"Sometimes a person suffering from a serious disease comes to Swami and says, "Swami, I'm dying. Please help me." If he is told that he is going to die, then it may hasten his death. To infuse courage and confidence, Swami says, "Don't worry, I will look after you and take care of everything."
The principal thing here is that the dying person is given confidence to face his death, which will also help him to live for a few hours longer, spending that time in peace, remembering Swami. To die in peace is most important. The conditions for the next birth are set by the thoughts at the time of death. We use the word, "enjoy". We believe that is the goal of all the pleasures we crave for in life, but what is really important is that we "end joy" - that the last moments of life be filled with joy.
End joy is the real joy. Dying in peace is the thing that marks the best moments of great beings. We pay much attention to the time of birth, but the time of death is equally important. Bhishmacharya waited for the auspicious hour to come before he gave up his life; great sages all pay attention to the most auspicious time for casting off their bodies."
~ Baba ~
(From a talk in Brindavan - S.S. April 1986)
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