DEATH- A NEW BEGINNING
“Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death’ -Unknown

The year is coming to an end, yes; but implicit in this is the beginning of the New Year! And what better time to understand death than the end of one year and the beginning of another! For paradoxically it is the New Year that we all so look forward to that can best help us understand death! Association is a potent subliminal tool, and by viewing death through the new year lens we may more easily appreciate that death is not an end, nor a final dissolution, but indeed synonymous with all that new years mean to us: beginnings, new birth, new life, new opportunities …indeed all- potential ahead to explore within a fresh time and space coordinate.

This is important because I am not speaking merely about physical death, but also ‘death’ in day-to- day terms: relationships breaking up, events terminating, careers coming to a grinding halt and thus any change, loss or ending. And by understanding physical death in the ‘macrocosm’ one can better deal with its representations in the ‘microcosm’ of everyday life. This is really what spiritual knowledge is about: using the larger picture (macrocosm) to understand and thereby enhance the smaller picture of day –to- day life (microcosm). Knowledge is not simply adding new information and beliefs …and unless it brings about a shift in your consciousness it is meaningless.

And in the larger picture, death is not in death as we think it to be, because death in reality renders death null and void! Death kills death! For it is through death that we become aware that not only is there is no ‘death’ but that death is indeed the doorway to eternal life and growth! But while we are all aware of this intellectually, it is only when we can see it in day- to- day ways does death begin to lose its sting. So once again, view death through the analogy of the imminent year ending and its implicit New Year …and only as the paradox of endings and beginnings being synonymous starts to come alive within you… will you truly see that all you have thought of as ‘death’ is indeed transformation, growth and opportunity towards a new beingness!

And at some point, when you have truly imbibed this, a new question arises and you then begin to wonder what death is? What is this concept known as death?  And gradually does the answer dawn on you- that if ‘death’ exists at all it is in stagnation, inertia and fear. The deeper implication of this understanding can be startling in day-to-day terms for you realize the paradox that everything you saw as death …isn’t! And everything that seemed safe and comfortable…is!  You realize that the endings, losses and changes that you feared as ‘death’…are actually opportunities for growth!  You realize that death is ironically in all that is long standing…death is in your patterns, death is in your conditioning and death is in your reluctance or refusal to move on, accept change, expand or experiment! You indeed realize that ‘death’ is in what appear as comfort zones, for when closely examined they are the ‘death’ of resistance! You realize that it is your very resistance or fear of this new self that is only death there is!

And by understanding ‘death’–on this side of the veil or the other- you paradoxically move into better living! For this fresh view changes your subliminal responses in a two pronged manner: you become more open to changes and endings…knowing they are harbingers of new life, opportunities and Self; and in becoming aware of the lurking death within all that seemed safe… you are doubly motivated to overcome fears, reduce stagnation and move away from deep rooted resistances! And this is what conquering death really means: not that there will be no death (changes, losses, and endings) but that we embrace them as new life, opportunities, and growth!

Let me tell you a beautiful story from Indian mythology to portray the deeper implications of ‘death’. One day, Brahma the creator was looking down upon his creation and feeling something wasn’t quite right! Life was choking instead of thriving… humanity was declining instead of evolving and He was wondering where he had gone wrong! Suddenly he feels a tap on his shoulders and there appears Saraswati the Goddess of Wisdom murmuring to him that the only flaw of creation was in omitting death; and when He asks her what ‘death’ is… she explains that death is what allows creation to forever be! She sagaciously points out that ‘death’ is the opportunity for new life! Death is what allows growth to be! Death is what ensures eternity!

Thus convinced does he create ‘mrityu’… the maiden… to confer death periodically to all on earth!  However when mrityu is informed of her role she refuses to accede to such a gruesome purpose to be, till once again Saraswati steps in to explain to her that as death she would indeed be bestower of infinite life…she would indeed be Mother to all of creation and to eternity!  And in this understanding does the maiden mrityu don the mantle of death…opportunity for eternal life …and become Ma Kali.  If you ponder on this a while, you will understand that ‘death’ was introduced, as opportunity for infinite growth and expansion! And it is through death that creation is! For if there was no ‘death’… no endings…how could new beginnings be? Growth be? Expansion be?

Use the power of association to become comfortable with so-called death so that you may not link death only with the horrific endings of life. Become aware that you live in an energy field which is in a constant state of flux- and you are literally surrounded by death, or new life, however you choose to view it. Become aware how everything around you is constantly dying or being reborn…moment-to-moment! See it in nature: the sun setting to rise; the flowers growing into fruit, the egg bursting into new life, the seasons changing. See it through biology: the cells within your body are constantly changing and ‘dying’ so that physical renewal may be. Indeed every seven years you have brand new physical body…due to its day- to- day deaths! See it through psychology and education: old thoughts give way to new ones! See it through quantum physics, which explains how your very universe pulses in and out to eternally exist. See it in personal ways…how a piece of chocolate must dissolve before you can enjoy another; a book must end before you can embark on another! See it through dance: how each step dies so the next may be, and it is through a million deaths that the fluid grace of a dance is!  And finally… it is only through death of the personal self that one becomes All That Is! If you think of it deeply you will also see that ‘All That Is’- God- dies every moment to eternally ‘Be’! This is indeed how ‘All That Is’ can be ‘more’ than all that is! And how a state of ‘perfection’ can constantly ‘further itself’! Through what you call ‘death’.

Another beautiful association with death is the concept of the ‘small death’, which refers to the physical orgasm. And why is the orgasm referred to as the small death? Because it the ‘death’ of the ego (implying a surrender of the resistance of ego) that enables the orgasm; but also because the energies being harnessed, collected, hoarded through the motion and experience of the creative act must be released to enjoy the bliss of orgasm. At a deeper level this has a very important message because you usually think of fear, a refusal to move on and its stagnation in reference to limiting and ‘negative’ situations. However it is equally vital to move on from ones ‘pinnacles’ in life, from those peaks one may reach or those  ‘all dreams have come true’ phases…. for this is when the most lethal stagnation can take place, and like in any orgasm, it is only by letting go can you experience further and further bliss. Thus once again it is death that comes to the rescue…in allowing you higher and higher peaks!

I shall end with the symbolism of the death card in tarot which brings alive all of this! Most people are scared of the death card thinking it portends physical death or death of the issue asked; but in the true language of tarot the card comes up to show you that whatever you are  asking about is not working…decaying perhaps… due to fear, stagnation and resistance! Indeed it comes to point out this death! And to lead you out of it… into a new opportunity… or fresh phase! The Rider Waite card depicts this well with a figure in black to represent the all potential available! He rides a white horse… the horse depicting the need to move on and its color white representing the conscious awareness required to do so! The mystic rose emblazoned across the flag that ‘death’ carries represents the force of Love…for it is only Love of Creator for his Creation…Love to explore every facet of ‘That’ I Am… which  allows one to play this king size game of a seeming hundred deaths! More interestingly: there are four miniature characters (often missed at cursory glance) in the way of the horse…incoming change. The emperor who symbolizes the ego and its rigidity … gets ‘trampled’ by death. For change must come! Then there is a priest with folded hands symbolizing those who give away their empowerment to a larger force in asking to be protected rather than looking within to change….he too is in line to be hurt as our horse would move forward if it were not a static card!  Then there is the young maiden symbolizing the young seeker who intellectually understands the need for death and is thus half on her knees to greet it… but there is a last moment turning away symbolizing subliminal resistance….and the card suggests that the horse…death… change… would graze her too. Last but not least, is the young child, wholly on his knees, arms open with flowers, embracing ‘death’….the need for change and all it brings… and we can see that our horse if it were not a static card would ride over him yes, but leave him completely unhurt and untouched…allowing the sun…new life force to pour over him instead!  

So death…where is thy sting? Only in resisting it!

Divyaa Kummar