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no one has ever seen anyone dying。
only this much has been seen： a man fell ill； grew more ill； and more and more ill； and one day it became known that the man is no longer alive。
but basically； no one has ever seen when a person died。
no one has ever been able to pinpoint at which moment a person died； and what exactly happened in the process of dying。
the only thing we have seen is a man being set free from life。
we have not seen a boat touching the other shore； we have only seen it leaving this shore。
we have seen a consciousness move away from the shores of life； and then after a certain point we have lost sight of it。
the body that remains with us is no longer alive； as it was until yesterday； and so we think the man is dead。
for us； death is an inference； it is not an event that occurs right before us。
we have seen sick people； we have seen the suffering of a dying man …… the cramping of his limbs； his eyes rolling up； his face deforming； his jaws clenching； we have seen that perhaps the man wants to say something but cannot …… we have seen all this。
we have with us the sum of all this； it has bee part of our collective mind。
whatsoever has been happening at the time of death over millions of years； we have collected it all。
we are afraid of that。
we are also frightened of facing the same difficulties at the time of our death。
hence； man has devised very clever means。
he has dismissed the fact of death from the whole idea of life。
we create cemeteries outside the town so that we are not reminded of death more often。
really； ideally a cemetery should be created in the middle of the town； because there is nothing in life more certain than death itself： everything else is uncertain。
other things may or may not be。
the only thing which one can believe in definitively is death。
death is the most certain thing； no one can doubt its existence。
we can doubt the existence of god； we can doubt the existence of the soul； we can doubt life itself； but there is no way to doubt death。
death is。
that which is so certain we have put outside the town。
if a funeral passes by； the mother calls her children to e inside the house； because somebody is dead。
actually； if someone is dead everyone should be asked to e out so they can watch the greatest fact of life passing by。
everyone is bound to pass through death。
there is no need to deny it。
but we are so scared of death we dont even want to mention it。
i have heard
an old woman came to see a monk and said。
〃the soul is indeed immortal。
〃 old people often talk about the immortality of the soul for no other reason than the fear of death。
thats the only reason why we find such a large number of old folks in temples； mosques； churches。
why arent young people and children interested in going to these places？ it will be a while before they get the news of death。
it will take a little time。
they can afford to deny death for now； they can forget it for a while。
how can an old man forget death？ he gets reminders every day。
one day he finds his legs refuse to walk； another day his vision fails； sometimes his ears lose their hearing power。
he receives hints from all around that； one by one； parts of his body seem to be giving in to death。
now he begins to rush towards the church； the temple； the mosque。
he is not concerned with god； he goes there simply to make sure that； even though what he has understood life to be is ing to an end； will he perish too？
it is strange that societies which believe in the immortality of the soul are more frightened of death than ones which do not believe in the souls existence。
take our country； for example。
for ages we have been firm believers in the immortality of the soul。
and yet； no race on earth is more cowardly than ours； no people are more dead than we are。
a nation which proclaims the soul is immortal suffers in slavery for a thousand years。
how strange！ one wonders how a nation which declares the soul is immortal and which is inhabited by eight hundred million souls； can live in slavery under the domination of three million。
those who believe the soul is immortal； that it can never die； what fear can they have of being slaves？ what fear can they have of fighting the enemy？ what fear can they have of facing death by hanging？ how can guns and cannons frighten them？ but no； something else is involved here。
believing in the immortality of the soul is not the same as knowing the immortality of the soul。
believing in it is just a strategy for erasing the fear of death； for falsifying it …… the same as creating a cemetery outside the town。
every day people open their scriptures and read the teachings on the immortality of the soul so that they can be absolutely sure there is no death； so that they can carry the hope that they will survive …… so there is no need to worry。
they assert； 〃the body will die； but we will still survive！〃
who are you asserting as your existence other than the body？ you have no knowledge of it。
you announce； 〃the body may die； i will continue to live；〃 and the fact is you have absolutely no idea who you are other than the body！ you dont know what it is that will survive when the body is no more。
if you should ever really think； 〃who am l？〃 you will e to know that you know nothing about yourself except that you are the body。
so the old woman said to the monk； 〃i believe the soul is immortal。
the soul is indeed imperishable。
what do you say？〃
about the immortality of the soul； the monk answered nothing。
he merely looked at the woman； took her hand in his and said； 〃what do you think about death？ not much time is left。
〃
the woman was annoyed。
she said； 〃what kind of ominous talk is this？ please dont say such things。
being a monk； a good man； you should not talk about such ominous things。
〃
the monk said； 〃if the soul is immortal； then how can death be ominous？ death can be inauspicious only if the soul is mortal。
〃
but the woman continued； 〃drop this and talk about something else。
talk about god； talk about moksha。
i havent e to h