Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2012
19:33:58 +0530
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Harideva
Subject: Re: How to Cope with Death #3
Baba
(This is the third posting in this series; links to the two earlier letters are appended below. The first posting was titled "How to Deal with Death" when in actuality it was about coping with death. So we changed the title thereafter and part 2 and 3 reflect the new title. - Eds)
Namaskar,
With great interest, I have been following along and have read the first two letters on this important topic. Already I have passed along some of the many guidelines to my friends, family members and neighbors as this is a practical matter for everyone.
Below is a short Q & A section that encompasses some of the key points. That said, to get the key step-by-step instruction - based on Baba's discourse - for helping the grieving family cope with a loss, please read the first letter in its entirety.
The following looks at some of the more general issues involved.
1. Should our deceased be preserved, placed in cold storage, made into mummies, and / or transported over long distances to be cremated?
No. This goes entirely against that special discourse delivered by Baba for bringing relief to the grieving family. Our shraddha ceremony must be performed in a timely manner, within a 12-day period as prescribed by Baba.
2. Should we continue to hold onto the bodies of our deceased until the next seminar, DMS, or large gathering so that maximum people can pay their last respects?
No. Here again this goes against Baba's stated maxim. The death ceremony and cremation must be done in a timely manner - within 12 days or less. This helps reduce the grief and stress experienced by the mourning family.
3. Should we keep the body long enough for unborn babies to see that deceased person. With the advancement of science, should we arrange bodies so they can be viewed by the coming generation(s) just like they have done with certain political leaders?
No. We do not believe in such an approach. The deceased should be cremated within a 12-day window according Caryacarya. Otherwise the grieving family is subjected to prolonged suffering and agony.
4. Should we treat our various master units, Baba Quarters, and retreat centers as burial grounds like Christians and Muslims do etc? Should there be cemeteries in the back of each and every jagrti like Christian churches? - should there be tombs of all great margiis and all their history etc - etc
No. In our Ananda Marga, we do not believe in such dogmatic religious rituals. Our jagrtis are not to be turned into cemeteries or cremation grounds.
5. Should tombs be erected for our deceased acaryas and margiis?
We worship Parama Purusa, not deceased unit beings. That is our main ethic and spiritual approach.
Furthermore, when there are thousands of tombs of countless margiis and acaryas, there will not be any place or free space for service projects, gardens, and more. Tombs will be all over; this is a serious problem. Why should we go down that path which has been paved by the dogmatic religions. There is no benefit - only loss.
Indeed these are but some of the many points that demand our review. While many of these questions are relevant today, others will be critically important in the future with the further advancement of science.
If someone is greatly respected then someone may try to keep that body on display up to eternity for all to see. After all, Lenin's body has been on display in Russia since 1924. With more refined techniques, one could conceivably try to preserve a body up to eternity.
In our Marga, this entire topic should be made perfectly clear. All such points must be discussed beforehand. It should be known ahead of time. Because once a person dies then people become extremely sentimental and that is not the time to raise these critical issues. Best is to have all the do's and don'ts resolved beforehand. That is what this entire series of postings has aimed to do.
Namaskar,
Harideva
Note: LINKS TO EARLIER POSTINGS ON THIS TOPIC
To: am-global@earthlink.net
From: Harideva
Subject: Re: How to Cope with Death #3
Baba
== RE: HOW TO COPE WITH DEATH ==
~ Part 3 ~
~ Part 3 ~
(This is the third posting in this series; links to the two earlier letters are appended below. The first posting was titled "How to Deal with Death" when in actuality it was about coping with death. So we changed the title thereafter and part 2 and 3 reflect the new title. - Eds)
Namaskar,
With great interest, I have been following along and have read the first two letters on this important topic. Already I have passed along some of the many guidelines to my friends, family members and neighbors as this is a practical matter for everyone.
Below is a short Q & A section that encompasses some of the key points. That said, to get the key step-by-step instruction - based on Baba's discourse - for helping the grieving family cope with a loss, please read the first letter in its entirety.
The following looks at some of the more general issues involved.
SOME KEY QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
1. Should our deceased be preserved, placed in cold storage, made into mummies, and / or transported over long distances to be cremated?
No. This goes entirely against that special discourse delivered by Baba for bringing relief to the grieving family. Our shraddha ceremony must be performed in a timely manner, within a 12-day period as prescribed by Baba.
2. Should we continue to hold onto the bodies of our deceased until the next seminar, DMS, or large gathering so that maximum people can pay their last respects?
No. Here again this goes against Baba's stated maxim. The death ceremony and cremation must be done in a timely manner - within 12 days or less. This helps reduce the grief and stress experienced by the mourning family.
3. Should we keep the body long enough for unborn babies to see that deceased person. With the advancement of science, should we arrange bodies so they can be viewed by the coming generation(s) just like they have done with certain political leaders?
No. We do not believe in such an approach. The deceased should be cremated within a 12-day window according Caryacarya. Otherwise the grieving family is subjected to prolonged suffering and agony.
4. Should we treat our various master units, Baba Quarters, and retreat centers as burial grounds like Christians and Muslims do etc? Should there be cemeteries in the back of each and every jagrti like Christian churches? - should there be tombs of all great margiis and all their history etc - etc
No. In our Ananda Marga, we do not believe in such dogmatic religious rituals. Our jagrtis are not to be turned into cemeteries or cremation grounds.
5. Should tombs be erected for our deceased acaryas and margiis?
We worship Parama Purusa, not deceased unit beings. That is our main ethic and spiritual approach.
Furthermore, when there are thousands of tombs of countless margiis and acaryas, there will not be any place or free space for service projects, gardens, and more. Tombs will be all over; this is a serious problem. Why should we go down that path which has been paved by the dogmatic religions. There is no benefit - only loss.
SUMMARY STATEMENT
Indeed these are but some of the many points that demand our review. While many of these questions are relevant today, others will be critically important in the future with the further advancement of science.
If someone is greatly respected then someone may try to keep that body on display up to eternity for all to see. After all, Lenin's body has been on display in Russia since 1924. With more refined techniques, one could conceivably try to preserve a body up to eternity.
In our Marga, this entire topic should be made perfectly clear. All such points must be discussed beforehand. It should be known ahead of time. Because once a person dies then people become extremely sentimental and that is not the time to raise these critical issues. Best is to have all the do's and don'ts resolved beforehand. That is what this entire series of postings has aimed to do.
Namaskar,
Harideva
Note: LINKS TO EARLIER POSTINGS ON THIS TOPIC
#1: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-deal-with-death.html
#2: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/07/re-how-to-cope-with-death-2.html
#2: http://am-global-01.blogspot.com/2012/07/re-how-to-cope-with-death-2.html
PRABHAT SAMGIITA
"D'eke ja'i sa'r'a' na' pa'i, e ki kat'hin hrdaya..." (P.S. 3184)
Purport:
Baba, You are the most loving One, even then I go on calling You, and I never get any response. Your heart is tough. It seems You do not care about my longing; otherwise You would respond. Baba, O' my Dearmost, sometimes You come close, and sometimes You go on smiling, keeping Yourself distant. What type of drama or divine play is this.
With the melody and rhythm of the dance, You go on floating like a tidal wave in the ocean. In all the ups and downs of Your various vibrations I always feel Your sweetness.
Baba, in all the ages You are; You remain all the time; You never get lost. You are also present in those memories which have already faded away.
There also You are. You are ever-present in the nucleus of everything, manifested or not manifested. Everything is saturated with Your love, Your
grace. Baba, You love me and You want to listen to my call again and again, that is why You do not respond. This is one aspect of Your loving expression.
Baba, I surrender everything unto You...
Purport:
Baba, You are the most loving One, even then I go on calling You, and I never get any response. Your heart is tough. It seems You do not care about my longing; otherwise You would respond. Baba, O' my Dearmost, sometimes You come close, and sometimes You go on smiling, keeping Yourself distant. What type of drama or divine play is this.
With the melody and rhythm of the dance, You go on floating like a tidal wave in the ocean. In all the ups and downs of Your various vibrations I always feel Your sweetness.
Baba, in all the ages You are; You remain all the time; You never get lost. You are also present in those memories which have already faded away.
There also You are. You are ever-present in the nucleus of everything, manifested or not manifested. Everything is saturated with Your love, Your
grace. Baba, You love me and You want to listen to my call again and again, that is why You do not respond. This is one aspect of Your loving expression.
Baba, I surrender everything unto You...
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