Monday, December 12, 2016

Of Death and Sufferance

Does death kill ego, hatred, and any other forms of misgivings? For a moment, I thought it did. No... Not really. Between two beings in a tensed relationship, it proves who won and who had the last laugh. Under the pretext of homage, the ego-clad victor stands tall towering over the dead, registering the fact that he has won the race of time. Of course, it is only a temporary relief. But then, we are all ingrained in accumulating brownie points through temporary aspects, be it measures, relief, or victories; such a temporal object the human is. We go behind all things ephemeral: beauty, fame, money, power and whatever falls in the line of that trajectory. Well, what else can we expect? There is but one thing that we do which is indeed anti-temporal. And that is dying.

If one believes in after birth, then even that is temporal. What does this one important act of mankind signify? Because I do not believe in after-birth, I assume that it hardly signifies anything to the dead. For those who are left to survive the death, it is loss, both monetary and non-monetary. But then, death also bestows the survivor with wealth, power, and the usual accompanying suspects. Death brings out what was never said before—of the dead and the things surrounding them. With matters concerning benefits, at times, it brings more estrangements and more misgivings.

Of course, when the death has nothing to do with power, money, and fame, it is pain. It pains from deep inside to come to terms with the vacuum and the desolation created by the dead’s absence. Our heart cringes even with the very thought about the loss of someone who filled your time and senses with joy… like the loss of your very own progeny. 

All said, even these after effects are ephemeral. Time stands a victor, gobbling up even the sorrow that death creates. Don't you forget the fallible human memory that plays the partner in crime with time.

And of sufferance, does death act as a means to reconciliation? In most cases, it does. It makes the intolerant to reconsider and let what was then a major rift to macerate into a passable event. 

Leave alone a situation of death... Even if there is a near-death situation, and if an opportunity for reconciliation presents itself, would we not think about disengaging our ego and come forth to express our forgiveness and be uber-human about it? If that can be done, can we not imagine such a hypothetical situation, be large-hearted, shed our hatred, and look to work in harmony with folks whom we cannot even stand the sight of? That one act of kindness would open up so much more possibilities for collaborative living. If not anything, it would, at the least, let us be at peace with ourselves. 

And certainly, next to work, sufferance is the deliverance of mankind.

4 comments:

Balaji Srinivasan said...

Very interesting post. And so eloquently written. :-)
Interesting that you think death doesn't kill hatred, ego and any other such emotions.

reNUka said...

Hey man, long time!! I hope you did not wonder why I had taken so much time to reply. I had replied to this comment long back, in fact the day you wrote it... the minute I read it; just that the act was stuck in my head, and again went on in loops a number of times as well (again in my head). And I cannot tell you the level of elation I felt... Well, not elation really, can I say that it was like, perhaps, a drop of water to my parched throat, and then many more such, and then finally, there was some deliverance! Now you must have gotten to know the importance of your act. After I have said all this, allow me to say one more thing.

Thanks for the comment! Missed your presence so much! :-)

reNUka said...

And Mr. B, just in case you get to read this... I tried for about 10 times to save a comment on your blog, and I am not able to. Please look into it.

Balaji Srinivasan said...

Hello,
I had absolutely no idea that an innocuous comment could evoke so much emotions. I am glad and thank you for making me feel like I've done something important. :-D

I don't know why you couldn't leave a comment on my blog. Comments are not moderated, either. You can let me know what you think (or just say hi) by dropping me a line at balaji.srini86@gmail.com. :)
Cheers,
B