After the passing of Her son, Oyasama spoke in his place, saying:
“My soul is embraced by the Parent. I have simply cast off an old garment.”
The Life of Oyasama, p. 113
Clickety-clack. Clickety-clack. The passengers on the train are enjoying the changing landscape outside their windows—the sun rising over the sea, shining hills and fields in bright daylight, skyscrapers at sunset, and so forth. The only thing is that they do not know how much further their tickets entitle them to travel. Will the journey still continue for a long time or will it come to an end soon?
Such, in fact, is our life journey. From time to time, some of us may wonder what will happen to us when we die and, perhaps, become apprehensive. Yet what about before we were born? What were we doing? And where? After all, it has been hundreds of millions of years since the beginning of humankind.
We have no recollection of worrying about whether we would be able to be born smoothly. When we first became aware of our surroundings, we were already living in this world. This should assure us that, just as we did not worry about our birth, we do not need to worry about our death because, after all, everything is in the loving hands of God, the Parent of all humankind.
There are people who are desperately looking for a way to avoid dying. On the other hand, there are those who wish they were dead. Yet everyone will die sooner or later. Humans can only live for so long. Why not enjoy the “now” when we are alive? We can enjoy the gifts of nature such as the cold winds of winter, the warm weather of spring, the bright sun of summer, and a stunning array of autumn colors. Rather than worry about how much further we will be able to travel on the train, we would do well to enjoy the ride while it lasts.
Besides, it is not as if the railroad tracks would suddenly come to an end at the edge of a cliff. When the time comes for us to get off the train, we can do so with peace of mind. Also, we can put on new clothes and get on another train to embark on a new journey. Life’s railway continues on.
It is thanks to God’s providence that children grow up. It is also thanks to God’s providence that our bodies weaken as we age. We can delight in growing old—and in passing away for rebirth.
Isn’t it wonderful to partake of life?