Temple Emanu-El of Bayonne, NJ

This is a verbatim of a great discourse a patient gave before he expired. I have changed the names and a sufficient amount of details to obscure the true identity of the patient in accordance with HIPPA.

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A Great Discourse at the end of Life’s Journey

By Rafael Ben Boaz Ha’yehudi

I, Rafael Ben Boaz Ha’yehudi emigrated from Iran to the United States a few years before the revolution and devoted my professional career to the development of rocket engines and supersonic jets. From early childhood my parents put me on the right course of life, an avid seeker of wisdom. I have never abandoned this pursuit for even one day, nor hath wisdom abandoned me.  Today, as I lay here in this hospital bed after undergoing a major surgery, I find myself pondering upon the mysteries that lie beyond life’s final breath. The intricacies of existence, a delicate tapestry of cosmic balance and ecological harmony unfold before my eyes. In the grandeur of nature, I behold the vast expanse of the sky with its celestial wonders, the ethereal beauty of the sea, the enchantment of rain forests teeming with life, the serenity of lakes at dawn in utter stillness covered by a huge sheath of glass and rivers winding through the valleys raging with boisterous white water. Volcanoes rumbling reminding us of their capacity to spew out lava and reshape the contours of the land. These phenomenal forces come to my awareness like a living tapestry in formation.  Then there natural wonders that are not displayed as prominently that found like delicate beads of water clinging as tiny translucent grapes on blades of grass; and like cavernous caves glistening with multi-colored stalactites and stalagmites formed over the course of millions of years from water laden with minerals that gradually distilled and crystallized into precious gems.  These sort of things beckoned me to explore and study every thing about them. And open expanses that I saw from the air spoke to my heart of boundless freedom and hidden treasures.  When I saw vegetation growing in wind wiped prairies and bone dry deserts, I wanted to know all about the ground water flowing beneath the surface. I wanted to hear the deeper story behind thee places.  I see a kaleidoscope of multifaceted fauna and majestic trees with flowing branches adorning the Earth. 

I explored worlds so minute they existed beyond the view of the naked eye. They have captivated my interest throughout my life journey. Intricate cellular biomes from the tiniest of organisms down to the subatomic realm, ignite a blaze of wonder in my soul.  Within Atoms, those naughty building blocks of matter, extraordinary worlds are concealed; and neither do they conform to particle or wave resisting definition as if they were guarding a secret to which we lacked security clearance. These discoveries transform my eyes into the eyes of a child wondering about the splendor and interconnectedness of all things.  The incomprehensible vastness of the universe to the infinitesimal wonders on a quark. It is all fueled by the light of the sun, the lantern of life. All things are born from the light and return to the light. When the cycle of life is completed, all is returned to the light.  Human consciousness emerges from the midst of all of these dimensions, each rolled into the next. 

Eventually a person from the depths of their soul opens their eyes and sees themselves as part of creation.  They ponder as do I, what is this creation I see before me? Why was I ushered into this world? What will be of me after I die? What was the reason for my life? Why is so much hidden from me? What is the source and purpose of creation?  What is it you want of me God? So much is unknown and I cannot pretend to know anything at all.  I believe and feel that all souls exit in God’s world and lives on after the body dies.  The soul soars to another place I cannot begin to fathom. 

As I delve into the depths of modern scientific discoveries, I am enthralled and humbled. The revelations of quantum physics and the subatomic realm ignite a blaze of wonder within my soul. Creation waits for us to see and will not reveal it without our desire and effort to discover it.  It is through these discoveries that silence me. My soul is transfixed in the splendor and interconnectedness of all things, from the incomprehensible vastness of galaxies throughout the universe to the infinitesimal wonders hidden within the smallest particles. I am humbled and had not fully realized the holy ground I’ve walked upon all these years. 

Let us turn now to the discourse at hand.  May it be imbued with Socratic wisdom, the psalmist’s yearning and the prophet’s passion.   Life is a precious gift bestowed upon each of us leading us on a journey of discovery. We are but vessels through which spirit passes through animating us with the thirst to uncover the hidden phenomenon encrypted in creation. For this purpose, the force that underlies it all, that which we call God, permits our presence in this realm. However, too often, humanity succumbs to the intoxication of pride. This self-importance blinds us to the grand design of the cosmos, severing our connection with our potential. Mistakes are made, as our time is misspent in vain pursuits. God forgives us but we hurt ourselves when we fall out of synchrony with our life purpose.  

 The great sin today that plagues the entire planet is the destruction of the earth. The earth, in all her splendor, teems with wonders. She is a nurturing mother, sustaining life through the benevolent rays of the sun. Yet, we, the offspring of this sacred union, have sinned against God through our wanton destruction.  We are out of control in our disregard to the balances of the ecosystem that support our own existence.  But we are just a moment in the life of planets and life forms that fill the universe. Ultimately it is not the earth who suffers, but rather humanity and other creatures inhabiting the earth that suffer.  Even if we destroy ourselves and most life forms on the planet, the earth will eventually begin a new cycle of life.  Millions of years are significant to us, but in the grand scheme of things, it is just a brief moment. Earth’s capacity to heal and create life anew is extraordinary but not exclusive to our planet alone. 

Our religions and political ideologies have not brought peace between people but war and strife.   Our destructive nature has used them as weapons for conquest and greed. These actions further harm our spiritual potential and harm the earth.  We must rekindle our appreciation for the profound beauty that surrounds us, from majestic mountains and serene valleys to the ethereal formations of clouds and the resplendence of sunrises and sunsets. This appreciation is the way for us to regain our connection to the intricate tapestry woven by flowers, seas, rivers, trees, and the myriad of living beings moving with us through the galaxy as we follow the sun.  The sun is the pillar of light that we follow by day and the moon the pillar of fire by night.

God selects chosen souls imbuing them with a heightened connection to creativity, discovery, and influence. Some people feel this is unfair, but God knows his creation and chooses certain souls from birth to imbue them with a spirit of discovery.  Evil is part of God’s creative design and serves an important purpose.  Evil tests the heart and strengthens humanity like the constitution of metal is strengthened under heat and cold temperatures.  Evil is place in the world to resist and overcome. It presents the challenge that forces us to make deep seated soul decisions. Without evil, we would not grow to be autonomous beings worthy of insight and reward.  God, being forgiving by nature, does not forsake us when we falter. The souls chosen to reveal God’s great designs do not require the validation of others, the drive comes from within them. Independent in thought and free from the constraints of popular belief systems, they reflect solemnly upon each idea, seeking its inherent goodness and discerning correctly what they will accept and reject. For example, worship of a mere mortal, though widespread and revered, is but an illusion born of ignorance. True wisdom lies in maintaining independence of thought, refraining from falling prey to the mistakes of the masses. Yet, the world becomes ensnared in falsehood, mistaking it for truth. Powerful entities declare it true but it is false. Who, then, proclaims themselves to be acting for God while inspiring fear and bloodshed in the name of Jesus? In the name of Muhammad? In the name of Moses? In the name of communism, in the name of democracy?  This perversion of religious and secular doctrines leading to wars and the loss of countless lives, is not the truth of the Divine Creator. Yet it fills the world. I say to you, be a human being not a religion, then you will emphasis the good in your religion and discard the evil. The evil is spread throughout every aspect of human societies, and that is why it is imperative that the soul who is imbued with the spirit of redemption retain their independence of thought, seeking connection with God, creativity and a passion for discovery of new things. In the face of evil, my course is clear – avoid it entirely! For what benefit could I possibly gain from engaging with those who oppose my best interests? Hence, I choose to distance myself from such individuals and safeguard my own spiritual journey.

Death, an inevitable step in the cycle of life, neither instills fear nor disturbs my tranquil spirit. The culmination of life’s journey must come, and I embrace it, confident that it shall usher me into a realm beyond comprehension. While I entertain thoughts of my soul’s continued existence, the precise form it may take eludes me. In humility, I acknowledge that these matters lie beyond my grasp. To arrogantly claim knowledge of such mysteries or to declare oneself God is but folly. Unfortunately, falsehood reigns supreme, suppressing the humble truth that lies within us. These religions, in their simplicity, rob humanity of the ambition and spirit of discovery that reside within each individual. Truly, this is the greatest tragedy of our time. Religions and political ideologies have blunted the direct engagement each soul was put into this world to pursue.  Power has provided a foundation for religious and political lunacies that have become ruling institutions providing a false sense of comfort and security when people’s hearts would be better off pulsing with the exhilaration of discovery in the midst of ambiguity. 

As I approach the inevitable embrace of death, my heart yearns to prolong my time upon this Earth. There is so much more I would do and say. Yet, I surrender my fate to the hands of the Divine. May my transition be devoid of pain and suffering, and may I may retain my dignity until the very end. I believe that in the grand tapestry of life, every thread finds its place, and so shall I, in quiet acceptance of the end of my life cycle. I am appreciative for the opportunity to have lived.