Title: Reflections on Life's Cycle: Birth and Death
A profound shift has occurred within me, altering my perspective on death. Over the past fifty years, experiencing the passing of loved ones has diminished the fear associated with death. Simultaneously, the joy of cradling a newborn, especially my own grandchildren, has bestowed upon me nature's most precious gift. It seems as if God is revealing the cyclical nature of life – a fundamental truth.
In the 1970s, growing up in India, our culture exposed children to both the harsh realities of death and the beauty of birth. Unlike the West, where death is often shielded, in India, it is an open and communal experience. Bodies are not hidden; they are laid on a pallet, wrapped in a sheet, and carried through the streets to the cremation grounds, accompanied by chants. Death is a visible, shared event.
My first encounter with death was at the age of 7, witnessing my maternal uncle's passing. This event, though initially unnoticed, later profoundly influenced my outlook on life. The memory of spending the day with him in the hospital, playing and laughing, contrasts sharply with the later sorrow and realization that death meant permanent separation.
Subsequently, my life witnessed the pain of losing beloved brothers in their prime, transforming my fear of death into a resolute acceptance. Birth, on the other hand, filled my heart with joy, curiosity, hope, and happiness.
In my upbringing, most childbirths occurred at home, surrounded by female relatives performing rituals. Much like the open experience of death, I witnessed the beauty of birth – from the playful newborn calf to my cousin's daughter born at our home. As time passed, I experienced the joy of holding and nurturing my own children.
It seems as if life, in its cycle of birth and death, compensates for loss with abundance. The continuous process of life and death teaches us that it's okay to die and that dying is inherently safe. Life, God suggests, is a continuum beyond belief, rooted in faith, consciousness, and awareness that extend beyond the thinking mind.
As we ponder the shared nature of birth and death, it raises questions: Is the feeling of being born and dying the same for everyone, or is it different?
