How are we going to leave this world? I am typing this question and imagining the readers’ reaction: “why has he suddenly decided to write on this terrible topic? Is something wrong?”. No, nothing is wrong, and the problem is that when something wrong happens it is already too late to speak on that. When one is seriously ill and his physical capabilities become limited, he starts to miss whatever he had before, whatever he could do, but not anymore. In this case the topic becomes terrible, fearsome, and it feels like in hell.
American psychologist Steven Levin describes the ritual of the Native Americans preparing for death. Any adult representative of the tribe must necessarily go to the wilderness for a few days to fast and get the so-called “death song”. Tens, hundreds of repetitions of this song help to meet the challenges of life with courage. And when the time of expected or unexpected death arrives, they accept it with an open heart and a sober mind. Theoretically, a Christian priest should also explain to the believer that he is more than his body, clothes, work, profession, and social status. But that is only theoretically.
What wrong may happen to me? I may die: let us suppose that is the initial answer. But the longer you think, the longer the list becomes: I may die or lose my job.Then, I may die, lose my job or receive low salary, or not be able to pay utilities on time, and so on, plus the thirty minutes of delay of number 74 minibus. When we start listing our “dependencies”, we put the comfort and security frame of our life into a small cage or a box, and in that case not only death becomes terrible, but also any “nuisance”. And the opposite, when you are open to everything, you do not depend on anything, then you are ready for everything, even to death.
People say, “death awaits for anyone in this world”. This can be interpreted in two ways though. First is as follows: we live only once, let me do this stupidity as well, it may give me a few minutes of pleasure. However, the correct interpretation is that we cannot take money, cars, houses, servants, glory into the grave with us. Although, in some cultures, for example, in ancient Egypt, there was a different belief, and all similar “items” were put into the mausoleums of the rich. But this, I believe, is a ridiculous habit.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
