This too shall pass. In a few years, we will not be talking of COVID-19 or coronavirus. We almost forgot the bush fires destroying communities in Australia when this virus started to spread. Are we talking of the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean? The 2005 Katrina hurricane in the US? The 1995-2009 severe droughts in Australia? The 2010 Haiti earthquake? The 2013 severe ice storm in North America? The 2018 wildfires in British Columbia? The 2018 flooding in Kerala? The 2019 wildfires in California? Calamities will come and go. But maybe you are saying “In the process so many people have lost their lives”. People would die anyways, right? Then you may be saying “What if I die because of this virus?” Satguru Kabir Saheb teaches us :
“Ham na mare, mari hai sansaaraa”.
I will never die. Those who are fraught with illusion will die.
Of course we have to live our lives well, stay safe, be disciplined. Satguru Kabir Saheb talks about ‘rahani’ and ‘gahani’ - living a disciplined life and performing good actions. Death is inevitable. But by following this mode of life, we make of Death a celebration. Death is the point when we transcend to that higher realm and do not get back in the cycle of birth and re-births.
“Hamko miliyaa jiyavanhaaraa”
I have met with Him, become one with Him, who is Himself the giver of life. He from whose command everything and every being operates. Becoming one with Him….what do we ask for more? The difference is in the state of existence. The reflection of the sun in the lake as opposed to the sun itself. The light projected by the bulb as opposed to the bulb itself. The sound of music as opposed to music itself. The air that we breathe as opposed to the breath itself….
“Ab naa maroun, marne man maanaa; teyi muye jini Ram na jaanaa”
I now know the secret of Death - not the pain of dying, but Death itself. He who has not known God will surely die. Again and again. For me that moment is precious….because then is when I will be out of Kaal’s realm. Now I am in the realm of Kaal, but my consciousness(surati) is with the Supreme. Death is my gateway to the Eternal Abode.
“Hari mari hai toh ham houn mari hai”
If God will die, then I will surely die too. If God will not die, then how would I? I am one with Him. Whatever is happening in the world is unimportant. Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, diseases, wars, global warming….these will keep coming. Why should I waste my
consciousness on these? I perform my duty (rahani and gahani) as I should, but remain attached to God...always.
“Amar bhaye sukh saagar paawaa”
Death to me is the process of immortalisation, attaining the ocean of bliss….where there is no such thing as pleasure or pain, hunger or satiation, light or darkness. Attaining that abode of no return is my celebration. When I leave, celebrate my departure.
Mahant Jay Jaggessur,
Kabir Association of Toronto.
