Last Updated on: 20th May 2025, 01:57 pm

Mourning on Death – Part 1

Certainty of Death

Death is the ultimate certainty in life. In many spiritual traditions, death is viewed as a passage to a higher plane of existence. To accept death, is to embrace the beauty of life.

Perception of Death by Philosophers

Socrates viewed death as either a peaceful sleep or a journey to another existence. So, should not be feared.

Ascetics see death as a natural process, no different from birth and aging.

Epicurus reassured, that death is nothing to us, for when we exist, death is not, and when death is, we do not exist.

Nietzsche saw death as an opportunity for self-overcoming, a force that compels us to live boldly.

Buddhism teaches that death is a moment in the endless cycle of rebirth, shaped by one’s karma.

Perception of Death by Indian Sages through Hindu Scriptures

Indian sages perceive death not as an end but as a transition, gateway to another phase of existence.

The Bhagavad Gita teaches that the soul (Atman) is eternal and merely sheds the body like worn-out clothes. Self is neither born nor does it die. Death is considered a natural law, Resisting death leads to suffering, while acceptance leads to liberation.

The Upanishads describe death as the merging of the individual self (Jivatma) with the universal consciousness (Brahman), if one attains self-realization.

Death unites all beings, reminding us of our shared mortality and the value of every moment. Death is not to be feared, but embraced with awareness. Many sages voluntarily leave their bodies through Samadhi, demonstrating mastery over life and death.

How great saints advise to sustain and overcome Grief of Death

• Soul is immortal, and remembering this can bring peace to those grieving.
• Focus on what we can control, our response to loss, rather than the loss itself.
• Attachment is the cause of suffering; acceptance leads to peace.
• Cherishing the memories of the good work of the departed, we charge our own soul. This is a way of transforming grief into creative energy, using loss as a catalyst for growth.
• Meditation and mindfulness, rooted in Eastern philosophy, help in processing grief without being consumed by it.
• Engaging in acts of service and continuing the legacy of the deceased, can turn sorrow into purpose.

Death as perceived by Rumi

We may better understand and perceive death, and overcome the grief, through poems of Rumi, like this one

when I die,
when my coffin
is being taken out,
you must never think,
I am missing this world.

don’t shed any tears,
don’t lament, or
feel sorry,
i’m not falling
into a monster’s abyss.

when you see
my corpse is being carried,
don’t cry for my leaving,
i’m not leaving,
i’m arriving at eternal love.

when you leave me
in the grave,
don’t say goodbye,
remember a grave is
only a curtain
for the paradise behind.

you’ll only see me
descending into a grave,
now watch me rise,
how can there be an end ?
when the sun sets or
the moon goes down.

it looks like the end,
it seems like a sunset,
but in reality it is a dawn,
when the grave locks you up
that is when your soul is freed.

have you ever seen
a seed fallen to earth
not rise with a new life ?
why should you doubt the rise
of a seed named human ?

have you ever seen
a bucket lowered into a well
coming back empty ?
why lament for a soul
when it can come back
like Joseph from the well ?

when for the last time,
you close your mouth,
your words and soul
will belong to the world of
no place, no time.

मृत्यु निश्चित 

जीवन में  मृत्यु  निश्चित है ।
कई आध्यात्मिक परंपराओं में, मृत्यु को एक उच्च मार्ग के रूप में देखा जाता है मृत्यु को स्वीकार करना, जीवन की सुंदरता को अनुभव  करना   है।

दार्शनिक द्वारा मृत्यु की अवधारणा

सुकरात ने मृत्यु को एक शांतिपूर्ण नींद तथा  दूसरे अस्तित्व की तरफ  यात्रा के रूप में देखा इसलिए, मृत्यु से  डरना नहीं चाहिए।

एक तपस्वी, मृत्यु को जन्म और बुढ़ापे  की  तरह  ही  एक प्राकृतिक प्रक्रिया मानते हैं.

एपिकुरस कहते  है  कि मृत्यु हमारे लिए कुछ है ही  नहीं, जब हम जिन्दा  रहते हैं, तो मृत्यु नहीं होती है, और जब मृत्यु होती है, तो हम जिन्दा  नहीं होते।

नीत्शे ने मृत्यु को एक  आत्म विस्वास  और  शक्ति  के रूप में देखा, जो हमें साहसपूर्वक जीने का  अवसर  देता   है।

बौद्ध धर्म सिखाता है कि मृत्यु, पुनर्जन्म के अंतहीन चक्र में एक क्षण है।

भारतीय संतों द्वारा हिंदू शास्त्रों के माध्यम से मृत्यु की अवधारणा

भारतीय ऋषि मुनि  मृत्यु को केवल अंत नहीं मानते, बल्कि इसे एक अवस्था से दूसरी अवस्था में परिवर्तन और एक नए प्रकार के जीवन में प्रवेश का द्वार मानते हैं। उनका यह गहरा आध्यात्मिक दृष्टिकोण जीवन और मृत्यु को एक निरंतर प्रक्रिया का हिस्सा बताता है, जिसमें आत्मा एक रूप से दूसरे रूप में जाती है।

भगवत गीता सिखाती है कि आत्मा शाश्वत है, और केवल शरीर को पुराने कपड़ों की तरह त्याग देती है आत्मा न तो जन्म लेती है, और न ही मरती है। मृत्यु को एक प्राकृतिक नियम माना जाता है। मृत्यु का विरोध करने से दुख होता है, जबकि स्वीकार करने से मुक्ति मिलती है।

मृत्यु सभी प्राणियों को एकजुट करती है. मृत्यु से डरना नहीं चाहिए, बल्कि जागरूकता के साथ इसे गले लगाना चाहिए कई संत समाधि के माध्यम से स्वेच्छा से अपने शरीर को त्याग देते हैं, जो जीवन और मृत्यु पर  गहरी महारत को  दर्शाता  हैं।

मृत्यु  मृत्यु की अवधारणा  पर  रूमी

उदाहरण  के  तौर  पर,  रूमी की कविताओं के  इन  पंक्तियों  माध्यम से मृत्यु को बेहतर ढंग से समझ और अनुभव कर सकते हैं, और शोक पर विजय प्राप्त कर सकते हैं.

जब मैं मर जाऊँ,

जब मेरा जनाजा निकले,

तो कभी मत सोचना,

 कि मैं इस दुनिया को छोड़ रहा हूँ ।

 मत बहाना आँसू,

मत करना विलाप.

या मत होना दुखी,

मैं किसी अंधेरे कुएँ में नहीं गिर रहा हूँ।

जब मेरा शव ले जाया जा रहा है,

मेरे जाने पर मत रोना ।

मैं जा नहीं रहा हूँ,

मैं तो शाश्वत प्रेम में पहुँच रहा हूँ।

जब तुम मुझे कब्र में छोड़ो,

तो अलविदा मत कहना,

याद रखना, कि कब्र तो सिर्फ,

पीछे के स्वर्ग एक पर्दा है।

तुम मुझे कब्र में उतरते हुए देखोगे,

तो फिर होगा मेरा उत्थान ।

मेरा अंत कैसे हो सकता है?

जब सूरज या चाँद अस्त होता है,

तो क्या अंत होता है ?

यह सूर्यास्त जैसा लगता है,

लेकिन वास्तव में यह एक भोर है,

जब तुम कब्र में बंद हो जाते हो,

तभी तुम्हारी आत्मा मुक्त होती है।

जब कोई बीज धरती पर गिरता  है,

तो नया जीवन लेकर उठता है ।

 तो इंसान नाम के बीज के,

पुनः उत्थान पर संदेह क्यों?

जैसे कोई बाल्टी कुएँ में उतरकर

वापस खाली नहीं आती,

वैसे आत्मा वापस आ सकती है,

तो विलाप क्यों?

जब आखिरी बार तुम मुँह बंद करोगे,

तुम्हारे शब्द और आत्मा,

इस दुनिया के स्थान और समय के परे होंगे।

Mourning on Death – Part 2

We have learned the profound wisdom of renowned philosophers, who teach us to view death not merely as an end, but as a transformative passage, that offers the potential for spiritual elevation, and a connection to the eternal.

Yet, some individuals seek societal validation through exaggerated displays of sorrow on death, often resulting in unnecessary emotional upheaval for their families. They exhibit complex behaviours and reactions in the face of mourning.  

Grieving on Death

Grief is a natural response to loss because humans form deep emotional bonds, making separation painful. Real grief stems from love and attachment, causing genuine sorrow that takes time to heal. Some people express grief silently, internalising their pain, while others mourn openly to seek personal comfort and sympathy. Loss of dear one, gives us opportunity to self exploration and our ability to be solemn, sustain and relive others from pains,

Mourning Rituals & Shows

In old days, public mourning rituals often served as means to share and validate sorrow. People exaggerated displays of mourning, for social expectations, rather than true loss. Professional mourners were even hired to wail at funerals, displaying performative grief.

Loud mourning without inner pain arises from societal show. People mock such displays to show their grief as authentic.

Whether silent or loud, real grief is about honoring the deceased, while false mourning seeks attention or social validation.

Mourning Drama of Showbiz people

Some individuals, driven by crave for societal attention, exaggerate their grief in a dramatic manner, creating unnecessary emotional turmoil for their family. Instead of expressing their loss silently and privately, they often make public displays, amplifying the pain for others, who are struggling in silence.

Death to human is a natural happening. Inevitable to everyone. A matured person remains calm and composed, endures death in practical and realistic way.

But some person behaves in bizarre nature, showing the loss by whimsical, weeping, wailing, crying, off and on, epitomising grief and bereavement, just to show off, to every one, to draw sympathy, or to self-elevate before public eye.

Such actions aim to shift focus from genuine mourning to personal publicity, turning a family tragedy into a spectacle. This behavior often leads to conflicts within the family, as other members may feel overwhelmed, disrespected, or even manipulated. Such emotional pressure disturbs family peace and prevents collective healing.

Apart from that, people also behave in nasty words on death out of envy and retaliation. Often we see nasty family tussles out in joint families on inherited properties.

A few real life instances of exaggerated mourning behaviour for attention and self-ego. These often creates deep craters and cause rift among the loved one within the family.

Accusation of Indifference

Wife : You don’t even care that my father is gone! Not a single tear fell from your eyes. Are you even human? It feels like you’ve erased him from existence, like he never mattered. How can you stand there, so cold, while I’m drowning in grief? I need you to feel this, to acknowledge it. Because right now, it feels like I’m screaming into a void, and you’re just… not listening.

Husband: “I do care, but why to cry incessantly. I know it’s painful, but losing control like this won’t bring him back. please, calm down and take care of the children.

Wife: “Calm down? My father is dead! And you act as if it’s just another day!”
Husband: “I know it’s painful, but losing control like this won’t bring him back.”

Crying for an Audience

Wife: (Wailing loudly) “Oh, Father! Why did you leave me? See, no one cares! My own husband doesn’t care!”
Husband: “Please don’t scream like this. We should grieve with dignity.”

Wife: “Dignity? My heart is shattered, and you want dignity? You’re embarrassed, aren’t you? That’s all you care about!”
Husband: “I just don’t want you to harm yourself by getting too overwhelmed.”

Accusing Him of Being the Cause

Wife: “If you had taken me to see him earlier, maybe he wouldn’t have died! You delayed everything!”
Husband: “I took you as soon as possible. Please don’t blame me for something I had no control over.”

Wife: “You never liked my father! Maybe you wanted this!”
Husband: “That’s not fair. I respected him, and I feel the loss too.”

Dramatic Self-Pity

Wife: “What’s the point of living now? I should have gone before him! Maybe I should just die!”
Husband: “Please don’t say such things. Your father wouldn’t want you to suffer like this.”

Wife: “You don’t understand a daughter’s pain! You still have your father, don’t you?”
Husband: “I understand loss. But making yourself miserable won’t change the past.”

Seeking Public Sympathy

Wife: (Loudly, in front of guests) “See how heartless he is! My father died, and he just sits there quietly!”
Husband: (Whispers) “Please, let’s not create a scene. I’m here for you.”

Wife: “Oh, you’re ‘here’ for me? Then why don’t I feel any comfort? You are useless!”
Husband: “I am trying, but you’re pushing me away.”