Grief #2

There are many life's situations within which one grieves. Everyone grieves differently. No instructional manuals could provide you with the directions you need to take. There are many traveling on different paths, you will have to rely on your own personal guidance system. It's not easy to choose the one which is best for your soul's growth.

For some, the first introduction to grief maybe the death of a pet, or an animal in the park.

It's somewhat a gentle experience of loss and an opportunity for the integration of the concept of death into one's mind. It brings about an opportunity to ask questions and establish a belief system to be carried forward until one is able to find one's own answers.

It's not just a death of a loved one that triggers grief. It is grieving the end of a relationship, a job, losing a home, one's youth, or an opportunity to do what one desires in life. They are all losses and leave an emotional imprint in the mind and soul.

The choice of how to deal with the loss is a crucial decision which would lead one down many different paths. Each requiring more lessons before getting on the right road to one's intended learning in this life time.

Loss of any kind can be challenging to deal with. Our past conditioning and family beliefs and values have great influence on our own reactions and coping abilities. Our religious beliefs certainly play a big role. Humanity and society as a whole used relatively similar approaches for decades; the attitude to death hasn't changed much.

More people have been foregoing the big funerals, expensive coffins - decisions made riddled with guilt; many are choosing cremation instead, unique personal boxes or vases and a simple family gathering - a celebration of life. Refusing to be ruled by established behavior, beliefs and traditions.

The whole idea of change could be very frightening and difficult to implement. New beliefs and behaviors are especially not easy to integrate into one's life. Humanity appears stuck in a paradigm of suffering. One thing for sure, is that grief brings about a lot of sorrow, pain , guilt and suffering.

Either not having a last opportunity to say "Goodbye" or not wanting to say what you should have said, for fear you would, in some strange way, be responsible for creating the unbearable. The pain of dealing with unresolved issues after the passing is a difficult process and may take years to fully heal.

Frightened by the belief that the end of the body is the end of self, one grieves for loved ones and for one self. We are told not to make any rash decisions for two years, because one is not able to think clearly and logically. This is wise advice. It could sometimes be a very long and painful process to move on with one's life.

The body dies, but the spirit that transcends it cannot be touched by death.

Ramana Maharshi