Life Death and Beyond

Every Birthday is a Reminder hanker after worldly goods and sense-pleasures. ‘Right here, right now’ is their slogan. But if they develop a living consciousness of death, they would never utter such words. Every Birthday is a Reminder Death is the end of life on Earth for the deceased. And for those who still remain here, someone else’s death is a reminder—of their own impending death. When someone dies, it appears that a person who used to speak has now fallen silent. But this person’s becoming silent is itself a loud announcement. And the announcement is this: “The momentous event that had been destined for me has arrived. And now, sooner or later, you too will be faced with the same situation. Please prepare yourself adequately for this event.” It is a custom in many places that when someone completes one more year of his life and the next year of his life begins, his birthday is celebrated with much gusto. But the more appropriate thing is to consider this day as a day for the remembrance of one’s impending death. The fact is that for all of us, the countdown of our life is happening continuously. Every birthday only announces that one more year of the period that has been decreed for us on this planet has gone by. Death is the culmination of this countdown. People celebrate their birthdays as an occasion for much fun and frolic. But if you look at the matter realistically, the issue is quite the opposite. Every new birthday is actually a reminder that one’s death—and the Day of Judgment too—has