Death Before During and After

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Dada Bhagwan Foundation

Page 10

During, Before and After Death
During, Before and After Death
Dadashri: Those who have no suffering at all at the time of their death are the ones who may remember their past lives. Those with virtuous thoughts and conduct may also remember. There is tremendous suffering in a mother's womb and this suffering coupled with the suffering at the time of death, renders one unconscious so that they remember nothing. Take Stock of Baggage of Next Life At The Time Of
Death An eighty-year-old man was approaching his death in a hospital. Even though his time was limited, all he could think about was who had and had not come to visit him at the hospital. The foolish man! Instead he should be thinking about his body, which was about to leave him very shortly. He should be thinking about the 'baggage that he was going to take with him to his next life. Of what use will it be to him whether this friend or that friend came to visit him or not?
Keep It Simple An old man dies after a lot of medical care and attention. People who come to his wake ask detailed questions about the events leading to his death. The old man's nephew tells them that the doctor thought it was the flu but he died of a fever from malaria. They ask him who the doctor was and the nephew tells them. When they hear the doctor's name, they immediately pounce on the nephew telling him he was foolish to call that particular doctor. Others too start to criticize him for making a bad decision. People are like this, they'll take advantage of those who are simple. Instead it would be better to tell them nothing unusual had taken place and that the old man came down with a fever and died. Give them a cursory explanation or else they will create more problems.
Caring for the Loved Ones at the Time of Death
Questioner: What should the extended family and those around, do when their loved one is about to die?
Dadashri: You have to be extremely careful when attending to the care of the one who is on his deathbed. Graciously accept everything that he utters. None of his sentences should be negated and all his requests should be fulfilled. Doeverything to keep him happy, and even when he is mean, be kind in return. He may ask for some milk. Give it to him immediately. If he complains about the milk being too thin and watery, bring him a glass of good milk promptly. Do whatever it takes to make him comfortable.
Questioner: So there is no need to be concerned about what is right or wrong?
Dadashri: There is no such thing as right or wrong in this world. Continue to do what you are doing to keep him happy. Be gentle and patient with him as you would be with a child.
The Right Meditation At The Time Of Death
Questioner: There are certain rituals people are made to practice in the last hour of their life. Some Lamas are made to carry out certain activities in the last hour of their life. The Tibetans Lamas say that when a person is on his deathbed, they tell the soul of the dying person how to depart. Some people recite from the Gita so that good words are spoken to the dying in his final hour. Do these rituals have any effect?
Dadashri: No such last minute rituals achieve nothing. Is it possible for one to make up for all the losses one incurs during the course of the entire year by simply making a profit at the end of the year?