Guidance from Death

Many newspapers have a regular ‘Obituary’ column, where news of the death of people is announced. These are generally of people from economically wealthy families, because you need to pay quite a bit to have an obituary published in a newspaper. Obituaries generally have a picture of the deceased, along with mention about when and where their last rites will take place and an invitation to relatives and friends to attend the ceremony.

Generally, when someone dies, their heirs consider it their duty to perform their last rites, in accordance with the traditions of their religious community. And, if they can afford it, some people also arrange for an obituary to appear in a newspaper so that others can know about the person’s death. This done, they think they have done their duty.

But this isn’t enough really. The fact is that news of someone else’s death is also news about one’s own death in a way. Hearing about someone else’s death should make one reflect on his own impending death. He should see his own fate in the fate of the deceased. To draw guidance for oneself from someone else’s death is a very wise thing. But how many of us do that?