5 things to learn from Sadhguru’s ‘Death’

The fear of Death is an all-engulfing fear that is felt by people from all walks of society. We fear it so much that we don’t even utter the word aloud thinking that we might somehow end up inviting the bad omen to our homes. Humans fail to accept that it can happen to anyone, at any time and it is as much a part of life as birth is.

‘Death’ by Sadhguru is an attempt to normalize death and emphasize its importance. We need to accept the very concept that we are constantly trying to run away from. Death is nature and no matter how much we wish it hadn’t existed, it does exist.

Sadhguru explains in detail what death entails and how we can make it a better experience for ourselves and others.

Here is what you can learn from this beautifully written book:

1. What is Death?

Initially, Sadhguru starts by explaining the process of death. Either the life energy becomes so feeble that it cannot hold onto the body or the body is damaged so much that the life energy cannot be housed in it. It doesn’t happen all at once but in stages. The different ‘vayus’ exit at different times following clinical death. The exit also takes place from different chakras of the body. The body of a deceased is vulnerable to many influences. Various things can be done to safeguard it.

2. Concept of Mahasamadhi.

Sadhguru has narrated many personal tales too like the story of the Mahasamadhi of his wife ‘Vijji’. It is possible for someone who has done intense sadhana to leave his own body as per his will. There have been many ascetics who have done it before. His wife walked this path and succeeded.

3. Science behind various practices.

Other concepts have been cleared in this book like, why you place a dead body only in the North-South direction, why women and children were typically not allowed in crematoriums, why the clothes of the dead are donated among his relatives but not all to one person, why after 84 years of age humans become extremely perceptive.

4. What are ghosts?

Ghosts or souls are beings that have lost their discriminatory minds and hence only function based on ‘vasanas’ or tendencies. It is difficult for them to finish off their karma for this lifetime if they haven’t done so already. They don’t have any intent and are not capable of harming themselves purposely.

5. The meaning of Heaven after Death

Heaven isn’t a place, it is more a mental state of being of the deceased as well as that of the living. The moment of death has to be a pleasant one and one must try to remain aware during the last breath so that they can have a better experience when they are disembodied. No matter what kind of a life one has lived when alive, they can still have a heavenly experience if they stay aware and pleasant at the time of Death.

Conclusion

This book was very rich with information. Even if you are not particularly interested in spiritual practices, you can still read it to be aware of certain things that are beyond perception. It also helps the reader to understand the Indian culture more deeply.

The traditional practices of our ancestors are explained in detail. It comes across as a guide to understanding and dealing with death. It is more suitable for an adult as the descriptions might be disturbing for children. If you feel you are afraid of death then definitely, it’s a must-read.

If you liked this book, you would also like the other books from Sadhguru: Karma, Adiyogi