How to Face Death In Krishna Consciousness : 15 Practical Tips For Grihastas To Help Navigate From Material World To Spiritual World.

Pic Credits: https://www.facebook.com/artkrishna (www.krishnaland.com)

Hare Krishna!

Time is very uncertain not just in pandemics but always. Nobody knows when they are going to die. I'm being just too straightforward I know but, anyone seriously practicing Krishna consciousness(The Art Of Dying as told by Iskcon Founder And Acharya Srila Prabhupada) for a long time, wouldn't be much terrified of death.

If you had been practicing Krishna consciousness then you had been waiting to meet Krishna and the thought of death would bring, if not fully then partiality the thoughts and feelings of joy of meeting Krishna finally.

When a Krishna Conscious person dies, and they know beforehand that they are going to die then that moment is somewhat like a girl getting married. Imagine a girl raised in a very loving family getting married to her beloved she always longed for. There will be mixed feelings at the time of her wedding. She will be super thrilled at the thought of finally being able to live forever with her beloved whom she always waited for and at the same time, she will have feelings of sadness for leaving her blood family forever. She may have some regrets and guilts for the things she couldn't do or did wrong for her blood family. Such will be the bitter-sweet experience of a devotee with children and other dependents whose life will be seriously affected due to their death. 

How to be fully Krishna Conscious with these mixed feelings?

Here is a great set of tips that any devotee can follow to achieve a fully Krishna Conscious departure from the material world:-

1. If you feel that you are nearing death, immediately isolate yourself from the rest of the family. 
2. Have an urgent meeting with the most reliable and mature adult family member around you and tell them any last wishes you have for the upbringing of your kids and the care of other family members.
3. Do any urgent paperwork if you have time(this step however shouldn't wait for your last moments, should be done while you are all well).
4. Ask other adults to take care of your kids away from you.
5. Take some alone time, lie down on a bed. And be calm and composed. 
6. Remind yourself over and over again that death will not cause any loss to you and within a fraction of a second you will cross the boundary and reach a new dimension of life with Krishna in your view if you do it well.
7. Remind yourself over and over again that your prescribed duties towards your kids and family will immediately stop as soon as you are out of this body. No sin will incur. So do not fear.
8. Remind yourself over and over again that you will have no control over what happens to your kids after you are no longer in the role of their parents. Therefore do not feel guilty and ashamed of leaving them behind.
9. Do a breathing mindfulness exercise while keeping yourself completely isolated to ease the pain of separation of your Kids from you.
10. Chant the maha-mantra in a clear and audible sound while being in a comfortable position and try your best to hear every word of maha-mantra that comes out of your mouth. 
11. When not chanting, imagine the scene of how you wish to be taken to Goloka and how you will see Krishna, in what form, in what gesture, in what relationship, and whatever you can imagine using your creativity. 
12. Ask other adults of your family to keep kids happy and satisfied with food and care, away from you so that you can meditate well on Krishna during your last moments. 
13. Keep your bead bag with you and chant as much as possible while thanking Krishna that finally, he is going to give you his association after years of yearning.
14. Absorbed yourself fully in the thoughts of that moment of your meeting with Krishna you always prayed for during all the kirtans you sang, bhoga you offered, deity services you did, chantings you did, and lectures you heard. Feel excited for the divine moment that is about to come because of the mercy of the guru and Gauranga.
15. Remember the time you achieved an award in sports or the happiness you achieved after rigorous hard work you did to achieve something for your family or career. Think of your physical pains and problems the same way at the last moments. Nothing comes for free, nor does Krishna. Just focus on Krishna as much as you can and the pain will numb.

This blog has been written keeping in mind the COVID-19 pandemics and other sudden deaths. If someone suffers from a terminal illness or is nearing death due to aging and they have enough time to do more, they can take some more steps to die a better and graceful death like:-

1. Put a note in your room behind you on the wall that says"Please talk to me about Krishna s much as you can, and talk about Maya as little as you can".
2. Ask other adults of your family to control the frequency and duration of visits as per your wish.
3. Ask for forgiveness from those whom you have hurt, harmed, betrayed, or caused any losses they know or don't know about. If not possible face to face then mentally seek forgiveness from God and do prayashchit.
4. Express gratitude to people who have done favors and shown kindness to you during your life.
5. Read Srimad bhagwatam ( depending upon how much time is left with you you choose the source)on daily basis.

Move to Vrindavan if possible without causing any loss to others (Not recommended in pandemic time)

Chant regularly, intensely, and sincerely.

Keep photos of Radha Krishna very near to you where you can have the last darshans while leaving the body with Krishna's mercy.

Have a Japa box in your room with a low sound so that in the last moments when you are unable to chant, you can still keep yourself absorbed in maha-mantra, The Holy Name.

If this blog helps even one devotee find calm and Krishna in their last moments then I would be so grateful to Krishna.

Hare Krishna 

YS

Ast Sakhi Vrind Devi Dasi

Credits: Special thanks to the great devotee of Lord Krishna and Disciple of Iskcon Founder-Acharya Srila Prabhupada, HG Vishnudas Prabhuji who is Owner And Painter Of Transcendental Art  www.krishnaland.com, for his Transcendental Art that I have used in this blog for featuring Goloka.

(Note: Please do not use this pic anywhere without the prior permission of HG Vishnudas Prabhu, the copyright owner)

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