Birth and Death are Two Illusory Scenes
[Vinod Anand]
Death is a universal occurrence; yet it is the least understood phenomenon. According to early writings of Wittgenstein, this is because death is not an event in one’s life — we do not live to experience death. He upheld that “at death the world does not alter, but comes to an end”. However, he added, “our life has no end in just the same way in which our visual field has no limits”.
After death, life becomes unmanifest. Wittgenstein’s view is similar to that of the Bhagwad Gita’s verse 28 in the second chapter: “All beings remain unmanifest in the beginning; they become manifest in the middle. After death they certainly become unmanifest” What is eternal, ever-existing and ever-unchanging is atman, the soul. The atman, like energy, can neither be created nor destroyed. It is infinite, formless, attribute-less, all-pervading, indivisible, timeless and space less. Atman only transmigrates.
The Gita says, it cannot be cut by weapons, nor burnt by fire, moistened by water and cannot be dried by air. It is the soul that enlivens, galvanizes, moves and directs the body, mind and senses. Every soul is a circle without circumference. The centre of the circle is body. Death means change of this centre from body to body. Death is the separation of soul from body Body is destructible and belongs to the indestructible atman. Swami Sivananda argues, “Death destroys the personality but it cannot annihilate individuality because individuality is separate and has distinct existence beyond body with no relation to personality.”
According to Hindu thought, life is one continuous, never-ending process, birth and death being two illusory scenes in the drama of the world. The illusion is created by the jugglery of Maya. Nobody comes and nobody goes. The atman leaves its former body and acquires anew body. As proof of the transmigration of the soul Swami Sivananda offers, “Man clings to this earthly life. This clinging proves that there is past experience and existence and that there is a future life. Man likes this life immensely and strongly yearns for a future life also.” The change is illusory because as Swamiji says, all change is only change of environment and embodiment. In transmigration from its former body to the newly obtained body, the atman is accompanied by mukhya prana, the chief vital air, senses and mind.
It carries within avidya, ignorance, good and evil actions, and impressions of its previous existence. Hence he says, “If you ask, does a man altogether die at death, I answer ‘No’, for what dies is what belongs to this world of form and illusion.” The purpose of transmigration or reincarnation is not reward or punishment, but betterment and perfection. Death is only a passing and necessary phenomenon, which every soul has to go through to gain experience for its further evolution and perfection. It opens the door to a higher form of life. Death is the gateway to a fuller life. It is not possible to achieve perfection and absolute freedom without plurality of lives.
So, one should face death fearlessly and joyfully. The ideal attitude to death is best illustrated by the answer given to Buddha by his disciple Sariputta. When asked, “Well, monk, does not life burden you and don’t you like to be released by death? Or, does living fascinate you, because I there is a noble mission to fulfill?” Sariputta replied, “Venerable Teacher, I desire not life. I desire not death. I wait until my hour shall come, like a servant that waits for his wages.”
VINOD K.ANAND: A BRIEF PROFILE
Born in 1939, and holding Master’s Degree both in Mathematics (1959) and Economics (1961), and Doctorate Degree in Economics (1970), Dr. Vinod K.Anand has about forty five years of teaching, research, and project work experience in Economic Theory (both micro and macro), Quantitative Economics, Public Economics, New Political Economy, and Development Economics with a special focus on economic and social provisions revolving around poverty, inequality, and unemployment issues, and also on informal sector studies. His last assignment was at the National University of Lesotho (Southern Africa) from 2006 to 2008. Prior to that he was placed as Professor and Head of the Department of Economics at the University of North-West in the Republic of South Africa, and University of Allahabad in India, Professor at the National University of Lesotho, Associate Professor at the University of Botswana, Gaborone in Botswana, and at Gezira University in Wad Medani, Sudan, Head, Department of Arts and Social Sciences, Yola in Nigeria, Principal Lecturer in Economics at Maiduguri University in Nigeria, and as Lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Nigeria. Professor Anand has by now published more than 80 research papers in standard academic journals, authored 11 books, supervised a number of doctoral theses, was examiner for more than twenty Ph.D. theses, and has wide consultancy experience both in India and abroad, essentially in the African continent. This includes holding the position of Primary Researcher, Principal Consultant etc. in a number of Research Projects sponsored and funded by Universities, Governments, and International Bodies like, USAID, IDRC, and AERC. His publications include a variety of themes revolving around Economic Theory, New Political Economy, Quantitative Economics, Development Economics, and Informal Sector Studies. His consultancy assignments in India, Nigeria, Sudan, Botswana, and the Republic of South Africa include Non-Directory Enterprises in Allahabad, India, Small Scale Enterprises in the Northern States of Nigeria, The Absolute Poverty Line in Sudan, The Small Scale Enterprises in Wad Medani, Sudan, Micro and Small Scale Enterprises in Botswana, The Place of Non-Formal Micro-Enterprises in Botswana, Resettlement of a Squatter Community in the Vryburg District of North West Province in the Republic of South Africa, Trade and Investment Development Programme for Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises: Support for NTSIKA in the Republic of South Africa, and Development of the Manufacturing Sector in the Republic of South Africa’s North West Province: An Approach Based on Firm Level Surveys. Professor Anand has also extensively participated in a number of conferences, offered many seminars, participated in a number of workshops, and delivered a variety of Refresher Lectures at different venues both in India and abroad. Dr. Anand was placed at the prestigious Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla in the State Himachal Pradesh, India as a Fellow from 2001 to 2003, and had completed a theoretical and qualitative research project/monograph on the Employment Profile of Micro Enterprises in the State of Himachal Pradseh, India.
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