Seeing The Eternal: A Journey Through Grief

Welcome to Thursday Tale Time (TTT 22/2024).

Today, I am sharing a story from Osho's book "Es Dhammo Sanantano".

The only son of a woman passed away. He was the single pillar of support in her life. She had devoted her entire life to him. There was no end to the depths of her sorrow. Expressing her anger, she would vigorously hit her chest, roll on the floor, and forcefully pull her hair. The people in the neighborhood made an effort to convince her, but she was unresponsive. Even the thought of giving away her son's body is something she cannot bear. She holds him tightly in her arms, pressing him against her chest. She has faith that a miracle will happen. She maintains a hopeful attitude that God will understand her agony, pain, and tears. Somewhere, her cry will be heard. There will be justice in a certain location. She has heard that there is a delay in his court, but she assures there is no injustice. She's not yet willing to depart. In her grief, she walks around with her son's lifeless body. She doesn't leave him for a second. In order to protect her body from being burned, she remains awake throughout the night. Subsequently, individuals believed that she had become mentally unstable. The problem remains unresolved. According to the villagers, Buddha had arrived in the village, and they suggested that she should bring her son to him if they believed in the possibility of a miracle. There's nothing more fortunate than this. Take this son and put him at Buddha's feet. Life can be restored if it's possible. Knowing that such a thing had never taken place before, the villagers understood the unlikelihood of it happening. Despite this, they believed that seeking Buddha's wisdom might offer some understanding.

After arriving, she placed the dead body at Buddha's feet. Her words were a desperate plea for mercy. Grant my son the gift of life. Buddha said, "Alright, just do one thing." Go to the village and find some mustard seeds from a house where nobody has ever died. If you manage to find those seeds, then this kid will come alive in no time.

The woman's tears vanished, and she began to dance. She promised to bring it immediately, saying it's not a big deal. Mustard is the main crop grown in our village, and it is found in every house. I'll bring it without any delay. She is unaware of the condition set by Buddha, which requires no deaths to have occurred in the house. She went from one house to another, knocking on every door in the village, including those of the poorest and the king. However, everyone thought it was insane to find a house with no history of death. It's not possible for such a house to exist! Someone's father has died, someone's mother has died, someone's son has died, someone's brother has died, such a house where no one died cannot exist.

It wasn't until evening that she fully grasped the fact that death is something no one can escape. She came back. Filled with joy, she went dancing, expecting to bring back mustard seeds. However, she came back empty-handed, still dancing. With no hope of her son waking up, what happiness remained? Upon her return, she is filled with happiness, having discovered the profound truth that death is an inescapable certainty. There is no point in crying. One must use the remaining moments of life wisely in order to achieve a state of immortality. Death will occur in this body, it is necessary to find that place where death does not occur.

Upon her arrival, she knelt down and placed her head at the feet of Buddha. Buddha asked if you brought mustard seeds. She started laughing, she said, you also joked a lot, but it worked. She couldn't find any mustard seeds, so she removed her son's body and asked others to bury it, before requesting Buddha to initiate her and transform her into a Sanyasi. She said, today I am here, but tomorrow's existence is uncertain, and I too may meet my end. It's important to cherish every moment now, as we won't survive for long after everyone dies. Who is the child? Who is the mother? My current task is to find something that is eternal and will never end. Please provide me with guidance with no delay.

She underwent initiation of Budha’s teaching. She decided to dedicate her life to Buddhism and became a nun alongside the great monks. In the presence of Buddha, she was the one woman who achieved enlightenment.

What learning we have restored in this story?

The loss of a child or loved one is something no one wants to go through. During those times, we may resemble the mourning woman, desperately yearning to undo the loss. Through her unsuccessful search for a mustard seed, she came to the realization that death is a universal experience. In Buddhism, the impermanence of life serves as a reminder that grief is a shared experience among all humans. Stories like hers help us understand that others have faced similar pain and found ways to cope, reassuring the grieving that they are not alone.

Taking a broader perspective, we can draw a conclusion.?

Mustard seeds have a significant role in this story. Mustard seed is super easy to find. It is customary for every home to have mustard seeds as they are an essential component of cooking. The message behind Buddha's request for mustard seeds from a house that never experiences death is mind-blowing. Every person who is born is bound to face death, which cannot be avoided. There is no escape from death. Osho frequently compared sleep to death to emphasize the importance of releasing the ego and embracing detachment. He viewed sleep as a mini death, where the mind and ego take a break, allowing us to detach from identity and attachments. This nightly "death" teaches us about life and death, underscoring the significance of letting go and recognizing the everlasting consciousness beyond our physical existence. Osho's teachings focus on dissolving the ego and personal identity, suggesting that true self-awareness surpasses the mind and body, leading to spiritual liberation.