Kamal Ghorui
Human life is a remarkable journey, one that begins with arrival and continues through many transitions. We celebrate birth with joy, yet the mere mention of death fills us with fear, grief, and uncertainty. This contrast arises not from truth, but from our limited understanding. If life is an art, then death is an integral part of its completion. It is, therefore, not enough to learn how to live; we must also learn to face death with awareness.
Our greatest illusion lies in believing that death is an end. Nature, in its silent wisdom, teaches us otherwise. The setting sun does not disappear; it rises elsewhere. A falling leaf does not perish; it becomes part of the soil, nurturing new life. In the same way, death is not annihilation but transformation, a change of state, form, and journey. It is neither inauspicious nor tragic; it is a natural and inevitable truth. Yet, we have turned it into a symbol of fear because we do not understand it. What remains unknown often becomes the source of fear.
This brings us to a deeper question: why do we celebrate birth but mourn death? When a child is born, we rejoice at the arrival of a new life. When someone departs, we grieve as though everything has ended. But a deeper reflection reveals that both birth and death are stages within the continuous cycle of existence shaped by karma. Birth marks the continuation of this journey, and death is not an end, but a transition within it. True liberation lies not in death itself, but in freedom from the cycle of birth and death; it is in moksh.
The fear of death is the fear of the unknown that lies beyond. We strive to understand life yet hesitate to reflect upon death. As a result, death appears as darkness. But understanding dissolves fear. Even science acknowledges that energy is never destroyed, only transformed. While the Atman is not the same as physical energy, this principle offers a helpful analogy, suggesting continuity rather than absolute cessation. The journey of the Atman is continuous; death is a milestone, not the destination.
To understand death is to understand the art of dying. Dying is a conscious process and the art of dying means to depart with awareness, without fear, without regret, and with minimal attachment. Jain wisdom places great importance on the final state of consciousness, as it shapes the soul’s onward journey. Only one who has lived with awareness can face death with equanimity.
The nature of one’s departure is influenced by the inner state cultivated during life. A life filled with restlessness, malice, and imbalance often culminates in agitation. But a life rooted in compassion, balance, and awareness can culminate in a calm and composed departure.
Much of the sorrow associated with death arises not for the one who departs, but for those who remain. The root cause is attachment. We often mistake possession for love, binding relationships in ownership. When separation occurs, pain follows. But true love liberates; it does not bind. Jain thought, emphasises samata, equanimity. It teaches us neither to be excessively elated at birth nor excessively grief-stricken at death. To live in equanimity is to see both life and death as two milestones of the same journey.
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