Dead Man's Path

The verse below is an attempt to trace the journey of an accident victim from his home to the other world. Maybe this is weird imagination but then it might be true…for the heart holds on to the secrets unknown to the mind.

Part I- Amrita (Nectar)
They say that a person who is about to die receives his summons – and is well aware of the future.

From the window of my dreams,
I peep into the future – what the merciful God has held back
from me and the rest of the world.
I travel to the ancient lands of
Egypt, India and Tibet, until,
I arrive in a beautiful garden.
Standing at the gates I realize,
it’s my own mind, in all beauty and form.
In the very centre there is a statue
of the whitest marble or is it light only?
Surrounded by the flowers of unknown land
and smells
So beautiful, so mysterious…was that a dream or heaven?

Part II- Surrender
His soul knows that this is the last journey he is taking- the last farewell to the wife and kids; followed by the accident a few hours into the night.

It’s my last journey from home,
I may not know, but the recesses of the heart do,
that I’m going, never ever to come back
I say my farewell to everyone; as usual,
and yet there is a new note in my tone
for I can hear some voices calling me,
beckoning me to the other side.
I’m now on the road…with death following me
Like a shadow...
I feel Fear.
Pain.
Anger.
And yet there is no escaping
Oh! It’s so near and yet so distant…
I feel like a fly trapped in a glass case,
or a being lost in a forest on a stormy night.
The more I try to reach my destination,
the further I go away from it...
Slowly she arrives like a mist
Till I’m one with her-
the shadow of my life
Gone on to the other side…

Part III – The Lonely Road
Leaving the body and meeting the other souls.

It’s the same road I was traveling,
yet so different.
Lying on the roadside,
I try to rise…
I rise, my body left behind.
I look back at it with vague feelings.
I remember those, to whom I had said farewell, just a few hours ago
They must be sleeping, unaware
That I’m no more…
A tear slides down my cheek, it’s the last one
It detaches me from my body, my clothes
Of the life gone by.
I look down on the true me
for the first time
and move along the lonely road
With the fellow beings…



Part IV- Distant Voices
Leaving the world- the Maya Nagari.

These voices beckon me; they prohibit me from feeling the pain
of what is no longer mine.
Some of them of the loved ones,
I lost eons ago…
The echo of their smiles makes me feel welcomed,
And I move as quickly as possible to be one with them, atleast,
For right now,
I’m Nobody and Nobody’s mine….
Still……..

Part V- The Dark Night
Traversing to the other side

The darkest night of my life, for I belong
to Nowhere.
I bow in self pity,
yet I keep moving on the dark road
Towards the only light I see…
Is it the sun? Or is it the mirage of imagination?
I don’t know where I’m going
Yet,
My steps are steady and the mind focused
But the heart craves to go back
To the wife and children I’ve left behind.
There is no going back, there is no avoiding
The dark dark night.



Part VI- The Gate Keeper
The entry to the other world

I see big gates, but those lights are blinding…
As I move towards them, they tower over me,
guarded by the Yama, who rings the gong
and laughs aloud at my plight
I fearfully move in for I have no where else to go.
Immediately all pain leaves me
I see the scenes from my own life
The hurts I’ve given, the love I received
and vice versa.
Oh! I want to see it once more
The beautiful face of my wife
But I can’t stop it, I’ve to keep moving and moving
Because that light is so blinding
Where am I?

Part VII-Shambala
The last leg of the journey.

I wake up to the sound of waterfall
and cool breeze
I’m in the countryside, bright and sunny.
I feel no pain, no love, no hurt, no anger
Just good enough...
I look down and see people pining for me
Burning the body that was mine and crying
I want to ask them,
Why do you cry?
I’m still there…
But I can’t and I don’t care
But I do care….
I will always protect you, my sweetheart
A boatsman is waiting to row me,
to my final destination; from this countryside of gold
I take one last look and then move,
to meet
the almighty across the water.

Part VIII- Destination of Life
In the land of God

The island arrives;
the boatsman instructs me
In a strange language
Yet I understand
I stand where he directs
for cleansing
Dressed in white, (or is it light?)
I start moving,
towards the holiest place in the universe.
Thousands like me are standing and chanting
in some unknown language
I join them, in praise of the light giver,
As far as the eyes can see
Its sand and chanting figures in white
With the light in the very centre-
A bright beam that emerges from nowhere
and ends nowhere

Part IX- Moksha
The end.

This is my world, in al its beauty
where I’m a part of the almighty
I traverse in distant lands,
with the fire, water and air
I’m a part of Ganges
I’m the flower you placed before God
I’m the wind that blew across your hair
I’m the smile on your lips
and the tears in your eyes
I’m nearer to you than ever before
Smell me, touch me, feel me
Here, there and everywhere.
Till you complete the circle of good and evil
Close your eyes and you will see me,
for sweetheart I’m not far off-
Waiting for you, just on the other side…
So that when you come; I’ll receive you with open arms
and together we continue the journey
traversing the universe,
side by side forever, never to be parted ever again.