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Varanasi - Facing death without fear | DW Documentary
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34,567 views Aug 23, 2024 #dwdocumentary #documentary
In India, Varanasi is considered a holy city. Millions of Hindus believe that people who die here, in this city on the Ganges, are lucky. Because if they are cremated here, they can break the eternal cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
Director Oliver Mayer grew up in a world in which most people are influenced by the Christian promise of eternal life. In Varanasi, he wants to understand why it is considered salvation to escape a cycle of rebirth.
He himself has already had to come to terms with death: A few years ago, his mother died, and it took him a long time to come to terms with his grief. He is fascinated by the fact that the end of life is not necessarily seen as negative in Hinduism. He wants to know how people manage to face death pragmatically and without fear - indeed, almost looking forward to it.
Mayer visits a very special hospice for the dying in Varanasi. Here, he encounters a different, more relaxed approach to death. He meets extraordinary people. They include the priests and relatives who care for the dying, workers from lower castes who cremate the dead and children like nine-year-old Kajal, who poses for photos dressed as the deity Shiva to earn money to support herself, her mother and her little brother.
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Transcript
Varanasi India's holiest city millions of Hindus believe whoever
dies here will be saved for us death is a
celebration here I meet people who make a living from [Music]
dying I dreamed of studying and leading a better life not having to do this
job in vary I'm pushed to my
[Music]
limits but I also meet people with Incredible
strength I'm never really [Music] afraid and I learned That Dying doesn't
have to be a terrible thing one should make peace with
[Music]
[Music]
death a few years ago I lost my my mother it took me quite some time to
process her death I was often extremely sad it's said that here in this Hospice
in Varanasi death is approached very differently it's known as mukti
ban House of salvation [Music]
khant dub is a priest here at mukti
ban he begins his rituals early in the
morning usually the priests would carry them out in private an exception has
been made for me to be present while he applies holy Ash to a
stone through the process the stone becomes the symbol of a Hindu
[Music] God the people who come to us are seeking salvation our guests believe
that if they die in veranesi they can escape the cycle of Eternal rebirth we
accompany them by playing songs giving them Basel and water from the
Ganges can you explain to me again the main rules of M ban and why you have
these rules is the people who come to us have 15 days
to die only those seeking salvation should come here no one should stay here
for free accommodation or for months the only aim here is
[Music] salvation 15 days to die to me that
sounds almost stressful like having a clock ticking for your final breaths but
devout Hindus don't seem bothered by [Music]
it are all 10 rooms full sometimes yes of course sometimes all
the rooms are occupied in September or October all the rooms were really full
[Music]
so this is the room yes exactly this is it we have two
beds one for the person seeking salvation and one for the person accompanying them sometimes more family
members come then we lay out mattresses on the
floor the room only costs 20 cents a night why is it so cheap
[Music] people basically stay here for free we
only charge 20 cents so that not too much electricity is used the low amount is also to remind
them they shouldn't stay here with those indefinitely the room is really just meant for moving into salvation
[Music] to me it seems rather sparse almost
[Music] sterile and yet for many it's the best
thing to die right here in a completely unfamiliar environment without any
[Music]
Comforts here I'll meet another person whose final wish is to die in Varanasi
it's an encounter that will touch me [Music]
deeply for devout Hindus Varanasi is a very special City it's here that one of
their principal deities Shiva is set to
reside India's longest river also flows through here the Ganges
for many Hindus it's the physical manifestation of the Goddess
ganga it's believed that bathing in the Ganges can help wash away all
sins illnesses too are said to be cured with just one sip of the holy
[Music] water hi guys
rambali also believes in the power of the river for over 50 years he's been
rowing on the Ganges hello how are
you very well what's your name my name is Ram
Bali I'm Oliver Ram is a god Bali stands for monkey god monkey Ram is an
especially powerful
God rambali is 73 years old he spent his whole life in Varanasi he tells me that
he owes all his energy and health to the
Ganges do you sometimes drink the water as well
yes of course yes take now even now this now he's drinking the water is the
water this water G's water holy water holy water
holy water holy water Studies have shown how polluted
the Ganges can be in varanas the water is so toxic that fish
can barely survive here though the science seems to play a
less important role than [Music]
Faith a person must have bathed in the Ganges at least three times like the children once after birth coming first
take the B second time the second time after the wedding and the third time after death
the death is ever present on the
Ganges sometimes even with corpses floating in the
water things like that don't bother me at all I just keep rowing it's just a
body the soul has long since left it after we die all that's left is a
lifeless body
a surprisingly sober thought for me I find it hard to separate the body from
the essence of the
deceased I visit the place where most bodies are cremated in Varanasi the manikan
[Music]
kot the smoke the smell and what I sea overwhelms
[Music]
me death is visible
everywhere there's no attempt to hide the burning bodies organs or chartred
limbs [Music]
for this man it's all part of everyday life cremating corpses is patosi Cho
hari's [Music]
job I'm 33 years old now I first came here aged 13 and I burned maybe four or
five corpses a year later it became more I washed the dead in the ganes it looked
very different here back
then I basically work all the time if I don't do the job who will we take care
of everything no one would otherwise
did that it must be [Music]
tough patosi is a member of the domcast one of the lowest in Indian Society he
earns about 2 and A2 Euros for a fire it takes about 3 hours to burn a
body there for us it's all routine so it's normal for
you yes I'm used to it but we still treat the dead as human beings we even
talk to [Music]
them the dead patosi explains to me ought to be buried with dignity during
breaks he gets into the Ganges where the ashes of the deceased are
scattered here he looks for valuables sometimes he gets lucky as he has now
finding a [Applause]
chain in the murky polluted water he can barely see where he is stepping
I could cut myself in this glass here best to throw it [Music]
away it's hard for me to comprehend the conditions patch cozy has to work
under and I have immense respect for what he does
I wonder if he would prefer another
job of course I would like to follow another profession but the work here means a lot to me if God gave me the
opportunity of a new job I would take it otherwise I'll stay here
patosi has three children it's his wish for them not to have to one day work
here at the manikan [Music]
kagat I'll meet him again in a few days then he'll tell me his plans to create a
better future for them
at 6:00 a.m. I receive a message from the hospice they want me to come as quickly as
possible so far m one has been empty we just received a call from the
owner saying that a person arrived last night they want to die right here in
they've asked if we want to come and talk to the family so we're on our way there
[Music]
now I have great respect for the chance to meet a dying person and their family
some 20 family members are taking care of the elderly man I'm suddenly uncertain if we should
even be here we are doing a movie about uh death
in Varanasi um is it okay if we talk to you
if we like look how you deal with the whole situation is that okay for
you no problem at all we're happy to share with people who
maybe don't know much about our religion and show them how we approach this difficult
[Music] situation I learned that the sick man is
his father-in-law his name is shria tiar he's 82 years old old and can only
breathe with the help of a [Music] ventilator MTI he can't see
anymore everything is dark this person
BL it's hard for us he is really in a critical
condition family but are you happy that you're here in varanas
here very happy very very happy his Blessing is always with
us thank you for talking to us in this difficult time oh you came to
us that is really kind of you thank you so much
[Music]
[Music] so far this has been for me the most
extreme situation we have filmed
[Music] these a famili to film The this family
naturally concerned for a family member who's about to die has nonetheless welcomed us into their
Circle and wants to show us how their culture works how they deal with death
[Music]
I asked one of his sons satendra tar why it was important enough for the whole
family to travel to [Music] Varanasi you
when my father dies I want him to die happy I want all of the family to be
there until now he's been stuck in the Eternal cycle of rebirth by dying here in veran he should
finally break that [Music]
cycle when my mother was about to die I felt very very sad I feel like you
people are sad but also happy at the same time is that
right yes death is a celebration for us it's one of the most important rituals
like birth and marriage we celebrate death you leave so much behind so much
pain in Hinduism we talk about there being 8.4 million different life forms
to be born as a human is to be blessed by God only as a human can you achieve
salvation
if you miss the chance you have to go through the entire cycle
again when did you decide that you would come here to Varanasi and how did you
organize that the whole family can come as I go to ask him the next question it
suddenly goes dark
outage here which of course is terrible because the ventilator for his father has now
stopped for the first time the room grows [Music] restless it seems as if death has become
more real more tangible for the family
[Music]
[Music]
I suspect the family would prefer to be alone for the time
[Music] being on the banks of the Ganges I meet
te- seller Ram yadav
[Music] his family has lived in Varanasi for
Seven [Music]
Generations ramj you are so close to manik Kanika G um what kind of people do
you meet um do you meet sad people do you meet people that are happy that
their relative passed away here in Varanasi what kind of impression do you get from the people
here many people who have just lost a loved one come to my tea shop it's often
the case that they're sad or
crying some struggle with losing their father their mother son or other family
members how can you comfort these people do you try to yeah give them some
comfort through your food through your tea through talking how do you do
it when people tell me about their problems I explain to them that God has given each of us only a set number of
days people are always looking for money or happiness but everything from birth
and death is predestined by God I tell them there's no reason to cry they can
live happily and in peace everyone has lost someone they loved at some point no
one is mortal everyone has to go
someday once again I'm made aware that death here isn't necessarily seen as something terrible I ask him if he's
afraid of dying himself no I'm not afraid of death
there's no reason to worry or be afraid one day I will die too I'd rather
Embrace death it's best to make friends with
their evenings in [Music] Varanasi every day a ceremony to honor
the Ganges is held on the riverbank [Music]
thousands of worshippers gather here the spiritual significance the city holds
means many can make a living [Music]
here kajal is 9 years old
[Music] each day her mother paints her up as the Hindu deity
[Music] Shiva her family including a 5-year-old
brother has been homeless for some
time I don't have a husband that's why we live here on the riverbank we came
here mainly because of my heart condition to earn at least a little
money yes we'd like to have a room but we can't afford it huh how did you get
the idea of her walking around dressed as Lord
Shiva a lot of people suggested it to me they told me you have no husband and you
need a heart operation your daughter could walk around as Shiva I need about
500 or 600 for the operation so we're trying to get the money this
way kajal collects around 500 rupees in one day a little over 5
I feel bad about it but I can't see any other way once I have enough money for
the operation I'll stop sending her out what does your daughter say she
seems like a happy child does she sometimes complain does she understand what she's doing
there no she never complains she does a lot for me she always tells me I'll live
only if you live that's why she's collecting money for my
operation every afternoon follows the same
routine after applying makeup kajal mingles with the tourists hoping to
bring home as much money as possible
give me money I will give me 50 cents I don't have that
much give it to me [Music]
now stop
that show her face that's
enough no I'm not taking that take this 20 cents
[Applause]
here today Kel has collected just under €4 enough for a little food for her
family but not enough to save for the
[Music] operation I don't feel good about what
I'm doing I'm only doing it for my mother some people even call me a
beggar I always tell them I'm not the beggar they
are do you sometimes get in dangerous situations or situations that you don't
like actually I'm never afraid I'm only scared of the thought that my mother
might die I don't want my mother to
[Music]
[Music] die I admire kajal's strength and I find
it terrible that this 9-year-old has to deal with death so early in
life death and life in mukba one their close neighbors a man dies and right
next to him children [Music]
play alongside them the family of 20 also needs to be taken care
[Applause]
of that's life people come here when doctors have said there's nothing more
they can do their final wish is to come to God whoever dies here here in veran can
consider themselves lucky the children of course don't understand all this
yet they don't know what's happening
here now they came with the whole [Music]
family um so can as many people come as
they like
while at least two people should accompany the sick person in this case it's 15 to 20 sometimes 10 or 15 family
members come we never say no here everyone has
offered a roof over their head
[Music]
the dying are blessed three times a day part of the ritual includes drinking a drop of the gangji's holy water
[Music]
the family sees mainly the good for their [Music] relative
in whoever comes here knows that there will be no rebirth for them in life there is so much pain you meet people
then part ways there is so much suffering so many illnesses death and barany means freedom
from all that the ultimate freedom
how much responsibility do you feel as a son right now in this
situation well being a father is a big thing no matter what I did it could never be
enough even if I gave my own skin for him I'll never be able to replace my
father I can never repay what he's done for me
we try to explain this to the children in the evening we pray and talk with each
[Music] other whether we're alive or not God is
there for [Music] [Applause] [Music]
everyone I noticed the family's sadness that they will soon lose a loved one one
yet at the same time they're happy and grateful that they have fulfilled his last wish that he's able to die here in
[Music]
[Music] vasi on the banks of the Ganges patosi
Works late into the evening
bodies are burned here around the
clock it's a job the 33-year-old never really
[Music]
wanted I dreamed of studying leading a better life not having to do this job
here but I have no proper education I've had many problem
I tried different jobs nothing really worked out for
me he does not want his three children to one day have to risk their own health
in the
smoke when my children have completed their education as engineer for instance
they'll have a completely different future ahead of them they can choose other professions it hurts to see the people
who've ended up here only those who are blessed get better jobs
nowadays he wants his children to live the dream that was denied to him
my dream is for them to get an education to become better people build a good
circle of friends if I can support their dreams I'll do everything I can to make
it [Music]
happen it's just after 5:00 a.m. it's untypically quiet in M
ban the man just passed away
I feel incredibly sorry for the family at the same time I believe the
family is glad it's over now and that he will hopefully find
Salvation here in
[Music]
[Music]
I'm happy for him he did everything for his family right until the last moment
now his family must let go they brought him here to veranesi knowing this would
be the last station of his life [Music]
the family will gather everything that's needed for the burning of the body then they'll carry the body from here to the
banks of the Ganges there it will be decorated and then burned
[Music]
everything has to move quickly now the soul is to be freed from the dead
[Music] body while the men shoulder the physical
weight the women stay behind they're not permitted to participate in the funeral ceremony
[Music]
[Music]
it's aan now they're carrying him through the streets of Varanasi for everyone to see not even his face is
covered to me it's very strange of course for everyone else around us it's completely normal
[Music] the relatives carry the deceased man's possessions with
them his belongings will be given away it would bring bad luck to keep
them in the family after his death
[Music]
[Applause]
arrival at the banks of the Ganges where the deceased is to be
burned
in the moment of grief fixed rituals Provide
support before the funeral the eldest son of the family has his head shaved a
way to pay respect to his
father in the meantime firewood for the funeral P needs to be organized it costs
about €100 for the 400 Kil
needed the family places their relative onto the wood
[Music] themselves then finally the fire is
ignited the eldest son touches his father's skull three times symbolic
gesture the skull is supposed to break open releasing the
soul it's time for the farewells
[Music]
I think of the family what must be going through their minds during the
[Music]
fire for them a 13-day period of mourning now begins
[Music]
I was in Varanasi for 3 weeks it was the most intense shoot of my
[Music] life it was a period in which I felt sad
thoughtful and at the same time
happy when I arrived I thought to myself how could anyone want to die here in
this crowded noisy place where the smell of burned bodies is in the air everywhere now I've at least to some
extent developed an understanding of it I've learned why people have a more positive approach to death this shoot is
also changed me personally I've noticed that my fear of dealing with death has fallen away more and more
death in a way is part of life I find that a really beautiful and reassuring
thought
====
256 Comments
Sejin Lifeforce 生命
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@Harsha.............
1 day ago
Thank you DW documentary
I live in a nation where our national media shows Bollywood celebrities' children, richest man's son marriage day and night where at the same time a girl named Kajol begging on the banks of Ganga to save her mother's life
God and our freedom fighters please forgive us
Special note - this is the constituency of PM of India Narendra Modi
39
Reply
DW Documentary
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5 replies
@Nerinav1985
1 day ago
Amid the poverty, rat infested streets, open defecation
There is also
Serenity and smiles..
Love and laughter...
Good Samaritans next door helping each other...
Not bad compared to sterile city apartment block where old men die a lonely death, and his corpse is discovered by "neighbours" only after the stench become unbearable.
Money will give you lots of walls...
Walls to hide yourself from the world
Eventually the walls of your apartment become your coffin.
Amen
5
Reply
@DWDocumentary
1 day ago
Thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts.
3
Reply
@brainytrader5021
22 hours ago
@Nerinav1985 You cannot compare one problem with the other, both problems need to be solved in order to improve the society, u trying to mock a lonely old man dying while u also have 10 different other issues, that ironic.
1
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@challenger13_31
21 hours ago
I believe you didn't see Varanasi before Modi era
2
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@Harsha.............
19 hours ago
@challenger13_31 sir sorry it's just an info to the world
Not comparing before or after modi.
I am well aware of Namami Gange programme
Reply
@AcidOllie
1 day ago
From one motherless Oliver to another, this was a great documentary. I have always struggled with the whole death thing, especially since my mother died and I'm always keen to learn more about how others deal with it.
16
Reply
@Xavi297
1 day ago
Amazing culture!!
I love India 🇮🇳 ️
Thanks DW for this reporting
🇮🇱 🇺🇸
23
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DW Documentary
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1 reply
@DWDocumentary
1 day ago
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!
Reply
@MP_mp20
1 day ago
Thank you DW
Varanasi is the one of the oldest city in World
34
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10 replies
@zahran3738
1 day ago
Dw hats off even indian media would not have done this elaboratively
35
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2 replies
@vsharan2k
1 day ago (edited)
@Oliver Meyer, this is incredibly humble and brave of you to have even embarked on this project after your own personal loss- perhaps the deepest one!
@Felix Leichum, your camera work makes this so sombre and yet brings out the life-finding-its-way through the challenges in the city. The ventilator outside the room at dawn was the shot almost, Kajal's grit and close emotions behind paint were just as stark!
The editing team has kept the flow so experiential and real, almost everything of significance is right in the centre of this documentary as it should be. And it's no easy job as there are many rituals, several challenges (the pollution, the crowds, the cunning few roaming around, the rucus... just to name a few) that can easily be misrepresented in distorted ways. Perhaps an integral decision to keep the dignity of the experience of families visiting the crematory bank (Manikarnika ghat) and the due care taken to honor it, the tussle of those who are stuck over generations to make a living out of burning pyres, and then the people who stay around the ghats for making a living including the little girl, makes this work so genuine and profound.
Hindus usually see more than their share of unfortunate misrepresentation in mainstream media about their cultural practices. It's because this diverse culture cannot be narrated over a comfortable vacation. It has deep symbolism and meaning. Most will struggle with the idea of burning the dead. The honest embedding requisite before making an attempt to present Hindu traditions is made evident in this stunning piece of art!
As a native of Varanasi, I have to say- Congratulations @DW Documentary and brave of you Oliver!
7
Reply
@Desi_Midget
1 day ago
This city is absolutely one of the most polluted cities in the entire world.
I'm Indian, I know it. Doesn't mean it isn't sacred to Hindus.
49
Reply
6 replies
@Shiva-05
1 day ago
And I live here
Reply
@xskrym
1 day ago
@Shiva-05 how is it living in that environment?
Reply
@Eusantdac
1 day ago
I was there two months ago, in June. It's bad but not that bad. Any Spiritual person that can go, I urge them to go and stay at least a week.
Reply
@Shiva-05
1 day ago (edited)
@xskrym you know we call our 'Ganga' a mother, a goddess, we are child of hers but we are the same people who pour down sewage water into the river, we are the same people who throws plastic, garlands into the river, choking the fishes. You see on paper when you read about our religion, we say whole earth is our mother but we litter the s**t out of it, no better waste management system, so I think no matter how good things my religion says about things like spiritualism and living, we the people are just hollow inside for not following the same thing, is my city really the holiest city in the world? I would rather say it's Jerusalem
3
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@Shiva-05
1 day ago
@Eusantdac thanks for understanding, I don't know, neither my city Municipal corporation, the people who get money to solve the pollution in ganga, the officials, all are Hindus who can proudly say Ganga is our mother and none of any other religions think like that but we the people don't care when the river has become so much toxic, I don't know please if there's any god there plz help my mother river to be clean because we the people and our corrupt politicians and municipal officials have poured down 1000s of million rupees but still our river is not clean, neither the people who say that the river is their mother will come and throw the plastic and garlands in there, without any second thought.
1
Reply
@curious-r8t
1 day ago
@Shiva-05 i read the translation of the oldest rig veda. To me it speaks of ome God but i need to learn Sanskrit to make sure….
Reply
@clam371384
1 day ago (edited)
This was a very heavy & intense video to watched. Hats off to the interviewer.
12
Reply
@gayathriganesan7433
1 day ago
Is there a way we can help the lady who is in need of an operation?
11
Reply
@guitaristmichaelstark
1 day ago
Face life without fear!
20
Reply
@ashleytolson937
1 day ago
Well swimming in and drinking water from the Ganges is one way to speed up the dying process..
18
Reply
7 replies
@Nerinav1985
1 day ago
Amid the poverty, rat infested streets, open defecation
There is also
Serenity and smiles..
Love and laughter...
Good Samaritans next door helping each other...
Not bad compared to sterile city apartment block where old men die a lonely death, and his corpse is discovered by "neighbours" only after the stench become unbearable.
Money will give you lots of walls...
Walls to hide yourself from the world
Eventually the walls of your apartment become your coffin.
Amen
15
Reply
1 reply
@healingself2225
1 day ago
Thank you, DW, for this incredible and honest documentary. Indeed, ~For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are oneErnest Becker was right when he wondered: "Man is literally split in two: he has an awareness of his own splendid uniqueness in that he sticks out of nature with a towering majesty, and yet he goes back into the ground a few feet in order blindly and dumbly to rot and disappear forever."
2
Reply
@Supersaiyanbuddha
1 day ago
Watching in Varanasi hits different.
10
Reply
@naminders1172
19 hours ago
This is a social difference on one side people spend millions on marriage and some beg for survival and treatment. So sad
3
Reply
@SpiritTemple
1 day ago
Fascinating documentary, I think everyone alive can benefit from thinking more deeply about death, since it is like birth, an inescapable part of being human.
3
Reply
@Global_nomad_diaries
5 hours ago
Heart wrenching story of that little girl and her mother
1
Reply
@jithutjohnny4013
1 day ago
DW, Kindly include official English subtitles.
4
Reply
@JimmyGeorge1
14 hours ago
Please take this criticism positively and work towards building the country. There is nothing to be proud of as an Indian: unclean streets, the caste system, poor management of social infrastructure and services, lack of respect for women with rape being a common occurrence, religious tension, communal violence against women and lower-class people, and a generally poor quality of life. There is no driving culture, a lack of personal hygiene, and dirty, unhygienic street food. Corrupt politicians and hypocritical governance systems are prevalent.
I feel ashamed to be of Indian origin. It’s nothing but shame. I can’t hold my head up in front of the Western world.
#MakeIndiaGreat
2
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@shachar777
1 day ago
This video is heartwrenching and heartwarming. Thanks for th e upload.
3
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DW Documentary
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2 replies
@LydiaNalukwago
1 day ago
I have loved DW documentary thank you
5
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DW Documentary
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1 reply
@Ai-he1dp
18 hours ago
I visited Varanasi many years ago, i found it quite shocking, unburned bodies floating in the water, sometimes being finished off by dogs and birds, someone approached me probably seeing my dismay?...he said in the end it all ends uo back to the earth...thats one way of looking at it.
1
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@balsarmy
1 day ago
Great vidro. That is what I needes.
I think it is important that rutinisation towards deaths is not equal to be more philosophucal about death
2
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@Shiva-05
1 day ago
Thanks DW
4
Reply
@anastasiafua
1 day ago
DW fab documentary once again!
2
Reply
@akashkumarmishra7996
1 day ago
Thankuu #DW_Documentry to show our culture.
2
Reply
@lunesa
1 hour ago
I admire their faith. It's intriguing and humbling to look at death the way they do.
Reply
@athul3318
1 day ago
Shambo mahadeva
2
Reply
@arkodhar5426
1 day ago
Basic Concept of life and death.
What a great understanding by DW.
Reply
@MsThe90
1 day ago
Lucky are the people who have their entire family with them when it's time to leave.
3
Reply
2 replies
@ellona3645
15 hours ago
Glad I have Jesus.... this is so sad to watch
3
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@eastafrica1020
1 day ago
I would rather say nothing. YouTube will probably delete my account if I give my thoughts on this spectacle.
24
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5 replies
@Canucks988
12 hours ago
They’re bringing this culture to wherever they go.
1
Reply
1 reply
@mambas264
3 hours ago
The little girl Kajal is extremely enthusiastic
Reply
@jegr6607
1 day ago
@dw is there any way to reach out to the lady waiting for heart operation?
How painful to hear - i will live only if you live
1
Reply
@srikanthchitikela6437
1 day ago
Tq DW Har har MAHADEV
1
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@sumonwazid8123
1 day ago (edited)
How peculiar things happen in Varanasi !!! be rational, be respectful on yourself.
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@PrinceSingh-ps7rk
1 day ago
In Hinduism all beings are souls and thus spiritual in nature. Though the body is temporary and eventually dies, the soul is eternal.
After death, the soul is reincarnated, taking birth in another physical body or form. Passing from one life to the next, each soul is on a journey of spiritual development facilitated in part by karma, the concept that every thought and action has a corresponding reaction. One experiences the results of both good and bad deeds over a series of lives. The soul is uplifted through every good action performed and degraded with every bad action.
Stuck in this cycle of birth and death, known as samsara, the soul experiences the results of its karma, through which it becomes more aware of how its actions affect the world and others around it. This growth of awareness enables one to become a more selfless and loving being, until enough progress has been made to attain moksha, or liberation from samsara, resulting in complete spiritual existence.
Hence death is an absolute truth
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@kaze987
1 day ago
I just cut myself on this glass here. Best to throw it away. (Me thinking he's going to throw it away on land). Chucks it behind him back into the river.....
Amazing documentary! Varanasi is on my bucket list of places to see before I die.
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@clanmclaren1244
1 day ago
I need to go there every time i eat a Curry
