4th
“Every living creature on Earth dies alone.”
perhaps “takes that journey alone” might be more accurate.
when my japanese grandfather passed after a long hospital convalescence, we (his sons, daughters, grandchildren) were all standing around his bed as he took his last breath.
we brought him home and maintained vigil for two nights, 24/7, all of us taking turns to keep the incense burning. (i remain appalling ignorant of the specific buddhist/shinto beliefs involved).
on the morning of the third day, we placed him in casket and dressed him as if for a journey, waraji on his feet and hachimaki upon his brow. put into the casket with him were his walking stick, glasses, and with some reluctance his driver’s license (there were many jokes about his bad driving and whether or not it would be better for him to walk). i folded many origami animals to keep him company along the way.
***
i still maintain that the idea that we the living can know anything about what happens after we die (bright white lights notwithstanding) is absurd.
and i still think it’s fabulous that, as such, we are free to overwrite any and all beliefs with nothing but the power of our imagination.
death is what we make of it, as is life.
