Monday, June 16, 2025

Death Often Comes Tiptoeing

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 14 June 2025 “It kills me sometimes, how people die.” ― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief The horrific plane crash at Ahmedabad Airport on June 12, killing all but one, has again vindicated death's unpredictability as well as invincibility. Death is every man's ineluctable and inexorable fate. It's one reality of life that must never be philosophized or intellectualized. (Photo: NDTV) ----- Trying to philosophise death is extreme insensitivity. Death is the great equalizer, reminding us that all souls are eventually brought to their knees. Death is a universal destiny that awaits every living being. Regardless of one's social status, wealth, or achievements, death will eventually strip away all differences and bring everyone to a state of absolute humility. In the face of death, all our worldly pursuits and distinctions become insignificant. It prompts us to reflect on the transitory nature of life and encourages us to focus on the fundamental aspects of our existence that truly matter. Ultimately, death presents a humbling reminder that our time in this world is limited and should be cherished and lived with purpose and compassion. In the face of mortality, we are reminded of the fleeting nature of existence, urging us to embrace each moment with gratitude and a heightened sense of appreciation. Death becomes our teacher, guiding us to value not only our own lives but also the lives of those closest to us. It teaches us to cherish the people who bring joy, love, and meaning into our lives, reminding us to prioritize them above all else. Through this acknowledgement, we come to realize the importance of fostering deep connections and nurturing the relationships that matter most. Death’s lesson lies not in fear, but in the revelation of life’s preciousness, and the understanding that we must seize every opportunity to honour and embrace the ones we hold dear. Accepting the finite nature of existence compels us to confront our own limitations, reminding us that time is finite and that every moment is valuable. It urges us to seize the opportunities presented to us, to overcome obstacles, and to pursue excellence in all that we do. The knowledge that our time is limited encourages us to step outside our comfort zones, to take risks, and to push ourselves beyond our perceived boundaries. In this way, the inevitability of death serves as a potent motivator, propelling us to strive for greatness and to live a life filled with purpose and fulfilment. Regardless of our status, achievements, or beliefs, death is the one certainty that awaits every living being. It reminds us of our mortality and forces us to confront the transient nature of life. While we may be accustomed to asserting control and perceiving ourselves as invincible, death breaks through these illusions, reminding us of our vulnerability and insignificance in the grand scheme of things. It humbles us by stripping away the superficialities and focusing our attention on what truly matters. In the face of death, we are encouraged to reflect upon our values, purpose, and relationships, recognizing the fleetingness of life and inspiring us to make the most of each moment. All said and done, death cannot and shouldn't be philosophized or intellectualised because it's an insult to the departed one/s and an affront to the near and dear ones of the deceased. All the useless talks of glorifying death and attempts of romanticizing it are vain and futile. Death is frightening. We glamorize death with a view to taking away its sting. Who has seen what’s going to happen once you die. Eulogizing death is a failed endeavour to perpetuate life in absentia. It's akin to enjoying torrential rains from the cosy and snug confines of four walls and ignoring the discomfort of those having to bear the lashes of rain without a rooftop. John Donne may have written, ”Death, be not proud,” but how many of us know that the great metaphysical poet also said, “I don’t want to die”? We can only feel at peace with death when we realize that we’ve lost someone. All modern-day ‘gurus’ and ‘seers’ talk of death as something as nonchalant as changing clothes. It is not. They’re all scared of it. Death is a permanent loss. The void cannot be filled. Whether one remembers you or not, your departure is final. Remember, we talk much about abstract things like god, heaven and death because we know nothing of them. Only, when you’re ignorant, you talk all crap. Accept the fact that the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the hour of death is a source of grief throughout the lives of those who survive. Arjun wondered to see Krishna cry when Bhishma, the grand patriarch, was breathing his last. Krishna gave him a classic explanation: “I must behave like a mortal in this world. I must acknowledge my attachment to the deceased and I must concede that I’m sad when someone’s gone.” There's an 'urbane artificiality and affectedness' in all of us, which doesn't let us release our pent-up sorrows, lest others think that we're so timid and tearful. Kritivas' Ramayana articulates death sans all its philosophical ramifications and describes it as 'a point of no return.' Death is a humanising process. It humbles us. Despite all our superficial wisdom, we cannot remain insouciant to it. Memories of a person are but a poor substitute for his/her absence. English essayist Charles Lamb wrote a very poignant letter to his eccentric sister Mary Lamb, when their mother died, " The very thought that she is not around any longer saddens me. Now, however hard we may try, we cannot bring her back. When a person shuffles off the mortal coil, he shuffles it off forever. Her death makes me realize that we're all so helpless. When death strikes, it doesn't think or differentiate, who's its prey. It just takes the person away so imperceptibly. Ruthlessness, thy name's death! Now, we'll never be able to see our mother. But our tears will not let her memories dry up." That's the reason, one must weep, when someone near and dear is no more. Because, weeping doesn't let the memories get arid. And memories of the deceased must remain with us because we're not wooden creatures as to be unaffected by the eternal departure. Weeping over death has a sobering effect on the individuals. It's nature's catharsis. The 'Rudalis' (hired mourners) of western Rajasthan make people cry, so that their pain and pathos may find an outlet. Even Mahatma Gandhi shed tears to have heard that Kasturba was no more, while imprisoned at Aga Khan Palace in Poona. The enlightened Buddha was disconsolate when his father Shuddhodhan died. Tagore beautifully put it in one of his 103 poems in Gitanjali: "Void, created by my beloved's death, is filled with my tears." If you don't shed tears when someone dies, the pain will tear your heart apart. Weep, so that the pain shouldn't seep in. And why should we feel embarrassed to shed tears when death strikes? Should we rejoice? Should we laugh? And should we call it just another journey? The problem with all of us is that we try to act against our nature and end up cutting a sorry figure. Reason often leaves us disillusioned. The great Adi Shankaracharya didn’t perform the last rites of his mother, nor did he weep when she died. But, he confessed in the end, why he was required to show his foolish stoicism when his mother died. What did the so-called wisdom teach him when he didn’t cry? Who has deceived thee as often as thyself? Don't we deceive ourselves by trying to put up a brave face when death's fell and glacial hands snatch a close one from us? We must be true to ourselves and evince our sentiments as is expected of us. We must feel sorry when and where it’s required and happy when the occasion demands. We are all mortals and it's unbecoming of us to act like otherwise. In a nutshell, fear of death is inherent in all thinking creatures. No embellishment can rationalise it. Accept death to be the final blow, of which you can never recover. In other words, death is so terribly final, while life is full of possibilities. Remember the words of Langston Hughes, " “Life is for the living/ Death is for the dead/Let life be like music/And death a note unsaid.” Lastly, when someone leaves the world, never say or write that horribly perfunctory RIP. It sounds like 'ripping' the deceased apart. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/death-tiptoeing/d/135865 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

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