Book Review “ Death ends life, not a relationship ,” as Mitch Albom put it. That is why, we have so many rituals associated with death. Minakshi Dewan’s book, The Final Farewell [HarperCollins, 2023], is a well-researched book about those rituals. The book starts with an elaborate description of the Sikh rituals associated with death and cremation, before moving on to Islam, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and finally Hinduism. After that, it’s all about the various traditions and related details of Hindu final rites. A few chapters are dedicated to the problems of widows in India, gender discrimination in the last rites, and the problem of unclaimed dead bodies. There is a chapter titled ‘Grieving Widows in Hindi Cinema’ too. Death and its rituals form an unusual theme for a book. Frankly, I don’t find the topic stimulating in any way. Obviously, I didn’t buy this book. It came to me as quite many other books do – for reasons of their own. I read the book finally, having shelv
Very touching words..!
ReplyDeleteThe entire book consists of such stories or pieces. It is a meditation book, in fact.
DeleteSo true these words hold good today as well
ReplyDeleteSome truths are eternal!
DeleteLovely piece of writing, a great read :)
ReplyDeleteAll credit to the author.
DeletePerfect!
ReplyDeleteGlad you found it so.
DeleteAny practical example of knowledge and enlightenment?
ReplyDeleteScholars have knowledge. But a person like Mahatma Gandhi was enlightened. The difference is that the former can teach you about love, tolerance, or whatever, while the latter's life shows you the quality. It was Lander who said that for those who are capable of love, love is a secondary affair. The same holds good for any virtue. People who really possess the virtue are the enlightened ones, while the others give lectures.
DeleteWhen you are enlightened you become a torch.. True. You lead the way and a true quality of a great leader.
ReplyDeleteA rare quality nowadays!
DeleteSadly enough, these days religion has become a brand which people promote. Wearing a saffron robe being colorless within- such an apt description.
ReplyDeleteReligion is just another business now, thanks to politicians mainly but Babas too have their share in the capital.
DeleteDo you know a good book on how to get started with Meditation? I have been trying to get into it for a while. Torsten @ MightyTravels
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I won't be able to help you with this. I don't use any book for meditation.
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