Dying while living

Dr Satish K Kapoor

‘Dying while living’, a concept of mystic traditions of the east, having its seedlings in the Vedic literature, seems to be paradoxical as one can be either alive or dead, or at the most, in a comatose stage. Yet it is believed to be true since one has infinite possibilities to transcend the physical plane, and explore the realm of the spirit.

Typology of liberation

Hindu scriptures refer to four types of liberation – salokya, in which one stays in the eternal felicity of god’s world; samipya, in which one is in close contact with god; sarupya,in which one attains likeness with him; and sayujya, in which one savors the bliss of identity with the supreme being. The last one applies to those who feel ekatva, oneness, with god. Such enlightened people may not renounce family or possessions, live on mountains or in cloistered surroundings, wear a specific dress, or put on religious insignia, but they emit a beatific aura that has its impact all around. They are nitya mukta, the eternally liberated ones, who perform a divinely ordained task. They are inwardly free from desire but outwardly active in life. They are detached but full of creativity and zeal. They are sakshi, witness, to what goes on, but maintain equipoise in all situations, whether favourable or hurtful. Even after attaining siddhi, supernatural power, by abiding in the Self, they do not boast, as it dilutes inner progress.

Modus operandi

‘Dying while living’ entails cleansing of the heart and the mind by chanting the divine name, effacing the ego, overcoming human vices, developing innate qualities, and gaining supreme wisdom through study, satsanga and contemplation of god. The next step is to forge a link with that powerhouse, called god, by surrendering to his will in a spirit of unconditional love. Infinite power and peace flow within as one withdraws one’s consciousness from the lower power stations of the body – muladhara (at the base of spinal column), svadhishthana( in the genital region), manipura (behind the navel), anahata (behind the heart), and vishuddhi ( behind the throat) — and focuses on ajna chakra located between the eyes, arriving finally in the El Dorado of sahasrara padma, the thousand-petalled lotus, that oozes out divine nectar. Thereafter, one lives in tune with the universal soul, and is able to unfold the natural energy of the Self.

Die before you die

During the process of achieving unitary consciousness, the body is detached from the mind and loses awareness about itself without being cut off from the vital energy which propels it. This is voluntary death from which one can resurrect oneself to experience a new life full of bliss. In this state, one transcends time and space, partakes of music of the soul and bathes in luminosity of the higher self – the Self of all.

(Dr Kapoor is a noted educationist, historian and spiritualist)