How To Prepare Your Mind For Death | Bhagavad Gita Explained By Gurudev

Summary

This script explores the concept of death and the transition of the soul in yogic philosophy. It explains how the Prāṇa (life force) leaves the body through different channels, depending on one's spiritual state, with yogis able to exit willfully through the third eye or top of the head. The importance of mental impressions, desires, and purity of thought in shaping one's afterlife and future incarnations is emphasized. The teachings from the Bhagavad Gita encourage constant focus on pure consciousness, guiding one towards spiritual liberation. Ultimately, the message is about living with mindfulness, contentment, and spiritual awareness to ensure peace at the time of death.

Takeaways

• 😀 When a spirit leaves the body, it can exit through different pathways like the mouth, anus, or eyes depending on the individual.
• 😀 Yogis and meditators may exit through the third eye or the crown of the head (Sahasrara), which signifies the completion of life.
• 😀 In traditional cremation practices in India, the skull is broken to ensure the release of any remaining Prāṇa, marking the end of the individual’s transition.
• 😀 Life after death is a transition from one body to another, with the subtle body and causal body continuing on based on impressions accumulated during life.
• 😀 If the subtle body is filled with light (absence of impressions), it merges with the causal body, which is associated with bliss.
• 😀 Individuals with filled impressions (cravings, aversions) are bound to reincarnate, while yogis have the freedom to choose their next phase.
• 😀 Contentment and mental clarity play an important role in one's spiritual journey and transition at the time of death.
• 😀 Before sleep, it is beneficial to focus on positive thoughts or engage in prayer, as sleep is a mini-death and our subconscious absorbs these impressions.
• 😀 The state of mind at the time of death is crucial, as it determines the direction the spirit will take; habitual thoughts influence one's next life.
• 😀 Regularly thinking about pure consciousness or spiritual goals, like those in the Bhagavad Gita, creates strong impressions that guide one's spiritual evolution.

Q & A

What happens to the spirit when it leaves the body?

When the spirit leaves the body, it can exit through different points, such as the mouth, anus, eyes, or the crown of the head. The point of exit often depends on the state of the individual's life and spiritual practices.

What is the significance of the mouth in the spirit’s departure?

The mouth is one of the common exit points for the Prāṇa (life force energy). It is said that when people die, their jaw drops, and the Prāṇa escapes through the mouth. This is often the case for many individuals during natural death.

How does the Prāṇa exit for yogis or meditators?

For yogis and meditators, the Prāṇa usually escapes through the third eye. The eyes roll upward, and the life force exits through this point, symbolizing a higher level of spiritual awareness and conscious departure.

What is the role of the Sahastrar or Bhramarandhra in the dying process?

For advanced spiritual practitioners like yogis, the Prāṇa can escape through the Sahastrar (crown chakra) or the Bhramarandhra (top of the head). In some traditions, a ritual called Kapal Kriya involves breaking the skull to ensure that any held-up Prāṇa can exit, marking the completion of the life.

What happens to a person’s life after death if their subtle body is filled with impressions?

If the subtle body is filled with impressions from desires, cravings, or aversions, it causes the individual to return to life, bound by those impressions. However, if the subtle body is filled with light and purity, it can merge with the causal body, which is a state of bliss and liberation.

Can a person choose to return after merging with the causal body?

Yes, a person can choose to return after merging with the causal body. The return is not compulsory but is possible by divine will. A person in a state of bliss and freedom has the choice, unlike those bound by impressions.

What is the significance of contentment at the time of death?

Contentment plays a crucial role in death as it represents the peaceful and fulfilled state of mind. Just like how a person goes to sleep peacefully, contentment helps the spirit leave the body in a calm, serene state, facilitating a smoother transition.

Why is it important to be mindful of thoughts and impressions before death?

The thoughts and impressions we carry, especially in the moments before death, shape our experience during the transition. If we harbor negative thoughts or attachments, they influence our afterlife. Therefore, it is essential to maintain pure, spiritual thoughts and intentions, especially before sleep or death.

How does sleep relate to death in the script?

Sleep is compared to a 'mini-death' because, during sleep, the mind is in a state of rest and disengagement from the physical body. The subconscious mind records the impressions from thoughts and emotions, which may affect the spirit’s state during death.

What is the practice recommended before sleep to prepare the mind for a peaceful death?

Before sleep, it is recommended to let go of all negative thoughts, failures, or unfulfilled agendas. Engaging in prayer or meditative thoughts focused on positive things, such as the divine or achievements, helps cleanse the mind and prepares it for a peaceful transition when death comes.