Is there anything that is not tragic in this world?
Heath Ledger an Australian actor was famous in Hollywood for his lead roles in movies such as Brokeback Mountain and the like. Today he is no more, he is dead.
In the New York Times, there were many quotes from his close friends and family and all of them were in a state of shock and barely able to accept the truth. One said that she was too upset to talk about Mr. Ledger’s death. His father quoted his death as “tragic, untimely and accidental”. This is typical mentality of people devoid of spiritual knowledge.
Death by its very nature is painful, untimely and accidental and we are all very aware of the nature of death from the time we are born. In other words, we know we will die for sure but we do not want to think or talk about it and hence very happy to live in illusion all our living moments. It also implies that thinking of death will put a stop to the material enjoyment. Hence our life is ultimately a tug-of-war between illusion and reality. Of course…at the end of the day reality wins. Death is for sure and we have to face it one day. So a person who is honest and sincere will question if we are all going to die…then what is the meaning of my life? Who am I? And what is my role in this world? Srila Prabhupada states that this is the beginning of spiritual knowledge “athaho brahma jijnasa”- Vedanta sutras
While we cannot change our four fold miseries of material life of birth, disease, old age and death, we can use our intelligence to get out of this material realm and enter the spiritual realm. The Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam are all about getting out of this miserable place. We only have to enquire submissively from a self-realized soul and practice to our capacity what we hear. Ultimately by our sincere enquiry and efforts, if we please Krishna, He will arrange our transportation to His abode. He promises,
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māḿ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaḿ te
pratijāne priyo 'si me
BG ch 18 text 65
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.
Hare Krishna
Heath Ledger an Australian actor was famous in Hollywood for his lead roles in movies such as Brokeback Mountain and the like. Today he is no more, he is dead.
In the New York Times, there were many quotes from his close friends and family and all of them were in a state of shock and barely able to accept the truth. One said that she was too upset to talk about Mr. Ledger’s death. His father quoted his death as “tragic, untimely and accidental”. This is typical mentality of people devoid of spiritual knowledge.
Death by its very nature is painful, untimely and accidental and we are all very aware of the nature of death from the time we are born. In other words, we know we will die for sure but we do not want to think or talk about it and hence very happy to live in illusion all our living moments. It also implies that thinking of death will put a stop to the material enjoyment. Hence our life is ultimately a tug-of-war between illusion and reality. Of course…at the end of the day reality wins. Death is for sure and we have to face it one day. So a person who is honest and sincere will question if we are all going to die…then what is the meaning of my life? Who am I? And what is my role in this world? Srila Prabhupada states that this is the beginning of spiritual knowledge “athaho brahma jijnasa”- Vedanta sutras
While we cannot change our four fold miseries of material life of birth, disease, old age and death, we can use our intelligence to get out of this material realm and enter the spiritual realm. The Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam are all about getting out of this miserable place. We only have to enquire submissively from a self-realized soul and practice to our capacity what we hear. Ultimately by our sincere enquiry and efforts, if we please Krishna, He will arrange our transportation to His abode. He promises,
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māḿ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaḿ te
pratijāne priyo 'si me
BG ch 18 text 65
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.
Hare Krishna
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