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| Saturday, April 12, 2003 |
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AT a young age, Punjabi litterateur Bhai Vir Singh had a dream that he had gone into the next world. Bhai Vir Singh felt he was immersed in a burning fire, but while the flames enveloped his body, he himself was lifted skywards, pure and cleansed. He cried out, "God, what is this?" An inner voice replied, "It is the state of ultimate bliss. You were frightened of death, which you thought was the final destruction. In reality, it is a door which leads you to this blissful existence." Bhai Vir Singh said to himself, "How true and how ignorant I was." While relating this dream, Bhai Vir Singh emphasised that death is not destruction, but a transformation. The life beyond is a reality. In constant remembrance of our Lord alone lies our salvation. This, in a nutshell, is the message that Bhai sahib has conveyed to the world through his voluminous writings. Sant Kabir also delivers
this message. In one of his dohas, he says that he looks forward
to death, which most people fear, because he knows that it is the
gateway to the Beloved and a state of eternal bliss. |
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How a person utilises this breath potential depends on his lifestyle; he can prolong it or shorten it. Fast life, hurry, worry, tension and indulgence tend to quicken the breathing tempo, whereas pious and content individuals with slow pulse rate generally live longer. Ancient yogis lived long by controlling their breath. Death will only come when the breath quota is exhausted. The troubles of those who take to physical pleasures are mentioned by Guru Nanak in Asa-di-Var (pauris) 2, 3 and 14. A brief synopsis follows: The soul as it emerges out of the body is enclosed in heavy chains and dragged along through a tortuous dark tunnel. It wails and no one comes to help it. It is produced in the Court of True Justice (Dharam Raj) to answer its conduct and character on earth. Good and evil deeds, as recorded by the secret scribes, are told and punishment is announced according to the nature of the offences. In this trial, no intervention or recommendation of any prophet or guru matters. The punishment is based on one’s deeds — as we sow, so shall we reap. On hearing the sentence, the soul trembles with acute repentance for having lost the opportunity of a physical life for attaining salvation. The guilty, with blackened faces, are thrown into hell. This may mean going into cycles of birth and death, i.e. transmigration of soul, or turning into evil spirits or confinement in dark cells. The above version is supported by stanzas 13, 14 and the epilogue of Japji Sahib, wherein it is implied that persons who do not meditate go with the angels of death and their good and bad acts are scrutinised in the True Court. Some by their acts are brought close to Him. Those who have meditated on God’s name are blessed and they liberate many others along with them. Persons who have not achieved salvation but have lived a normal life are, by His Mercy, given another opportunity to attain salvation as stated in stanza IV of Japji Sahib, "Karmi ave kapra, nadri mokh duar (The corporeal body comes into existence through our karmas but liberation is obtained through His Grace)." All religions believe in the existence of the next world and the Court of True Justice where the souls have to render an account of their deeds on earth. Those who have meditated on His Name and have served humanity with righteous actions will find salvation, while others will suffer due to their lack of awareness. Death is only a
fundamental change. It is a blessing for those who have lived their life
in the pure spirit of beauty and love of Him. By remembering death, we
can hope to live life righteously. |
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