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The Thoughts That Predominate In A Person’s Consciousness At The Time Of Death Define The Person’s Next Birth

यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम् |
तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावित: || 8.6||

yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ tyajatyante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ||8.6||

Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 8- Ver. 6:

When (one) thinks whatsoever state when leaving the body at the end, O Kaunteya, (one) is always absorbed in that and achieves just that.

Explanation

In this verse, Shree Krishna says that whatever thoughts are prominent in a person’s mind at the time of death determines his or her next birth. However, one should not draw the conclusion that God-realization can be gained simply by concentrating on God at death bed.

The same thoughts will naturally flow into our head at the time of death through the channels of thinking that we develop through lifelong habit. Our daily routines and associations have an impact on what we constantly think about and focus on throughout our lives. As a result, it’s only natural that these factors continue to influence our final thoughts.

Death is a painful event. As a result, it’s only natural for the mind to gravitate toward notions that are part of one’s natural state. It’s quite tough to think of God when you’re dying. As a result, for the intellect to constantly think of God, our inner essence must be one with Him.

Our inner essence is the consciousness that resides within our mind and intellect. And whatever concepts we ponder become part of our inner nature over time. As a result, we must make it a habit to remember God at all times. Only then will we be able to create a God-aware inner nature.

Verse & what we can learn

Whatever we are thinking about when we die will determine our fate. We don’t have any influence over our thoughts at the moment of death. It is, in reality, the result of our thought patterns throughout our lives. In our next existence, our deepest love, our deepest interest, and our deepest longing will bear fruit.

To acquire knowledge and to implement that knowledge in life one needs to be mentally and physically active and healthy and for that daily meditation is a great tool.

There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There are also numerous meditation techniques for beginners which help in practicing daily meditation so go ahead and start your journey towards a peaceful and balanced life.

We must practice remembering God at every moment of our life. Only then will we develop a God-conscious inner nature. In the next verse, Lord Krishna advises the same to Arjun.

Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…