To Rest In Peace

'Rest in Peace' is a term much in popular use and is sighted characteristically on the social media portals. Whenever a known person departs for their heavenly abode, members of a particular social media group immediately take to expressing sorrow and grief and quote "RIP". Thi has actually become a social ritual. But the person for whom this 'RIP' is being used has no effect from such expressions. One fails to understand what the actual usage of such expression is. Then why it is being used at all? The mind seeks an answer to this logical question.

To understand this aspect a little more in depth, one needs to understand the basics of the Sanatham Dharma which is largely in practice by the majority of people in this country. It is believed that there is only one great soul which is referred to as the "Paramatma", the God, the Father. Each and every living creature is part of this God and 'Atma' present in each human and other living creatures are always eager to get attached to the 'Parmatma', whenever it leaves the physical form. The body is like the clothing which one keeps changing and the 'Atma' never dies, it never ceases to exist. Hindus and some other believers across the world subscribe to the notion of rebirth and reincarnation. At the end of one's physical life graph, the balance sheet of the good and bad deeds decide the fate and the course of the next birth. More good deeds clocked by one during their lifetime means a better life in the following rebirth. It is directly proportional to the quality of the next life. It is the effect of 'Karma'. Human life is the supreme one among all living beings. The ultimate 'Moksha' can only be attained through human life. 'Moksha' refers to the end of the life cycle when the soul is permanently attached to Parmatama and finally merges it with. There is no reversal here, no rebirth that one must undertake after the Moksha is attained. India is a land of Rishis, Munis, and Sadhus and noble souls always thriving to attain Moksha. Kaliyug (the age we are living in today) makes room for some dilution of the spiritual values. Nevertheless, spiritually elated people in each and every city, town, and villages of India are constantly seeking the ultimate Moksha and leading a simple and spiritually rich life towards achieving the main aim to attain Moksha by means of 'Tapasya'.

"Hinduism" is arguably the oldest socio-religious way and dictum to lead life. It is rather a way of life more than a religion and is followed by Christianity and Islam. Unlike Hinduism where after death, the body the dead is burned, in Christianity and Islam, it is buried. In Hinduism, it is believed that as soon as the heart stops, the soul or the "Atma" leaves the body and gets attached to the 'Parmatma' or God. In Christianity and Islam, a person's dead body is buried and both these faiths don't believe in rebirth. Thus, the 'Rest In Piece' concept evolved with burial practiced in Christianity and Islam.

Adaptation and exchange of good values across faiths and religious systems will improve the quality of life and enrich it. At the same time, it is to be remembered that such an exchange should not dilute or erase one's own values or hurt one's faith which should not be overshadowed by such adaptations.

So, RIP all faiths and religions without blurring the basic tenets of one another!

(The writer is a senior Veteran Officer of IAF, and former Additional Director General, Prasar Bharti. The views expressed are strictly personal)