Temporary sojourn

We take care of the body that is destroyed, but do not think of the atma which is

indestructible. But great philosophers

have explained with many examples the impermanence of worldly life and the need to know the difference between the atma and the body, said Sarala Rajagopalan, in a discourse.

Philosophers and men of God advise us to think of God and to think of how to reach Him.

Tamil saint Tirumoolar gives an example to drive home the impermanence of worldly life. A

man ate a hearty meal, had a delightful conversation with his wife. But he began to experience some discomfort in his left side, and so he decided to call it a day. He lay down to rest, but he never rose from his rest, for he died soon after.

That is how uncertain life is.We are here one second and gone the next. Yet we never think of death as a possibility in our lives.

It seems to us as if it is something that will hit others, but not us, until death actually

comes knocking on our door.But death will not wait until we have done the good deeds we

should have done while we were strong and young. Opportunities to do good once lost are lost forever.

When we are alive, we are known by many names. There is the name our parents gave us. Then there are the nicknames our friends call us by. There are the respectful terms people use to address us, because of our official positions at work. But once a man dies,how is he referred to? Does anyone ask, “When is so and so going to be cremated?” The question is “When will the body be cremated?” So at this stage we are no longer so and so, but just a body. While those likely to be affected by our passing, will mourn us, even that will be for a brief period.

Even as they are mourning,they will begin to feel the pangs of hunger, and once the body

has been cremated and the rituals carried out, they will calmly sit down to eat.

No one is going to remember a man for long after his death. But his good deeds will be remembered. Therefore, we must not postpone the performance of good deeds, for we never

know when death will claim us.