26th November, 1999

Chapter 1 - The You That You Want To Change

Day 23 - Death

Death brings you in touch with the reality of life. Death creates a vacuum, a void and this void is fertile ground for the spirit to manifest. All talents, inventions and creativity spring forth from the void, creation has a tendency to return to the void. All places of worship in all religions are connected with places of burial or cremation because only the awareness of death can bring dispassion and can ground you in knowledge.

According to Indian mythology, Shiva abides in both Mount Kailasa and in Smashana. Kailasa means 'Where there is only celebration' there is the cremation ground - 'Where there is only void'. Divinity dwells in the void as well as in celebration. In you there is

void, in you there is celebration.

The realisation that life is very short brings dynamism in your life. 

Unwanted things will fall off as well as distractions. When you have to act or put out effort, know that life is short. When you realise life is short, procrastination falls away. When you are expecting a result, know that life is eternal. The ignorant person does it the other way - He hurries for the result and is impatient and frustrated. Impatience goes away when you know that life is eternal. 

When you are looking for a return of a favour or a result from your good deed, you want it quickly. But when you know that there are many lifetimes, you realise that if you don’t get it sooner, you get it later. Wake up and see your life is too short. Time is running, so what are you doing with your life? Is it being useful to you and the world around you? Realise life is too short. Wake up and see life is eternal.

When you want to enjoy the fruit of action, know that life is eternal. When it comes to hope, you should know that there are many lifetimes. When you are looking for results, know that time is eternal. If

someone doesn't thank you or takes advantage of you, thank them because they will pay you back later with interest. So no one needs to feel sorry that they are unappreciated or have been taken advantage of. 

Know that you will have to be paid back in the future with interest. When it comes to enjoying the fruit of your actions, good deeds or even blessings, know that life is eternal. Anytime that you are in a hurry, you cannot enjoy. So know that life is eternal.