The moments of death How does one die? In this context Indian 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 (prana) from all over the body, which before death, is accumulated at that particular part of the body, through which 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 reasons for the misery preceding the moment of death are diseases, shock or other physiological factors rendering the body unfit 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 a kind of coma and the soul departs in this state of unconsciousness. 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. The Yogis of the West are of the view that the subtle body of the being comes out of the body as a violet shadow, whereas the Indian spiritual Masters 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 phenomenon 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 lifes 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 accompanies the soul as its sanskaras (intrinsic mental and emotional 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- because the soul feels extremely repentant for not having utilized lifes 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-perception becomes introverted. Thus all sufferings of the body end before death. The bond between the body and soul with diseases, shock or old age begins to loosen. The fruit drops to the ground when it is ripened and its stem is unable to bear its weight. In the same manner, in the normal course, an individual dies when the body and its functional capabilities loosen their grip on the soul. The soul generally departs through the apertures in the upper part of the body, principally from the mouth, eyes, ears or nostrils. Souls of sinners have been found to exit through the anus or organs of sex. The soul of a Yogi leaves through the Brahmarandhra (near top of the cranium).

- courtesy Akhand Jyoti