoughts/memory world and also is the end of our consciousness. NDEers have shared a feeling that they have apparently taken off their body like an old coat and to their surprise they appear to have retained their own identity with the possibility of perception, emotions, and a very clear consciousness. Is it not what Indian Scriptures say? Is it not the truth that most religions unanimously agree? Is it not the very concept we need to realise? Either we put on the gloves of a scientist or the gown of a priest, the truth remains the same; unless we are determined to realise the truth, we continue to be the wood cutter, who refuses to sharpen his axe. In the context of all these studies and understandings what we can conclude is that death could be just (one among the many?) a spiritual transition of the spirit, on its way from eternity to eternity. In reality, from the spirits point of view, life on earth could be nothing more than a bubble size experience on its infinite journey through known and unknown realms. But it is the greatest of known fun that we sweat too much for money and status clearly knowing that the next breath is not guaranteed.
