Before you die

“Before you die, give.” Goes a part of the quote by Sir William Arthur Ward. How true it is. One can never really leave this world unless we decide to let go of the material longings. Bhagvad Gita says that one can never really get rid of this bodily encagement and attain salavation unless one takes his mind off materialistic joys and devote their mind to the supreme lord Krishna. Nevertheless human mind with all its distractions and emotions, can we truly get rid of our desire for all the material things? I am doubtful in this Kali yug if anyone is going to give up everything and go on some penance in some Himalayan mountain range. But one thing we can certainly do and derive immense joy from is by giving. And when it comes to giving I cannot remember more than anyone other than my own late father who fostered a life around giving. Not just monetary and material belongings but for the endless love and joy to all the people whom he knew. I was browsing through photos in his mobile; he probably has a photo of not just his immediate family but also many relatives and friends. some photos were not taken from his mobile but pictures from the computer transferred on purpose to his mobile, I assume he would take a look at them quite often, especially when he is alone and misses family. He loved and gave love to every possible living being. He knew the ultimate joy of giving. As with any person returning from gulf for a vacation, he used to bring loads of gifts and chocolates for almost everyone who knows our family. He even never fails to get clothes’ for his immediate family. Just a day before he died, he had shopped for this year’s clothing for all his immediate family. Not just clothes’, the stuff which he used to bring from UAE were really handpicked custom gifts. He probably thinks about each person for whom he buy’s gifts. His thoughtfulness makes the gifts so unique, timely, useful and above everything memorable. It is with the sincerity he used get those gifts amazes me. Many of us would have been stuck in the supermarket while selecting gifts, wondering what they would like. But I wonder how most of the times everyone who receives gifts from my papa, almost always loved it. And I and my sister cherish it like nothing else. And I remember very few who returned any gifts to him, which he never really did care for or even wanted. A simple, honest and humble life that’s all he always wanted and always seeked. Being self content is something anyone could learn from him. He was always happy with whatever he had. It might have been very little sometimes, sometimes it didn’t even matter to the many people who knew him and probably would have mocked at his back for being so ignorant. But it all didn’t matter to him at all. He never complained. He never did know how to do that. When I used to go on complaining of all the little hardships I have to go through on a daily basis to get things done, he simply listens and ask me to try harder and don’t complain, all is going to be well. That was his spirit. How I miss his goodwill and spirit now i just cannot describe in words. Reaching the kind of mental state of mind is almost like the true penance in this kali yug. Not much desires and deriving joy in giving, is a true and sure way to b eing close to lord Krishna. Probably that is how one can live and follow the Gita. And considering the kind of peaceful death he had I surely feel his most favorite Deity could not have given him any more joy than dying in a way which he troubled no one. And before he died he gave and content he was as every other second he was in his life. His family who he left behind can never be content with god for taking him away so quickly much earlier than people of his kind should live. But for all of us living it is only his true ideals will lead us the path. A path where giving is considered greater than receiving and being self content is the only way to achieve true joy.