I was surprised at the news that more than a hundred people had committed suicide or died of shock on hearing the news of his death. While this may not be hundred percent true (the media have a tendency to exaggerate facts), there is no doubt that many people succumb to grief when a person, whom they cherish as their ideal, passes away. This has happened many times in Tamil Nadu, esp. when our former Chief Minister M.G.R. passed away.
It is not only the fact that people simply grieve like this. They also give all kinds of justification for this kind of behaviour. Some of these sound like plausible, indeed, credible explanations for their behaviour. They say that the deceased person has benefited us, and has brought us our present prosperity. To the naive and inane anthropologist, such behaviour might look like a justified reaction.
It appears that such unfounded stupidity was rampant even in our ancient times, and among the best of men. Indeed, before the Mahabharata War begins, Arjuna is afflicted by a similar grief; he says that his elders have showered affection on him in the past, and therefore he cannot bear them being killed. Lord Krishna, in response, expounds the true meaning of Dharma in his Gita.
In the Gita, there are verses that are very relevant to our topic. They are:
अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे |
गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिता:||
(Bhagavat-Gita, Verse 2.11)
Bhagavaan[Lord Krishna] said: While speaking learned words, you are lamenting for what is not worthy of lamentation. Those who are wise lament neither for the lives that have gone[the dead] nor for the lives that have not gone[the living]. (Verse 2.11, Srimad Bhagavat-Gita)
Clearly, our scriptures are lost to our present world. We are willing to do all kinds of things in the name of our scriptures except following them in letter and spirit. People may not agree with what I say; however, they cannot deny the fact that such grieving is of no use to anyone, either for the living or for the dead.
People may ask: When someone dear to you dies, will you not grieve like this? I may not be able to say "No". But whether I say "Yes" or "No", that is not going to change the truth.
So much for my opinion on the recent event. I hope atleast one person understands what I say.
I too felt bad about such state of affairs existing in these days, but don't you think every person is scripting his own destiny every moment.
ReplyDeleteSo,those persons have chosen that way.To be consciously of it or not is the question ...
And do you think Death is the End.
There is a verse in Gita, I am sure you are aware of it, that man is given infinite opputunities to make or unmake himself. In a way these people are just prolonging it....
Thats all..
Hey Sharadh,
ReplyDeleteVery well-written da. All your posts are really good! :)
@Abhijit
ReplyDeleteNo doubt, it is every man's own problem, but it is a bit of an infection, and sometimes becomes trendy (pardon the out-of-place phrase). I'm sure that so many people would not have died had it not become a bit of a 'trend'.
No doubt, we are given infinite opportunities to make or unmake ourselves, but would you take a year to do a job which could be done in an hour, even if you had all the time and energy? I am not saying that everybody must do the right things always. But surely that is no cover to always act in an absurd manner.
As per the Gita, death isn't the end. The twenty or so verses following 2.11 say that the soul is permanent. You are absolutely right on that. :)
Anyways, thanks a lot for the insight into my article.
@Ramesh
Thanks a lot da. If I am not wrong, I think you are T.K.Ramesh. Please correct me if I am wrong. :)
@ sharadh
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome!
Yes, you are right. :)
Anyways, keep it up!