MARCH 10
For certain is death for the born
And certain is birth for the dead;
Therefore over the inevitable
Thou shouldst not grieve.
—BHAGAVAD GITAThere is a certain tranquility in this passage from Hindu
Scripture, but for most of us it suggests a kind of acceptance
we’re not ready for yet.
The concept of reincarnation, a tenet of Hindu belief, is
comforting and disquieting both—which is nothing new for
religious concepts! It is comforting in that it assures the
survival of the soul and its journey to ultimate perfection.
It is disquieting in that it makes no promise to return our
lost loved one to the circle of our friends and family, either
in this life or in a future life. What we want is not a new life
with new people, but a life with our own particular, longed-
for loved one!
And even if we believe without a doubt that we will be
reunited with our loved one, do we not grieve over the
separation now? Of course.
Yet as we sweep the world and the religions of the world
for comfort and insight, the peace in these words can calm
our souls.
I am grateful for all words that address my need.