Day13. Phobia (3)

 

We touched on the phobia of death earlier. (Today this topic is discussed ad nauseam in the country). How painful  death is not explained, as no dead person has ever come back to record the experience?

I recall the last minutes of Socrates described so graphically by Plato. Socrates takes the Hemlock with great calmness and follows the directions of the administrator of the poison. 

With utmost composure, Socrates lies down and soon after passed into oblivion. 

No show of pain or anguish was described.

If that is the normal death, then what is there to be frightened of? We have seen many deaths in our own life time. I remember or heard of the following-

·        A bank executive while  walking  out of the senior’s cabin collapsed suddenly  and died before reaching the door.

·        Another Bank GM was giving a thanking speech in his own farewell just collapsed and died.

·        Another executive of a bank was giving a thanking speech in his own farewell, just put down his head on the table and died.

·        A person while taking a lecture just fell down and died.

·        Late Abdul Kalam was about to give a lecture, collapsed suddenly and passed away.

Apparently, these are  very easy deaths from the onlookers point. In Kerala the  Hindus pray for what is called as easy death at old age- Anayesana maranam.

 But then we have seen very painful and long-suffering deaths too.

·        One case is that  of late Shanbaug, Nurse of KEM hospital. She was in Coma for nearly 4 decades.

·        A fireman in Mumbai was in Coma for 16 plus years.

·        There are cases of people killed with multiple bullet shots in, bomb blasts etc.

·        Then there are numerous cases of people languishing in old age, sickness, injuries, multiple operations – all will ensue pain, suffering and frustrations to self and others. Cases of very painful end.

In Hinduism we give Karma as the reason for such suffering or not suffering. Hence all have been reminded to do good Karmas. But in reality, we have seen very baddies dying very peacefully. Then we attribute that to past good Karmas of such villains!

One is not going to be aware of the exact end. Take the case of the Unsinkable Titanic going down with 1500 people in less than 5 minutes (as per WIKI)

 So, death could be painful or just like shifting from one room to another.

Whatever be it, one can pray to God for a good life and a good end too. Rest leave to destiny. Therein lies peace of mind to self and others. Let me end with the following quote-

"A day well spent brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death”. Leonardo da Vinci.

Be happy. Be safe.

8 AM