The Body

"Now, turmeric, sandalwood powder, and kumkum are placed on the chest, camphor is placed on top of it. Some sandal stick, then some mango sticks are placed like a triangle on top of the chest; then some more bigger sticks. Some camphor is lighted outside and this light is mixed with the camphor on the chest. First, we smell the burning camphor, then the smell of burning sandalwood, then the smell of burning mango sticks. Then other smells. I see the smoke; little lights; sparks, then the light of bigger fires. And now the whole fire is ablaze. I am watching all this, so I could not have died, could I? My soul has left the body, and like old worn clothes, it has left the body."- Guruji Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati