'Living After Loss'

 Have you ever wondered about death?

It’s not something we usually think about, and perhaps, we shouldn’t dwell on it too much. Life is meant to be lived, cherished, and enjoyed. But sometimes, when things don’t go our way, we lose sight of how precious life is. People often say, “I wish I could just die,” when they feel overwhelmed or lost. In moments of despair, we focus so much on what we lack that we forget the beauty in what we have. Instead of overcoming our struggles, we let the thought of death consume us.

For some, death becomes an escape, leading them toward suicide. But is this the right way? We were born into this world naturally, and we don't have the right to take our own lives. Each of us has a purpose, whether we realize it or not. We may not all be famous or influential, but our existence is valuable. Even if not to the world, at least to our parents and those who love us.

Death has many faces. When someone elderly and suffering passes away, we sometimes pray for their release from pain. When a child dies in the womb, it brings sorrow, but soon fades from the world’s memory. Disease takes its toll on some, and though sad, we understand the cause. But accidental deaths, especially those that take the young, strike us the hardest. It’s these losses that leave a lasting wound on those left behind.

Think of the family and loved ones. Their world is filled with grief and loss. But should this sadness consume the rest of their lives? Some are traumatized by such incidents, and their journey is different. But as a part of life’s natural cycle, death is inevitable. We are born, and so we must one day die. This is the ultimate truth.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna imparted great wisdom to Arjun before the battle of Mahabharata. Arjun was hesitant, torn between his duty as a warrior and his emotions. Krishna taught him about the soul, maya, karma, and the transient nature of life, hoping Arjun would understand and fulfill his duty. Yet, when Arjun’s son Abhimanyu died, Arjun was devastated, crying uncontrollably. Krishna himself cried, not just because Arjun lost his son, but because despite all the teachings, Arjun was consumed by grief. If even Arjun, guided by divine wisdom, struggled to accept death without sorrow, how can we, mere humans in Kalyug, expect to have perfect control over our emotions? Still, we must try our best to learn to cope with death and continue living our lives.

Let me share a brief story. 

There was a man who lost his entire family—his wife, son, and daughter—in a tragic accident. He alone survived. Heartbroken and full of sorrow, he wondered why he was spared. Over time, he found the strength to move forward. He believed that if he was still alive, there must be some purpose for him. One day, he came across an orphaned girl in need of help. He rescued and adopted her, realizing that the love he wished to give his children now found a new meaning in caring for this child. He understood then that life goes on, and we must continue to live, even after tremendous loss.

Incidents like these happen every day. Yes, losing someone is painful, but the question is—how do we heal? How do we move on? What’s important is how quickly we rise from that sorrow and embrace life again. Those who have passed are gone, but we, the ones who remain, must learn to keep going forward.

There are people who speak ill of others during their lifetime but suddenly realize their worth after they pass away. It’s strange how the same people who criticized them will mourn their loss, suddenly recognizing the good they had done. But is this right? Shouldn’t we learn to accept and appreciate people while they are still alive, without hate or judgment? We need to learn to forgive, to love, and to live with others in harmony. That way, if something unfortunate happens, we won’t live with regret, thinking, “I wish I had treated them better.”

Let me conclude with a simple analogy.

Consider a cockroach and a butterfly. When someone kills a cockroach, people often say, “Good riddance, it was dirty and annoying.” But if someone kills a butterfly, they’re judged harshly—“How could you kill such a beautiful creature?” Why? Doesn’t the cockroach have a life too? Why is the butterfly’s life seen as more valuable? Like that, people may judge you harshly, some may even wish harm upon you, but that doesn’t mean you should be disheartened or think your life is any less meaningful.

Death is inevitable for all of us, and we can’t escape it. What we can do is embrace the beauty of life and learn how fascinating it is to live. We should never let ourselves be so consumed by loss that it destroys our ability to carry on. In the end, life and death are two sides of the same coin. It’s up to us to make the most of the time we have and live with purpose, courage, and gratitude.