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When face to face with death, fear-struck mind, knows no peace. All, therefore pray to God, not for wealth or the means of enjoyment, but oniy for a peaceful death.
question arises why do we do so ? Whoever is born, is destined to die some day. When we see before us every living being dying, why do we ask for that which will be our fate in any case, whether asked for or not?
It is a common saying that it is upon the last thoughts held by us- "mati" as death ensues, that what sort of our next birth would be, good or bad- "gati", depends. If the exit from life is not befitting and in a peaceful way, conclusion could be that the whole life was a failure. It is evident that if one life time fails thus, so will be subsequent others to follow.
If mind continues to cling intensely to worldly things, it cannot secure a peaceful release at the end. Life time habits do not yield to religious persuations easily. It is, therefore, ardently desired and prayed for, that when death stikes, may our mind not lose itself to passions, deceit, delusion and attachments to persons or things etc. May it become steady, meditating on God in peace and equanimity, forsaking all entanglements of this world.
So deeply rooted is aversion to death that even learned persons knowing the Fourteen Purvas may be purturbed at the
ch of death and so service of a co-monk is sought to take care of them at the last moments.
How happy do we feel, when we put on new clothes, descarding the old ones. Why should we not feel likewise at the time of death as we descard a worn out and tortured body to gain a new and healthy body ? We feel enthusiasm and joy when we set out to visit a nice place. Death is also a change of an abode, leaving a present one in search for a new and better one. Therefore, it should be a cause of joy and not unhappiness. Such a philosophical and dispassionate attitude of mind removes both the fear of death and the craving for life. It helps one in accepting the inevitable end in right spirit.
We live for acquiring more and more of wealth, comforts and well-being of our family. Attachment in all these being deeply rooted, we are tempted to commit many a sin. At the time of death mind is deeply agitated at the compulsion of leaving all
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