Loss is one of the most universal human experiences — yet when it happens to us, it feels deeply personal, isolating, and devastating. Whether it’s the passing of a parent, a spouse, a child, or a close friend, the void left behind seems impossible to fill. We are often left asking: Why did this happen? How do I go on now? In the wake of such emotional turmoil, no ordinary words seem to help.
Yet, for thousands of years, seekers of truth have turned to the Bhagavad Gita, a timeless spiritual guide, for comfort and clarity during life’s darkest moments. Its wisdom, combined with the compassionate interpretations of enlightened teachers like Swami Mukundananda, offers not just solace but a profound understanding of life, death, and the eternal journey of the soul.
This blog is a humble attempt to walk you through that wisdom — not to deny your grief, but to help transform it into a deeper connection with truth, and a renewed commitment to inner growth.
The Unbearable Pain of Losing Someone
When someone close passes away, we are shaken. The world as we knew it collapses. This grief is not merely psychological — it’s existential. It forces us to confront the nature of attachment, impermanence, and our own mortality.
As Swamiji explains in his discourses, the emotional bonds we build over time are intense, and when these ties are broken, the heart naturally suffers. In fact, feeling grief is not a sign of weakness, but a sign that we loved deeply. The process of grieving, according to him, is both natural and necessary — unless one has already reached a rare state of inner detachment.
In the immediate aftermath of loss, one often goes through a range of emotions: disbelief, denial, guilt, anger — sometimes even toward God or the departed soul — followed by a period of intense sorrow. These are all part of the human experience. Acknowledging them is the first step toward healing.
However, the path forward lies not in being consumed by grief, but in growing through it, and that's where the Gita’s teachings provide a beacon of light.
The Eternal Soul: Rediscovering Our Spiritual Identity
At the heart of the Bhagavad Gita’s wisdom is a powerful truth: We are not these perishable bodies. We are eternal souls.
In Chapter 2, verse 20, Shree Krishna reveals the eternal nature of the self:
na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śhāśhvato ’yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śharīre
"The soul is never born, and it never dies. It is eternal, indestructible, and timeless. It is not destroyed when the body is destroyed."
Read more →
This is not metaphorical or poetic — it is a literal spiritual truth. The Gita invites us to look beyond the physical form and recognize that what we loved in another person was not their body or their habits, but the divine spark within them. That spark — the soul — continues its journey beyond death.
Swamiji reiterates this point, explaining that what we call "death" is simply the soul’s departure from one body, guided by its past karm. No soul truly dies. It merely moves onward.
Understanding this may not take the pain away immediately, but it does offer a greater framework. It helps us move from despair to acceptance, and from clinging to release.
Everything Is Temporary, Except the Divine
The Gita doesn’t deny the reality of sorrow — it acknowledges it, but also teaches that much of our suffering comes from attachment. We get attached to people, forms, identities, and situations, assuming they will remain unchanged. But the material world is constantly in flux. Recognizing the temporary nature of all things becomes key to spiritual maturity.
As Shree Krishna tells Arjun:
jātasya hi dhruvo mṛityur dhruvaṁ janma mṛitasya cha
tasmād aparihārye ’rthe na tvaṁ śhochitum arhasi
"Death is certain for one who has been born, and rebirth is inevitable for one who has died. Therefore, you should not lament over the inevitable."
Read more →
Swami Mukundananda often uses the analogy of the setting sun to explain this idea. We don’t mourn when the sun sets, because we know it will rise again. Similarly, death is a natural sunset — part of a divine cycle. When seen this way, loss becomes less of an end, and more of a transition.
Grieve — But Don’t Remain in Grief
In Hindu tradition, there is a grieving period — usually thirteen days — where the family honors the soul of the departed. This time is sacred and should be observed fully. However, prolonged grief beyond this period is seen as counterproductive, both for the one who remains and the one who has departed.
Swamiji reminds us that remaining stuck in sorrow can become a form of spiritual self-sabotage. Instead of helping our loved one’s soul, we may be holding them back. Would the person we lost want to see us in constant pain? Or would they want to see us living fully, honoring their memory through our strength and purpose?
By choosing to heal and grow, we honor the departed in the most meaningful way.
Use the Pain to Develop Detachment and Devotion
Pain, when directed inward, can either break us or awaken us. The Gita teaches that loss is an opportunity to reflect on what truly matters.
Swamiji explains that these moments of loss should nudge us toward detachment, reminding us that all worldly relationships, no matter how dear, are temporary. But there is one relationship that is eternal — the one with God.
He beautifully expresses this idea:
“Let me seek my eternal relative — my soul beloved — who is God.”
Loss, then, becomes a turning point — a wake-up call to redirect our emotional energies from the finite to the infinite.
Living with Purpose: Return to Your Dharma
The Bhagavad Gita was spoken in a battlefield, not a temple. Why? Because life is a battle — full of responsibilities, challenges, and dilemmas. After a loss, it’s easy to become numb and retreat from the world. But, Shree Krishna teaches us that we must return to our duties — not coldly, but with surrender and spiritual awareness.
In Chapter 3, verse 30, Krishna says:
mayi sarvāṇi karmāṇi sannyasyādhyātma-cetasā
nirāśīr nirmamo bhūtvā yudhyasva vigata-jvaraḥ
"Performing all works as an offering unto Me, constantly meditate on Me as the Supreme. Become free from desire and selfishness, and with your mental grief departed, fight!"
Read more →
This verse reminds us that acting in harmony with our dharma, while surrendering outcomes to God, leads to inner peace. Even as we mourn, we can still serve, love, and live with meaning.
Knowledge Is the Light That Dispels the Fog of Grief
One of the most powerful tools for transcending grief is spiritual knowledge. Not just intellectual understanding, but deep, experiential insight that comes from contemplation, study, and surrender.
Swamiji encourages us to educate our mind about the truth of existence. The more we anchor ourselves in scriptural knowledge, the more resilient we become. This knowledge doesn’t numb us — it awakens us.
For instance, the Gita teaches that we are mere instruments in the cosmic plan. Even while seeing, touching, feeling, and interacting with the world, the wise know they are not the doers:
naiva kiñcit karomīti yukto manyeta tattva-vit
paśyan śṛiṇvan spṛiśan jighran aśnan gacchan svapan śvasan
"Those steadfast in karm yog, always think, “I am not the doer,” even while engaged in seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, moving, sleeping, breathing, speaking, excreting, grasping, and opening or closing the eyes. With the light of divine knowledge, they see that it is only the material senses that are moving amongst their objects."
Read more →
This mindset frees us from excessive self-blame or guilt, which often follow loss.
How to Honor the Memory of a Loved One Spiritually
Rather than merely preserving memories through photographs or rituals, the Gita offers a higher way to remember our loved ones — by living a life of elevated consciousness.
Here are some ways to honor their legacy:
- Engage in seva (selfless service) in their name.
- Chant mantras or perform spiritual practices on their behalf.
- Donate or support causes they cared about.
- Grow spiritually — they live on through your inner transformation.
Let Your Grief Propel You Toward God
Swamiji’s teachings emphasize that even grief can become a spiritual catalyst. When we allow the pain of separation to turn us inward, we begin to seek that which is unchanging — the divine presence that is never lost.
He urges us to see such reversals not as punishments but as redirections — divine nudges steering us toward the eternal truth.
“Utilize this grief as something that pushes you further toward God. That is the proper way to handle it.”
Final Thoughts: From Mourning to Meaning
The Bhagavad Gita, through Krishna’s divine counsel, doesn’t ask us to repress our grief or ignore our pain. Rather, it teaches us to understand it, to transcend it, and to let it serve as a portal to deeper wisdom and connection with the divine.
Loss is real. Grief is valid. But so is healing, transformation, and devotion.
As you walk through this journey of coping, may the eternal wisdom of the Gita and the heartfelt teachings of Swami Mukundananda help you find peace in acceptance, and strength in surrender.
A Gentle Invitation: Take the Next Step on Your Spiritual Journey
If this message has touched your heart or offered some comfort, here are two beautiful ways to deepen your spiritual path:
👉 Subscribe to Swami Mukundananda’s YouTube Channel
Receive regular wisdom, meditations, and talks that can help you navigate life with clarity and grace.
📖 Read the Bhagavad Gita with Commentary
Explore the scripture that has guided millions through life’s greatest trials. Visit www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org to read the Bhagavad Gita with complete verse-by-verse commentary.
May your pain become your power, and your grief become your grace. Om Shanti.
