LIFESTYLE We are so caught up with today’s modern lifestyle, the hustle and bustle of our routine livelihood that it is almost excusable for one to forget the purpose of our lives and what we live for.

In fact, subconsciously we consider ourselves as immortals but are we?

Unfortunately, the uncertainty and unpredictability of one’s existence is best described akin to a candle’s naked flame flickering dangerously in the wind.

This mysterious phenomenon called death or life span’s uncertainty being cut short by tragic event, terminal illness or prematurely before old age is parallel to the vulnerability of the candle’s flickering flame perpetually facing the danger of being prematurely extinguished before the candle is burnt out at the end.

There lies the paradox of our existence and awareness towards this taboo topic, hardly talked about but we are fully aware that its there.

Neither do we accept the moment of truth that death is a constant companion of life.

Yet, the majority of us at one time or other engage in risky behaviour such as driving recklessly or indulge in unhealthy lifestyles that threaten our very own lives.

We must admit or rather confess that we are simultaneously fearful and sad when touched by the impact of death.

A departed friend or loved one inevitably reminds us of the transience of human existence but yet we tend to brush the reality of death aside philosophically.

In fact, we are quite successful in deluding ourselves that our constant breathing or mere existence is somewhat forever - until struck with some tragic events or stricken with an incurable ailment that death is real and probable.

Death is fine, if you are not dying

However, there are those whose jobs are related to death as a matter of routine and there is a somewhat a technical acceptance, thinking death as an irreversible ending of life functions.

Nonetheless, the impact of death or the thought of dying to a majority of us is remote in our minds though subconsciously accepting death does happen to all human beings but as long as we are not the ones facing it, everything is fine.

In short, we are unprepared psychologically to face death and what happens after death.

So, is there life after death?

This is one of the greatest unanswered questions even though various religions and spiritual movements have different versions on the purpose of our lives.

Death education is virtually unheard of in this part of our country. Perhaps, courses can help us understand death, the legal issues and various practical matters.

In fact, already in some countries, classes on death and dying are available in colleges, hospitals and community centres.

There are fewer people still who take comfort in bibliotheraphy or catch up on their reading on the topic like explaining the popularity of the “life-after-life” publications.

Is death the end of our human existence and consciousness, or do we continue in some other place or state of being?

Do we go to a place of everlasting reward or eternal torment?

Or are we destined to be reincarnated or reborn (as in rebirth) coming to life again (as human) in a different body in a seemingly endless cycle of living and dying as Buddhism preaches?

When and where life begins?

There are various interpretations as religions try to tell us and teach us that dying is a time of religious awakening and transcendence particularly to those terminally ill people.

For those with violent deaths like suicide, tragic disasters and murder victims, ‘haunting experiences take place.’

In spite of centuries of research, science remains impotent in providing us convincing answers as to when, where and how life begins.

But just as us trying to understand life, should not we go to that science to understand too the mystery of death?

According to Taoism (Tao-Jiao), Man is composed of the immaterial spirit (shen), the ethereal or celestial part of the cosmos.

This “yang” (male) principle when operating actively in the living human body, it is called “chi” or breath.

The other component, “kwei” (physical aspects) or material emanates from the terrestrial part of the universe, and is formed of “yin” (feminine) substance.

Upon death, the “yin” principle” returns to the earth.

The “kwei” is buried with the deceased and the “shen” lingers around the tomb.

Perhaps, in the next century, Man will be able to come up with answers to the mystery of after life following death.

Living and dying well

Already in the western countries, stories are emerging and continuing to surface on “near-death” experiences.

More and more of such alleged journeys of people (giving accounts of near-death experiences) who are clinically dead into “afterlife” before they were resuscitated are being made known.

But despite ghost stories and haunting places, sceptics continue to debunk and argue against the naturalistic explanation of life after death.

And for all we know, almost everybody agrees death is the one great certainty in life.

Some of us will die in ways beyond our control and most of us will be unaware of the moment of death itself.

Let me quote a French Jesuit priest philosopher Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) who once said, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

The catch-word is that if you are afraid of death, you better acquire spiritual intelligence as part of your daily lifestyle.

“If you want to live well, don’t you want to die well too, a peaceful and healthy manner of dying?”