Death has a certain significance. But rituals, whether at the time of birth or death, mean nothing to Prakriti. And even at the level of the Truth, where there is neither birth nor death, rituals don’t matter. In between these two is the level of the social mind — this is where rituals seem to matter. Not an absolute significance but if you are heavily influenced by society, going against it has consequences. Those who still can't take blows don't need to get into needless rebellions. There are bigger battles to fight. But those who are ready; there has to be resolve within and tact outside.
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Questioner: Hello Acharya Ji, I want to know when someone passes away, is it okay if we don’t do death rituals?
Acharya Prashant: There are the forces at three levels that affect us. At two levels, it is just alright to bypass rituals. One of them, one of those levels, has to be managed, the third one.
You see the body; the person is gone, the existence doesn’t bother; Prakriti (existence/creation) ‘Prakriti’ has no need for rituals and doesn’t bother any. Some sects and groups have one kind of ritual, and obviously, others have other kinds. To existence, it is all the same whether you burn or bury. So, if you say it is alright from a Prakritik perspective or an existential perspective, it is very much alright.
Birth is significant. Life is significant. Death, too, has a certain significance, but rituals, whether at the time of birth or death, mean nothing to Prakriti. The kid is born. You celebrate it; the kid still remains born. You do not celebrate it, that doesn’t mean that the kid will slip back into the womb. Prakriti has done what she had to. There is no space or consideration for any product of human thought there; that’s what rituals are, right? We put these rituals together. They are the product of our thinking.
