Death Poem: Birth and Death

By Sri Swami Sivananda

Birth and death are two illusory scenes

In the drama of this world:

Really no one is born, no one dies,

No one comes, no one goes.

It is Maya’s jugglery,

It is play of the mind;

Brahman alone exists.

There is birth for the body alone,

Five elements combine to form the body;

The Atman is birthless and deathless;

Death is casting off the physical sheath.

It is like deep sleep;

Birth is like waking from sleep;

Be not afraid of death, O Ram!

Life is continuous.

The flower may fade but the fragrance floats;

The body may disintegrate,

But the immortal fragrance of the soul

Always will remain.

Learn to discriminate

The Real from the unreal;

Think always of the Infinite

That is birthless and deathless.

Transcend Maya and Moha,

Go beyond three Gunas,

Give up attachment for the body.

Free yourself from birth and death

And merge in the Immortal Essence.

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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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