There are many things in life that we cannot say for sure. One of them is the worlds of experience after death such as Swarga (heaven) or Naraka (hell). There is nobody who has gone there to come back and tell us what they saw! However close one may be connected to another person, no one would ever wish to go on a day trip along with the person who is no more on this earth, and see how they are settling in the new place. Just like a mother sees off her daughter in marriage, goes with her and sets up the new home, kitchen equipment and other facilities, no one would even dream of going with the deceased to ensure their comfort after they depart!
There are three ways to know something. One is Pratyaksha or seeing something right in front of us. We see an accident or a person in front of us and we know that it exists. The other is by inference or guessing. For instance, if you see a thick cloud of smoke coming from a distance, you can infer that there is some fire beneath the smoke.
There can be no smoke without fire. When you see birds flocking to some place, you can infer that there is water there. The third source of knowledge is the Shastras or the Vedas. Shasanath Trayate Iti Shastraha is the definition for Shastras. That which protects the mind through teachings. It is from the Shastras that we learn the things that we cannot directly know or infer from what we see. The Vedas or books of knowledge talk about different worlds of experience after the life and the body disunite.
However, whether we know what happens after death or not is not so important. More important it is to know how to keep your frame of mind at the time of death. The mind has to be calm, peaceful, undisturbed and not clinging on to some thought such as money in the locker, the boy or girl that you may miss very much, the new dress in the cupboard given six months ago that I forgot to wear! (It is for this reason it is said traditionally that we should not keep unworn new dresses in the cupboard for a long time. They should be worn as soon as possible).
Even if it is not for ourselves, we are always surrounded by people, near and dear ones, who may be struggling with life and waiting to go. It is good to know how we can help them — it is not by crying, it is not by predictions about their end time (even doctors cannot say when the life can leave the body, even if they are the greatest experts in their field!) It is not by a frantic knee-jerk reaction to know the departing one’s bank accounts, wills or e-mail ids. It is by a calm prayer and meditation, it is by a quiet presence and soothing comfort that can help them to depart in the right frame of mind. Preparation is needed because no one knows when ourself or the other departs from this world!
Swahilya Shambhavi (www.swahilya.blogspot.com)