FORWARD
“Actually, death is an opportunity to be happy –not for mourning.”
(Maulana Jalal-uddin Rumi)
“The body that I left behind you name it corpse –because you think that I die – but actually I’m alive.
(Al Ghazali)
Two great Sufis at the end of their lives describe their view about Death, which are ‘anomaly’ to the general public views. In their point of view, Death is not something horrible and to be afraid of at all or needs to be denied and avoided – but rather a happy moment that is worth of waiting for. Saints say that Death is the opening Gate to God – if you know how to die. Unless, you’ll be wandering in the unmapped wilderness.
Different than any other books dealing with Death – written by those who never taste Death. The book presented in your hand contains articles written by Practicants who have completed their course of learning and practicing ‘The Art of Dying while Living’ – which is a skill that is acquired by traveling into the worlds beyond the physical world, while they are still living – before the actual death arrive. They belong to varieties background of Religion, Culture and Nationality. Reading this book will give you a new Universal perspective on death – even for you it remains as hearsay, rumor, ‘Light of Understanding’ only.
Death is a pair of Birth. Those who take Birth must Die – such is the nature of living in this physical world. Those pair of events in life
will happen to each and every living being, including humans. Actually, Life and Death are natural events in Life. All living beings must die –but alas, not everyone knows how to die a proper death.
In fact, all these days we have a wrong perception of Death – due to the absence of “Self Experience”. What we have is only “Knowledge and Understanding” about death. As a result thereof our faith in Death is limited to hearsay, rumor only – not in accordance to Personal Experience. In such a case, when our time comes to face death –dreadful and fear of it will surely overcome us thoroughly to undergo a miserable death.
The withdrawal of the Soul (= Spirit = Consciousness) out of the Body is not a usual thing to do for us. Every phase of the withdrawal absolutely is not a comfortable feeling to endure. We may learn how miserable the way animal face their death at slaughtering.
Maharaj Sawan Singh Ji, the third Spiritual Guru in the line of Radha Soami Satsang Beas mastership, teaches us : “Death is only a name for the withdrawal of the Soul/Spirit/Consciousness from the Body. This is something that used to be done by the disciples who were initiated into The Mystery of Old Wisdom”
Death is not a hearsay – but reality
Many books have been written about Death. All only give us the “Light of Understanding” (= mind conception on hearsay) which is Theoretical in character, from the writer who absolutely possesses no “Light of Realization” (= Direct Perception) which is practical in character. The writer is supposed to master his skill by dealing with it every day in his life – like what St Paul says : “I die daily” (Bible - 1 Cor 15:31). Even the Great Prophet Muhammad says : “Do not ask for one death – but ask for many deaths.” (Qur’an 25:14)
(Please see References about The Art of Dying while Living - at the end of this
Without having a True Spiritual Mentor who is an expert Adept in The Art of Dying while Living – death will remain a concealed Mystery. Any kind of Religious Prayer and Faith, and any Intellectual and Philosophical Knowledge cannot help us face the miserable feeling, dread, and fear of death. Uncertainty and doubtful thought can only be overcome by ‘facing’ it bravely through ‘Self Realization’ in The Art of Dying while Living – which had been glorified by all greatest Saint of all ages. book)
Bogor, July 2024.
M.P Widyo D. Soeryo, BA.ec.acc, MBA
Isthi,
Sergi Guinon Campos, BSc (ITM), BBA, MPM.
Dr. Vanessa Stacy Claudia, S,Spd.,
Thomas Bambang Hasta Winarto
Dr. Cisilia Tinny Chandra
DEATH – A SOUL’S JOURNEY
Adrien Bonnard BA Int. & Spat Design – LISAA
DEATH – DEATH OR LIFE
Lhana Miglionico; BA. Int & Environ Design – ESAT. Dipl. P-B Sophr – EFDS. .
REFERENCES
BIOGRAPHY MAIN WRITER