THE MYSTERY OF LIFE AND DEATH a yoga perspective.

The problem of death is not really a mystery. The truth is that there is no difference between life and death. Nothing is actually dead. Just as atoms in inanimate matter, like metals, are in continuous motion and rapid vibration, so similarly, the atoms in the flesh of a corpse are in continuous motion and rapid vibration.

Different forms of matter are the manifestation of the same life force, just as ice, water, snow and steam are the different manifestations of the same substance.

At birth something enters the world, while at death something departs. This something is the theme of all religions and they have attempted to probe it and have come up with certain answers. People are immensely interested in this `something´. The actions of prior births produce the character of individuals, leading to new actions that in turn help further evolution. This process ends in liberation, the destiny of all living beings. A person is born in accordance with his karma; the subtle body enters the womb of the mother and proceeds to manufacture the gross body. At the appropriate time, the baby is born.

The individual passes through the various stages of life and gathers the experience and impressions of its action in the subconscious. As soon as the karma that had caused the birth is exhausted, the astral body is separated from the gross body. This phenomenon is called death. In reality, however, it is only the separation of the two bodies.

The indications of life and death are the presence or absence of the prana the vital air commonly called breath. The absence of the prana stops the functioning of the heart. Thus, when the breathing and heart beating stop, the person dies. However, a realized yogi can consciously control these two and remain in a state of absolute tranquility or samadhi. He gains control over life and death, which is the means to enlightenment. When the yogi is no longer dependent upon the breath and the heart for his existence, then a higher knowledge will move upon him. He no longer fears death, as death for him means freedom from bondage - liberation.

At death, the embodied Self moves from one place to another. Death itself is either painful or peaceful according to the karma of the individual. If the individual has attained the state of conscious separation of the Self from the Body during his lifetime, death holds no pain for him. He will have foreknowledge of the time when his karma is to be exhausted. When the time comes, he consciously leaves the world. This can be achieved only by the regular and faithful practice of meditation.

Death is not the end of an individual, just as birth is not the beginning. What then is death? Death means that the Self, along with the subtle body which is comprised of the mind with all its impressions, leaves the gross body. These impressions become the seeds of future birth. It is mostly the last thought of an individual that decides his future birth. The last thoughts are molded by the predominant desires of his life. Therefore, desires are the root of birth and death. By destroying desire, one strikes at the root of karma and escapes from the cycle of birth and death.

This, however, is possible only by sincere meditation. The Gita clearly says," He who gives up all desires and moves free from all attachment, egoism and thirst for enjoyment attains peace." Such is the stage of a God-realized soul. Having reached this stage, he has overcome delusion; remaining established in this stage, even at the last moment, he attains the bliss of Brahman (God). When an individual realizes the immortality of the Self, he attains liberation and the cycle of birth and death stops for him. Therefore, it is the responsibility of each individual to attain liberation with the grace of God and liberated ones.

As God is infinite, the embodied souls (jivas), according to the yoga scriptures, are also infinite.

When one has attained human birth he should act sensibly, using discrimination, to know the will of God. Then, by the practice of meditation, one can develop intuition and quicken his evolution toward liberation in one birth.