yes.
i mean this short sojourn that each of us have in this planet. without choice in making our presence here, and mostly without choice departing from it.
we come here alone. the twins too, for even though they enjoy the company of their sibling in the comfort of their mother's womb, they land one by one, only to be branded the older and the younger, very much to their chagrin, for were they not conceived at the very same instant?
even though we may rejoice in company at weddings or poonuls, by and large our presence in this planet is alone.
none of us can claim that we have spent more time with others than our own. it is a fact of life.
even in company, we suffer our alone-ness. not necessary lonely, but we are alone.
it is a rare human, who is lucky to find another human, who makes his or her life wholesome by his/her presence and commitment.
i am yet to meet one.
our spouses are products of life's lottery.
our children are gifts that often we do not know how to deal with, look for references to our own growing up, and thus make the same mistakes that our parents did.
only to realize too late, that we could have done better, as parents. our first born, in my opinion, are mostly the victims of the parents' learning curve. the younger ones, if they are opted by choice, have an easier life.
we are born into a culture that venerates our ancestors, scoundrels they might have have been, all in the name of pithrus. such is our fear of death.
after all, let us look at our own flaws. i have no problem creditting our ancestors with the same. or more. why should we endow them sanctity in the name of pithurs? it looks like a convenient way to deal with death.
we go to kasi, gaya and rameswaram, in whatever order, to pay homage to our ancestors and fervently believe that these acts too will pave our path to nirvana, the moment we stop breathing.
then comes the enigma - with the current technology, we can keep breathing for ever.
increasingly our sojourn in this planet is lengthening, through no desire of ours, but thanks to improved medical technology.
when do we call it quits? when do we draw the line and advise our kin that death is a release, not out of suffering, but out of contentment of a fulfilled life.
can we with equanimity, in the face of a debilating disease, in our sixties, refuse medication, and welcome death as a close to a chapter of a book well lived?
i had a close relative, who was a vedaasrami (title bestowed by kanchi mutt) who on being diagnosed with incurable disease, refused medication, and actively prepared himself to die. ....
more... later.. depending on the response to this post...
thanks a mill..
i mean this short sojourn that each of us have in this planet. without choice in making our presence here, and mostly without choice departing from it.
we come here alone. the twins too, for even though they enjoy the company of their sibling in the comfort of their mother's womb, they land one by one, only to be branded the older and the younger, very much to their chagrin, for were they not conceived at the very same instant?
even though we may rejoice in company at weddings or poonuls, by and large our presence in this planet is alone.
none of us can claim that we have spent more time with others than our own. it is a fact of life.
even in company, we suffer our alone-ness. not necessary lonely, but we are alone.
it is a rare human, who is lucky to find another human, who makes his or her life wholesome by his/her presence and commitment.
i am yet to meet one.
our spouses are products of life's lottery.
our children are gifts that often we do not know how to deal with, look for references to our own growing up, and thus make the same mistakes that our parents did.
only to realize too late, that we could have done better, as parents. our first born, in my opinion, are mostly the victims of the parents' learning curve. the younger ones, if they are opted by choice, have an easier life.
we are born into a culture that venerates our ancestors, scoundrels they might have have been, all in the name of pithrus. such is our fear of death.
after all, let us look at our own flaws. i have no problem creditting our ancestors with the same. or more. why should we endow them sanctity in the name of pithurs? it looks like a convenient way to deal with death.
we go to kasi, gaya and rameswaram, in whatever order, to pay homage to our ancestors and fervently believe that these acts too will pave our path to nirvana, the moment we stop breathing.
then comes the enigma - with the current technology, we can keep breathing for ever.
increasingly our sojourn in this planet is lengthening, through no desire of ours, but thanks to improved medical technology.
when do we call it quits? when do we draw the line and advise our kin that death is a release, not out of suffering, but out of contentment of a fulfilled life.
can we with equanimity, in the face of a debilating disease, in our sixties, refuse medication, and welcome death as a close to a chapter of a book well lived?
i had a close relative, who was a vedaasrami (title bestowed by kanchi mutt) who on being diagnosed with incurable disease, refused medication, and actively prepared himself to die. ....
more... later.. depending on the response to this post...
thanks a mill..
