Death Poetry: What is real death?

By Sri Swami Sivananda

Not to study the Gita, Upanishads, daily,

Not to remember God at all times,

Not to serve Sadhus and Gurus,

Is real death.

Not to have equal vision,

Not to have balanced mind,

Not to have Atma-Drishti,

Is real death.

Not to have Brahma-Jnana,

Not to have a large heart,

Not to do charitable acts,

Is real death.

To identify oneself with the body,

To forget one’s divine nature,

To live aimlessly,

Is real death.

To eat, drink and be merry,

To waste the time uselessly,

To lose one’s honour and name,

Is real death.

To gamble and play cards,

To read novels, drink and smoke,

To gossip, cavil and scandalise,

Is real death.

To backbite, revile, carry tales,

To speak ill of others,

To cheat, falsify and dupe,

Is real death.

To earn money unlawfully,

To outrage others’ women,

To injure others,

Is real death.

To lead a sensual life,

To waste vital energy,

To have a lustful look,

Is real death.

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This was an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

The death and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. We want to now the truth behind near death experiences and become certain that there really is a life after death.

Many books have been written on the subject of death, but most of the works deal mainly with the astral or other spirit world. It has mostly been the study of the conditions in the Pretaloka which is merely one among the numerous supramundane planes or lokas beyond the grave. Spiritualism, seance and the testimony of recognised mediums have for most part featured prominently in all such works.

What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj is a departure from the usual line in that it is based, to a great extent, upon authoritative scriptural texts and upon knowledge derived through reasoning, deep reflection and personal meditation. It throws a flood of light upon all aspects of life after death not adequately dealt with in other works. The book also gives valuable information about the different beliefs on this subject, of the various races and religions.

The book is dealing with rebirth, the soul, reincarnation, moksha, heaven and hell, karma and different lokas. It even includes death poems and death poetry, giving a complete picture and a new face of death. For more material see this link: What Becomes Of The Soul After Death.

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