Life and Death - Do You Have a Contract?
by Ganga Silva
A few years ago, a friend, and high school teammate of mine, “Dave,” retired after 28 years as a police officer in a large California city. Dave was a part of the motorcycle squad, SWAT team, and Internal Affairs. He taught at the police academy, was involved with mid-level management, and had excellent training at the FBI Academy in Quantico Virginia. His pension paid more than he earned on active duty.
After retiring, Dave planned out the next 50 years of his life. He wrote, “It will include my new careers as a personal trainer, substitute teacher, Karate and self-defense instructor, and real estate investments. Sadly, I will no longer be able to coach Basketball at the Middle School. My next 50 years will also include my hobbies—photography, a Harley Davidson “Road King,” the Sun, Water, woodworking, exercise and Karate.” He already had Black Belts in Tae Kwan Do and Kenpo.
Not long after publishing his plans on the internet, Dave had a stroke and was confined to a wheelchair with speech impairments and other disabilities. A year or two later, he passed away.
Dave’s story is not all that different from others.’ We all come into this world with an agenda and a long to-do list. Of course, we may tweak our plans according to our association and opportunities that arise but, in the back of our minds, we all have a multitude of goals--things we’d like to accomplish in our lifetime. Often, we get so driven to achieve those goals that we neglect everything else that’s important, including our spouse, family, and friends.
Another friend, “Steve,” also recently passed away. He was in his early 50’s. Steve’s goal was to live a simple life, spend quality time with his family, and work on his spiritual life. There was just one snag in-between him and his goals. He felt he needed a million-dollar “security blanket” to fall back on in case of an emergency. So, being highly motivated by his desire to soon retire and enjoy the “good life,” he one-pointedly dedicated his life to accumulating his emergency fund. Steve worked 18 hours a day, 7days a week, strained his familial relationships, and neglected his spiritual practices; but after several years, he had accumulated the assets he “needed.” All that was left to do was liquify a couple of houses. Then he could finally kick back and do what he really wanted to do. Unfortunately, it never happened. Instead, without any forewarning, he tragically died of a sudden heart attack.
Similarly, back in the 70’s, there was a billionaire who was on his deathbed. He asked his doctor to be honest and let him know how long he had to live. His doctor reluctantly told him he had two or three days at the most. The billionaire was distraught. He pleaded over and over for the doctor to give him at least a week. What made his request so sad was the reason for his begging. He didn’t need more time to spend meaningful last moments with his family or to make things right with his Creator. He simply needed the extra time to draft a contract on a big deal he had been working on.
Never mind the fact that the billionaire and his family had absolutely no need for the added wealth his contract might bring in. The irony of his situation was that he placed so much importance on a contract, which would purportedly improve his life, but totally failed to appreciate the fact that he didn’t have a contract on his life Itself. He could die at any moment, and he didn’t have a contract to prevent it. Sure, he may have had “Life Insurance,” but that policy doesn’t guarantee longevity. Nor does it guarantee he will realize all his goals and ambitions within the time he is given.
My two friends had the same problem. The average lifespan in America is approximately 78 years. But both friends were martial artists and supposedly in “peek physical condition.” So, like many of us, they believed others would die, but they would be the exceptional ones who live on endlessly. However, the fact is that nobody has a contract, and we can die at any moment. With each tick of the clock, we are one stroke closer to death.
We may live on this planet for a couple of years, a couple of decades, or for over a century. We simply don’t know how long we have in this life. Therefore, it is foolish to allow our mind to lead us on a wild goose chase in pursuit of one illusory goal after another. Before we entangle ourselves in the “game of life,” we need to prioritize our goals. What is of the utmost importance—that which is my sole purpose in living? Then, what are those things of lesser importance, which need to be done to properly maintain our body, mind, and souls. Then what are those things of even lesser importance—things we’d like to do, but no big deal if they don’t happen. It takes a certain degree of clarity. And clarity of vision is rooted in self-realization—knowledge of who we are, our purpose in life, and what happens at the time of death.
A verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam says it best: “What is the value of a prolonged life which is wasted, inexperienced by years in the world? Better a moment of full consciousness, because that gives one a start in searching after his supreme interest.” (2:1:12)
“That’s all fine and dandy,” many a person will argue, “but first let me enjoy life. I’ll worry about self-realization when I get older.” But that was precisely Steve’s plan of action. Unfortunately, however, time waits for no one, and Steve passed away before he had a chance to seriously pursue his best interest. On the other hand, Dave and the billionaire were so immersed in their attempts to enjoy life that any notions of self-realization or enlightenment that entered their minds quickly skimmed through and on to other things. Consequently, they passed away in an unending pursuit of the deluding energy’s phantasmagoria.
In the Srimad Bhagavatam, there is a story about a young boy named Prahlad. When he was five years old, he would address his classmates. “My dear friends, now is the time to leave this dark well of material life and take shelter of the Supreme.” His classmates, however, would retort, “But Prahlad, we’re only 5 years old. We want to play now. We can get serious about spiritual life when we get older.”
Not being disheartened, Prahlad would continue: “Listen, my friends, in the future there will be no time. For the first 20 years people spend their time sporting and playing ball. For the next 40 years they are occupied in the pursuit of sexual pleasure. First, they are busy finding a spouse. Then they get married, and then they have children. After that, they must work hard to provide for and serve the family. Finally, at the end of life, most people are feeble and invalid; but even if a man has good health, he becomes enamored with family affairs and playing with his grandchildren. So, where is the time for spiritual affairs? Where is the time for self-realization?
Prahlad was a wise man in a young boy’s body. He knew that this material world is a place of darkness, full of suffering, hatred, and discontent. He also knew that the human life is a rare opportunity to transcend the miseries associated with life in this dark world such as birth, disease, old age and death. Furthermore, he knew that if we don’t take advantage of this human birth then our life will be wasted, and we will remain in an endless cycle of misery and bondage. Therefore, he would encourage everyone he met to take up the paths leading to enlightenment and liberation.
Good advice indeed! In fact, if we are intelligent, we will take heed of Prahlad’s sage instructions. And…. since we don’t have a contract on life, the sooner the better.