17.1. The End - Death: In Light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

It is continuation of series: Moment
The last blog on this topic was on Last Moment:
http://tdsinghharjidamarg.blogspot.in/2016/11/158-moment-in-light-of-dhan-shri-guru.html
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Last moments are synonymous with ‘End’. And ‘End’ for living form is being associated with ‘The Death’. Mentioning of ‘Death’ which is considered as the:

·         Final resting destination.

·         A transition from one life to another

gives jitters to almost all living beings. It is considered as ‘Bad Omen’ to talk about it. But it is the only event (it is an event since it happens in time), having probability of one i.e. it will surely happen no matter what, which every biological living form is aware of but still doesn’t want to accept it. No living form can know when it will happen which makes it even scarier. So much about death but do living beings really understand it? Thus, this work is an effort to understand ‘The Death’ in divine light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

We will first understand what Death is, its nature, what it does as this will form the basis of this work. Also, without these questions to be answered, only misconceptions will rise and will be continued to discuss. This will only give rise to myths, confusion and chaos. So, let us begin with following words of Kabeer Ji about dying:

ਕਬੀਰਾ ਮਰਤਾ ਮਰਤਾ ਜਗੁ ਮੁਆ ਮਰਿ ਭਿ ਨ ਜਾਨੈ ਕੋਇ ॥[1]

कबीरा मरता मरता जगु मुआ मरि भि न जानै कोइ ॥

(Kabeer, the world is dying - dying to death, but no one knows how to truly die.)

Kabeer Ji confirms that no mortal understand ‘The Death’. Mortals can continue to discuss but it will have no experience. That is how many come back after death and how many can give correct and valuable information? And again who can challenge Kabeer Ji? Listening to many stories, which are just abstract, many ideas are built. Mortals engage in many discussions, though they are just noises as they lack experience. Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji confirms this in following words:

ਮੁਖਹੁ ਅਲਾਏ ਹਭ ਮਰਣੁ ਪਛਾਣੰਦੋ ਕੋਇ ॥[2]

मुखहु अलाए हभ मरणु पछाणंदो कोइ ॥

(All speak with their mouths, but rare are those one who realize death.)

 So, does it mean ‘Death’ has to be realized? A realization, especially when Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji mentions it, has to be more than just a mere ‘talk’. But before that mortal have so many questions related to end or death. Dhan Shri Guru Amar Das Ji and Dhan Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji give a glimpse of such discussions or questions in following words:

ਕਿਆ ਜਾਣਾ ਕਿਵ ਮਰਹਗੇ ਕੈਸਾ ਮਰਣਾ ਹੋਇ ॥[3]

किआ जाणा किव मरहगे कैसा मरणा होइ ॥

(What do I know? How will I die? What sort of death will it be?)

ਕਿਥਹੁ ਉਪਜੈ ਕਹ ਰਹੈ ਕਹ ਮਾਹਿ ਸਮਾਵੈ ॥[4]

किथहु उपजै कह रहै कह माहि समावै ॥

(Where do we come from? Where do we live? Where do we go in the end?)

These questions occupy the mind of every mortal. ‘End’ is such a pivotal aspect of our quest. Few of us rise to seek such questions and they respect life. The reverence to life is not fear of ‘Death’ but acknowledging it. Also, mortals are always interested in answers how they will end approach. Since end determines what kind of life one has lived. Everyone calls ‘Death’ a great judge of living being actions. Again is that only an abstraction or it is fact. We will seek it further in light of Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

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[1] Salok – Ang 555 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Kabeer Ji)

[2] Dhakney Mehla 5 – Ang 1099 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[3] Mehla 3 – Ang 355 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

[4] Basant Ki Vaar Mehla 5 – Ang 1193 Dhan Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji