Gurudev travels the world sharing wisdom and insights on a number of timely and important topics. He has written books that teach and inspire. His talks motivate and encourage, offer comfort and reassurance, and provide insights for daily living.

Death

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Death brings you in touch with the reality of life. Death creates a vacuum, a void and this void is fertile ground for the spirit to manifest. All talents, inventions and creativity spring forth from the void; creation has a tendency to return to the void. All places of worship in all religions are connected with places of burial or cremation because only the awareness of death can bring dispassion and can ground you in knowledge.

According to Indian mythology, Shiva abides in both Mount Kailasa and in Smashana. Kailasa means “where there is only celebration” and Smashana is the cremation ground—”where there is only void.” Divinity dwells in the void as well as in celebration. In you there is void; in you there is celebration.

Rishikesh, India

November 18, 1999

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