Sitting in the back seat of a Uber, I was on my way to Sacramento. It had started to drizzle. This was my fourth trip to Yuba City, but unique from my perspective. There was something strange about it.
On previous occasions, I never had to hire a cab, as he was always there to pick me up from Sacramento International Airport . But, this time he could not come. He had to wait for guests. It was his funeral, and I was heading there.
My friend 'Khushvir', who departed for the heavenly abode in December 2022, was a sweet and inspiring soul. The news of his death shook me to the core. I felt extreme emotional pain similar to when I lost my dad . He either did not left me too long ago.
I lost my dad in 2020, almost two years before Khushvir passed away. I had a Happy childhood and was living my adult life full of contentment, when news of his demise came piercing in. I was half asleep, when I heard my wife talking to my brother-in-law. The emotional pain I felt in that moment is beyond any description. For the next two weeks I rode my bike to a nearby ravine , just so I can cry alone.
Between these two independent turmoils, another close friend of mine , 'Gurcharan' passed away. I remember one day calling him and saying, that I will visit him next week. He was excited to hear that. He then said, " Rahul, your schedule is busy. You have few days remaining before you go back to Canada. I can visit you instead, so you can spend more time with your family." True friends catch the frequency our hearts operate at. This is just an example of this connection.. For some reason, we could not meet at my place. Few months later, news of his death came.
I also lost my close friend Rishamraj Singh Randhawa, my room-mate from my boarding school. His parents were living in USA while he was completing his degree in dentistry in India. He missed his parents so much that he was unable to read their letters. ( We do not have any cell phones then ). I remember him asking me to read letter from his mom. He cried like a baby that day.
One Thursday while leaving work, I said goodbye to my co-worker and friend Preetish Hundal. She said she will see me Saturday, and asked me to teach her the operation of a new machine that we installed in our dental office. Next day I came to know she was in hospital and is in coma. Two days later, her ventilator was taken off, and she was rested forever.
Death is inevitable. The thought of leaving this world with everything and everyone behind is a tyranny itself. But I wasn't sure about my own perspective on death.
Sometimes I think death is associated with afterlife, while other times reincarnation . I have an experience of unconsciousness in the past, when I blacked out while playing video games. So, I also see death as 'permanent unconsciousness'.
At other times I thought about questions regarding the meaning of life, the existence of a soul, and the possibility of an existence beyond physical death.
Top Reasons Why We Are Scared Of Death :
Many theories exist as to why we are afraid of death. My perspective accounts the following reasons :
The Unknown
Loss Of Control
Attachment To Life
Fear Of Suffering
Regrets And Unfinished Business
Beliefs : Eg. Punishment In Afterlife
Loss Of Identity
Religious Verses That Help Us Find Strength & Courage:
Religions have diverse beliefs and teachings regarding death. Here are 27 verses from 4 major religions that can help you find peace and live a meaningful life.
In Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam & Christianity , the holy scripture of Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, Quran & Bible have verses that provide guidance and solace in times of disappointment and death. Here are a few verses that may offer comfort and reflection:
Sikhism:
-"Man may come and man may go, but the True Guru remains forever. In times of disappointment and despair, cling to the Guru's teachings, never to sever."
Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 729
"In the cycle of life and death, one finds solace in the eternal truth. Know that this world is fleeting, focus on the divine and find eternal youth."
Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 136
"O mind, do not be disappointed or disheartened, for everything happens as per the divine plan. Embrace the will of the One, and find peace amidst life's transient span."
Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1109
"Death comes to all, high and low, it's an inevitable truth we must accept. Through remembrance of the divine, liberation and union we shall intercept."
Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 357
"When the time comes to depart from this world, let not fear or sorrow consume your being. Merge with the One, the source of all life, and in eternal bliss, your soul shall be freeing."
Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 945
These verses emphasize the impermanence of worldly matters and encourage individuals to seek solace in the divine, even in the face of disappointment and death. They remind Sikhs to remain steadfast in their faith and find peace through their connection with the Eternal One.
Hinduism:
Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 2, Verse 14): "O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed."
2. Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 2, Verse 27): "One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death, one is sure to take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament."
3. Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 2, Verse 56): "One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger, is called a sage of steady mind."
4. Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 2, Verse 66): "One can raise himself through the mind, and one can also degrade himself through the mind. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well."
5. Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 9, Verse 22): "To those who are constantly devoted and who engage in the devotional service with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."
6. Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 18, Verse 66): "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear."
These verses from the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu scripture, offer insights on how to deal with disappointment, the transient nature of life, and the importance of surrendering to a higher power. They emphasize maintaining equanimity, practicing devotion, and cultivating a steady mind in the face of challenges.
Islam:
1. "And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient." (Quran 2:155)
2. "And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you and the patient, and We will test your affairs." (Quran 47:31)
3. "And whoever desires the reward of this world - We will give him thereof; and whoever desires the reward of the Hereafter - We will give him thereof. And we will reward the grateful." (Quran 3:145)
4. "Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned." (Quran 21:35)
5. "And We have certainly created man to be in hardship." (Quran 90:4)
6. "O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient." (Quran 2:153)
7. "Do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers." (Quran 3:139)
These verses remind believers that tests, hardships, and disappointments are a part of life. Patience, trust in Allah, and seeking His help through prayer are emphasized as a means to overcome difficulties. Death is also highlighted as an inevitable reality that every soul will face. The Quran encourages believers to maintain resilience and gratitude, keeping their focus on the reward of the Hereafter.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
2. "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)
3. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
4. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27)
5. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)
6. "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
7. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
8. "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." (John 11:25)
9. "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'" (Revelation 21:3-4)
These verses remind us of God's presence, comfort, and ultimate victory over death. May they bring solace and encouragement during times of disappointment and grief.