Decoration of the Dead Body
In India, the lower class men, during their life, will dress very wretchedly and not spend money. But when some of their relatives die, they will purchase some velvet and cover the body and very nicely decorate, and with band party they'll take, lead the dead body. They make lips of the dead body very smiling. The body is taken in procession. So it may be very much pleasing to the relatives that the dead body's decorated. So shastra says that what is the meaning of this decoration? What benefit the man who is dead, is getting? The sons of that dead body may see him, that "Oh, my father is smiling," but actually is that man smiling? He does not know where his father has already gone. So long the life is there, if you decorate the body everyone will appreciate. But if you decorate the dead body, people will say "What a fool he is!" Similarly, without spiritual knowledge, this dead civilization; simply on the bodily concept of life, it is ludicrous. They are trying to invent so many nice things, scientifically, mechanically. Activities are very methodical. Everything is all right. But if it is not Krishna consciousness, then what is the meaning? You may please some of the people, "Oh, how you are decorating a dead body." But it has no meaning. It is useless waste of time. Therefore young men, young girls, they have become frustrated, in spite of all this nice arrangement. There is no life. So life is Krishna consciousness. So if you actually feel for your country, for your community, for your people, just spread this Krishna consciousness. They're dying. You spread this Krishna consciousness. They'll come again to life, and everything will be actually beautiful.
Ref: Srila Prabhupada's lecture excerpt, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.12-13 - New Vrindaban, June 11, 1969
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