This is for you, Aai.
It took me a long time to write this for you.
When we met this summer, we had an argument.
Subject: Your beautiful and divine body.
You: I want to donate my body for scientific research. I trust you to respect my wishes.
Me: But why Mom?
You: In fact, I have made a declaration to the effect. I have lived all my life with utmost respect for science and its achievements in the medical field. I have given eyes for donation of all our relatives, including both my parents.
Me: Eyes, I can understand. They give sight. But why body?
You: Why not? Anyway you are going to burn it. So why not give it for someone to study?
Me: Because....because they cut it up, the thought itself is awful.
You: And burning it is pleasant?
Me: Burning the body has religious sanction. It is supposed to help the soul to carry on its journey, to not get stuck.
You: I am not in the least worried about my soul getting stuck.
Me: How can you be so sure?
You: When I had that accident when you were just eight years old, I remember looking at the stars and feeling so free and light.
Me: Well, I am not so confident. (Pause)
You: But its my body. I have the right to decide how I want to dispense it.
Me: No you don't. You are our mother. We have the all rights on you. Its my responsibility to make sure I do the best for you.
You: And if what you think is best for me goes against my wishes, would that be right?
Me: Yes. You are my mother and I will not let anyone touch you. And you are the least complaining mom I have ever known, you have no health problems, you are so cheerful and chirpy, so there is no point in this discussion.
You: Why don't you ask your Guru?
Me: I know what my Guru will say. He has in fact taught me the value and importance of rituals and traditions.
You: But I want to ask him. Can you at least ask him for me?
Me: Ok, I will ask.
I must admit here, Aai, I met Swamiji three four times since I came back to bangalore, but I didnt ask him. But I think Swami might have a thing for you. Because finally, he grabbed me by the neck and told me.
"I completely acknowledge, encourage, welcome, any organ donation....It does not affect the journey of the soul if the body is not properly burnt or buried....Just look at the possessiveness, it goes on after death also..."
I still don't like the idea, but I respect your wish, Aai. You have raised us with too much freedom and respect.
Just bless me that I may touch your beauty, your grace and your guts. Always and forever.
your loving daughter,
Manguramteli
11 comments:
Yes, that's a tough one for the ones left behind. It's brave of you to come to terms with it.
I've always wanted it too for myself, and have told all my family. Anyway, they'll be hard put to decide whether to bury me or cremate me. So this way atleast my body gets to be useful.
there are two capacities
capacity to give
and
capacity to take,
and it is so natural
one who has capacity to give has the capacity to take,
because life ultimately is a balance of being.
so great are those who are masters in giving and ultimately it is the capacity increasing on the daily basis.
Lovely post! Your mother seems so different and fearless. No wonder you also seem a bit like that.
Best wishes,
Anjali
So,do you make a resolve to donate all useful organs of any body you can?
Aai
All Masters directly or indirectly preach us not to live and die as a Consumer.
Your mother's gesture is Timely!
I haven't met Nithyananda but from his Vdos it's clear that he very much like Osho is keen on people disowning fallacies. I hope you leap from respecting her wish to loving her wish ;)
Sorry, Anon,
I could never love her wish, because I have met her, known her, loved her in her body. A mothers body is the first connection of a being to this world, it has served me, fed me, taught me, and loved me no end.
Even if I get enlightened, I don't think I could ever 'love' her wish.
"He has in fact taught me the value and importance of rituals and traditions."
Some rituals might be meaningful, but certainly not all. And unless you analyse a ritual, how can you accept or reject it? (like, how can you tell if an egg is good without breaking it open?). What do you say about the ritual of "bali" (sacrificing)? What about the tradition of untouchability?
And even about unharmful rituals, why not spend the same time and energy in, say, teaching a child?
Kalpana
Hello, Mumumgumum,
Manju's guru might have convinced her, but nobody's convinced me... So I'm sorry to tell you that your wishes are not going to be respected.
So there.
Love,
Raju
very nice post, manju. I have linked it to my article on eye donation.. please have a look sometime and share your views
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