Mind is like a projector,
projects the external world. From where has this external world, Vaishvanara,
come? What happens to it? Does it last forever? When we see that everything is
changing, we know that a time will come when they will no longer exist. All
namas and rupas, names and forms, will dissolve sooner or later.
Some forms last for a few
years, other forms may last for more years. Once they are dissolved, what
happens to them? Even this form that is called the universe is going to change
one day. What will happen? It will go to annihilation. But even in
annihilation, the ancient Vedic scriptures, shrutis say, Surya chandramasodata yata purvam akalpayet. The sun, moon, stars,
this whole universe will at some point go to its resting place, Brahman, the
summum bonum of life; then ages later, the universe will again remanifest
exactly the way it used to be. It’s a scientific law. If you have a mango seed,
no matter how it is stored, when it germinates, it will bring forth only mango.
In reality, nothing happens. This is all Brahman, a gross aspect of Brahman.
…
Those who have studied the
Ishopanishad know that its mantras say that while departing, a soul, an
individual soul, should learn to remember all that it has done, all the good
things it has done, because those good deeds will not create sadness,
depression, fear in the mind when going through the transition. So far you have
been preparing yourself to be comfortable in the external world, to be in a
world full of means, which is essential, but now, you are preparing yourself to
go through the period of transition. Sooner or later we all have to go through
that transition. Look at this strange thing, we all have to depart one day, yet
we never believe that we will die. Do you know why? Why do you believe that you
will not die? Because there is no death for eternity and you are a child of
eternity. The soul never dies, which you know unconsciously. The best part of
you never dies. That which changes, goes to death and decay, that alone dies.
So why are you afraid of dying? From where does this fear come? This fear comes
from ignorance. Scientifically, nothing dies. Death only means change. Death
does not mean complete annihilation.
--Swami Rama, Om, the eternal witness; SECRETS OF THE
MANDUKYA UPANISHAD, pages 119 and 126
