Ned in Our Midst

The little that I have learned about the Hindu faith through Vicki and my own readings, the more I really want to learn. Although Ned grew up as I did, without a religious practice, it was through our parents' love of life, people, music, laughter, nature and family that we were taught spiritual and moral values. They taught us spirituality without explicitly teaching it.

Ned was an incredibly spiritual person who respectfully and openly tried to understand and embrace the Hindu faith and incorporate it into his life to a degree.

Vicki believes that she will see Ned when she leaves this life. I want to believe that too; however, I guess I haven't accepted that I won't see him in this life. I know she hasn't either and that's what gives us such great pain. I think the fact that he is gone will take the whole of our lifetimes to accept. Like most of us, we want to see him and experience him, be with him, now. 

Although we can no longer be with Ned in his bodily form, I do believe that he is still here. He hasn't really left us. In this way, just like my Yoga teacher explained, the Hindu belief in reincarnation is much like the first law in thermodynamics: "In any process, the total energy of the universe remains the same." 

It can also be defined as:
"The First Law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed; rather, the amount of energy lost in a steady state process cannot be greater than the amount of energy gained."

Ned's being is part of our universe. He is not gone, but has just taken on another form. He is floating down the rivers of the Sierra Nevadas, commingling with the flora and fauna there.  the beautiful rose petals that we picked from our neighbor's garden to spread with his ashes are with him, as is his dog Klaus.  In this way, science and spiritual understandings come together. I do believe in a kind of reincarnation.  But for me, Ned's spirit comes through just about any place, any time and anywhere. I don't know exactly how, but it just does. It's very present and tangible.

 

Here's a spiritual song by Coldplay that makes Ned present for me.

Fix You

by Coldplay

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down on your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down on your face
And I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you