Dr. Debashish Roy is our neighbour and my personal surgeon too. His mother expired yesterday. We Hindus believe that the body is of no value after the soul has left and we cremeate or burn our dead. In a tropical country which is hot and humid this needs to be done very fast. So the cremeation is usually hastened. People who wish to pay their last respects generally try to go as early as possible and as soon as they hear about thie demise. Another custom that we have is not to say good bye to the close relatives of the deceased as we leave. This is considered inauspicious as it would imply wanting to return for a similar event.
Dr. Roy's mother was 92 when she passed away. People weren't too sorrowful as the departed was quite aged. But I feel every death kindles in us a feeling of loss. She was a mother, a sister, a mother-in-law, a grand mother, so many things to so many people. These memories stay with us. In fact, this our chance for immortality. To so impact on people around us that they will continue to remember us and our life and actions. This is the essence of the second habit, Viz., Begin with the End in Mind.
What will people say about us after we die? The answer is a mission statement crafted and prepared by us. Will our Life be our Message?
Will our life be so great that the undertaker will weep when we die?
Our immortality is in our hands. The seeds we sow today. Seeds of friendship; Seeds of Love; Seeds of support: Seeds of Help!
Let us live forever in the memories of millions of people!
No comments:
Post a Comment