4. The Moments of Death

How does one die? In this context Nepalese Yogis (saints) having paranormal perception hold the view, that for a short duration preceding death, man experiences a great deal of restlessness, pain and writhing. There are a few reasons for this phenomenon. The event of death necessitates total withdrawal of the current of bio-energy (Pran) from all over the body, which before death, is accumulated at that particular part of the body, from where the soul is about to make its exit (discussed later), whereas, because of prevailing disposition of biological functions, this current tends to flow back to respective neurons. The impact of this struggle creates the agony or the spasm at the moment of death. The other reason for the misery preceding the moment of death  are diseases, shock or other physiological factors rendering the body unqualified for retention of soul. Whether or not the dying person is able to express, the being does suffer for a few moments before death. However, soon thereafter, the person falls into kind of coma and the soul departs in this state of senselessness. When death becomes imminent, all external functional powers of man become introverted and then cumulatively escape along with the soul through any exit in the physical body (Sthul Sharir). The yogis of the West are of the view that the soul (Sukshma and Karan Sharir) of the being comes out of the body as a violet shadow, whereas the Nepalese spiritualists see it as a brilliant white aura akin to luminescence of a burning lamp escaping at the moment of death. Because of cumulative withdrawal, all forgotten memories of life lying buried and dormant in the finer cells of brain are stimulated and revived. This phenomena proves the extraordinary capability of human mind, when the dying person relives all experiences of life in a short moment like a playback of a cine-film, whereas while living it is impossible to remember even fifty percent of life's events in a long time. Each activity of a person, whether mental, verbal or physical, leaves an imprint on the soul. The sum and substance of these events, deeds accompany the soul as its Samskars (impressions) at the time of its departure from the physical body. In this process, it is said one feels unimaginable pain-like that inflicted by a thousand scorpion bites. While looking at the activities of bygone human existence the soul feels extremely miserable-like a devoted father who beheads his own son by mistake and looks at his body writhing in pain. It is because the soul feels extremely repentant for not having utilized life's precious moments fruitfully.

As mentioned earlier, the body becomes insensitive to all feelings of pain and disease much before death when the energy of sense-per-ception becomes introverted. Thus all sufferings of body end before death. The bond between the body and soul with disease, shock or old age begins to loosen. The fruit drops to the ground when it is ripen and its stem is unable to bear its weight. In the same manner, an individual dies when the body and its functional capabilities loosen their grip on the soul. The soul generally departs from the apertures in the upper part of the body, principally from the mouth, eyes, ears or nostrils. Sinners have been found losing their souls through the anus or organs of sex. The soul of Yogi leaves through the Brahmarandhra (Near top of cranium).