Chapter 4
In the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, the same thing is clearly discussed about the Art of Dying and the Art of Living separately.
What Lord Krishna said about the Art of Dying:
Lord Krishna says to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita
anta-kāle ca mām eva
smaran muktvā kalevaram
yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ
yāti nāsty atra saṁśayaḥ
[Bhagavad Gita 8.5 ]
Translation: “And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body, remembering me alone, at once attains my nature. Of this, there is no doubt.”
yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ
tyajaty ante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya
sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ
[Bhagavad Gita 8.6]
Translation: “Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail.”
Pitamah Bhishma exemplifies the zenith of this art. Even as he lay upon a bed of arrows, Bhishma Deva imparted lessons on royal duty (Raj dharma) to Yudhishthira. His departure from this world was a moment of sublime auspiciousness, drawing sages from various realms to bear witness to the departure of this illustrious soul. Lord Krishna Himself graced the scene by personally attending Bhishma's bedside.
With an unwavering devotion to the Lord, Bhishma voluntarily relinquished his mortal form while offering the most sublime prayers to the Divine. As he departed from this earthly existence, the consciousness of Bhismadeva was vividly described: He, who had expounded on myriad topics, waged battles on countless fields, and safeguarded multitudes of beings, fell silent. Completely liberated from all earthly bonds, his focus converged solely on the original Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, who stood before him. The Lord appeared in His four-armed divine form, adorned in resplendent yellow attire that gleamed with divine radiance.
In truth, Bhishma Pitamah did not succumb to death; he triumphed over it through the sheer force of his unwavering devotion. A perfected soul is impervious to death's grasp – instead, they regain their spiritual form and eternally reside in the spiritual realm while engaging in loving devotional service. This profound practice, known as Bhakti yoga, stands as the very essence of our existence.
This is often referred to as the Art of Dying, signifying that as the moment of death approaches, we should cultivate an unparalleled detachment from the material world. This detachment extends to our accomplishments, societal status, familial ties, and the many designations we may have acquired in this lifetime. At that crucial juncture, our singular focus should be solely on Lord Krishna. If we remember Him in those final moments, Krishna assures us that we shall attain His divine nature.
Lord Krishna imparts the timeless wisdom that one's consciousness at the time of departing this mortal frame dictates their subsequent destiny. For instance, an individual engrossed in the consumption of meat and other abhorrent foods may find themselves reborn as a voracious hog that consumes anything in sight. Similarly, someone who approaches relationships with a bestial consciousness dominated by lust may find themselves in the form of a dog in their next life. The state of consciousness we carry at the time of death inexorably shapes the nature of our next incarnation.
We must refrain from assuming that death is distant and uncertain. The reality is that it can strike us at any moment, in ways and at times known only to Lord Krishna. Therefore, squandering our time is not an option. Instead, we should make the most of every moment by immersing ourselves in meditation upon Krishna.
In this material world, people may present us with countless dreams and aspirations. However, these dreams hold little value if they fail to forge a connection with Krishna. It is perfectly acceptable to nurture ambitious dreams, provided that they lead us closer to Krishna. Dreams that pull us away from Krishna are, in essence, self-destructive and counter to our spiritual journey.
What Lord Krishna said about the Art of Living:
yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi
yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam
[Bhagavad Gita 9.27 ]
Translation: “Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, O son of Kuntī, as an offering to Me.”
By maintaining an unwavering focus on Krishna through various means such as contemplating objects that remind us of Him, absorbing the teachings of Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita and Shrimad Bhagavatam, and venerating His deity form, we infuse our external surroundings with the profound energy of Krishna consciousness.
As Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita:
man-mana bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī mäm namaskuru
mäm evaiṣyasi yuktvaivam
ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ
[Bhagavad Gita 9.34]
Translation: “Engage your mind always in thinking of me, become my devotee, offer obeisance to me, and worship me. Being completely absorbed in me, surely you will come to me.“
This verse from the Bhagavad Gita encapsulates the pinnacle of mastery in the art of living. A devout follower continuously holds Krishna in grateful remembrance and never allows His presence to slip from their mind. An exemplary instance of this unwavering faith is seen in the story of Draupadi during the Kuru assembly when she found herself in a dire predicament with no one coming to her aid. In her moment of distress, Draupadi fervently remembered Lord Krishna, and He, in turn, did not forsake her. In a miraculous display of divine intervention, Krishna transformed into an infinite saree, thereby shaming Duhshasan and coming to Draupadi's rescue.
In the realm of Bhakti, we discover the profound art of leading a life wholly devoted to Krishna. Whether one is a professional, a farmer, a trader, or even a student, they can engage in the practice of Bhakti while fulfilling their respective duties. Bhakti doesn't demand that one retreat to the caves of the Himalayas; rather, it beautifully defines Bhakti as a way of life itself.
Even while living here in this material world, we become blessed to embrace our spiritual existence. This is the perfection of living.
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