We often dread death because we feel that it destroys everything that gives meaning to our life. When we see death as the destroyer of meaning, we frantically deny it and fight against it. Yet death is inevitable and inescapable. Spiritual wisdom helps us see death positively — not as the destroyer of meaning but as the restorer of meaning. How? By prompting us to reconceptualize what is truly meaningful. 

We all conceive of various things as meaningful. A child considers building a sandcastle on a beach as meaningful, whereas we as adults may consider building a house meaningful. As a child grows biologically and psychologically, the child’s conception of what is meaningful evolves. Similarly, as we adults grow spiritually, our conception of what is meaningful is meant to evolve. We are meant to deepen our spiritual self-understanding. 

Gita wisdom explains that we are parts of the all-attractive Whole, Krishna (15.07). By linking with the Lord, who is the source and sustainer of all meaning, our life finds ultimate meaning. We see that our present positions, abilities and endeavors are all meant for our spiritual evolution toward him. And we evolve by striving to practice bhakti-yoga to lovingly link with him and to shoulder our responsibilities in a mood of service and contribution. By such a devotionally activist attitude, we can do something worthwhile as our legacy, as our part in making the world a marginally better place. And we evolve toward life and love eternal with our Lord in his personal abode. 

When we work thus, our endeavor and our existence becomes supremely meaningful. And the reminder of death’s inevitability can prompt us to redirect our focus from superficial or meaningless mundane things to substantial spiritual realities. 

One-sentence summary:

See death not as the destroyer of meaning, but as the restorer of meaning.

Think it over:

  • Why do we consider death to be the destroyer of meaning?
  • How can Gita wisdom infuse our life with meaning?
  • How can death be a restorer of meaning?

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15.07: The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.

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