Birth is always celebrated as it is new life and continuation of the lineage and species. Along with birth, the clock starts ticking. When there is birth, death is also definite. Death is inevitable. We are all aware that death is inevitable and every single living creature has to die. But we always live in hope that it is another person who falls sick and dies. Not us. One of the most amazing marvels of this world is that people attend funerals and feel sorry for the person who has just died. They reflect on the shortness of life and approaching death for little time. Once they leave the funeral ground, they forget about it and go about living their normal lives as if they have eternal life.
In the short time that is allotted to us, we must live a rich and rewarding life. We must give selfless love, compassion, peace and understanding to all. We must work hard and develop ourselves to the maximum capacity. Loving relationships with all, rewarding work, selfless service to needy make life worth living however short it may be must be our aim of life. And the crowning glory of our life’s purpose is realizing the Light of God within us. We never know when death comes to us, on which day and date and at which age and manner. We must utilize the time given to us in bhakti and worship of God and walking towards Him. This is the story of a King who realized that old age was upon him and took the right steps to ensure that he entered the Path of Light.
There was a prosperous kingdom where all the subjects were happy and content. Their King had just given up his throne and seated his young son in his stead. The young King was wise and a loving leader and was beloved to his subjects. As years passed, the young King grew older and was married and had his own children. One day he told his barber: If you see any grey hair on my head, you must tell me immediately.
One day his barber told him: Sire, I see a grey hair on your head. He removed the grey hair with golden tweezers and put the little grey hair in the King’s hands. The King was still young, strong and steady. He could rule for many more years without any trouble. But looking at the grey hair, he became afraid of dying. He felt that death was closing upon him without his walking the path of Light. He felt as if he was trapped in a burning house. Sweat rolled down his back and he shuddered. He felt that he had wasted his entire life without trying to overcome the vices of anger, greed and envy. He had not learnt to live without hating or getting rid of ignorance or the truth about Self and truly become wise. Now death was approaching and he decided to take immediate action to rectify his grave mistake. He decided to become a monk and practice meditation. He thanked his barber for his services, rewarded him and went to the court.
The King announced to his sons and courtiers about his decision. He had seen a grey hair and had become old. He had enjoyed enough of worldly pleasures, great wealth and power. He did not wish to die without attaining the Right Knowledge of Self. The first grey hair was a message that death was approaching. Grey hairs were messages given by God to man that he must make wise use of the remaining years of his life in the most useful manner. The King crowned his eldest son as King and gave up everything and became a monk. He went to the forest and practiced intense meditation. His focus was tremendous and he soon attained the Light.
We need not leave our homes and family and go to the forest and practice meditation after we see grey hairs on our head. Let us have the awareness of the shortness of life and be regular and sincere in the practises of SitaRam mantra, meditation and the teachings of the Guru. Our practices will take us steadily towards our goal even while we are a part of family and society and we can achieve our goal of realising Divinity.
