Holy Death in Threes and What To Do With These February 15, 2008 by cadeveo
I remember it said, by various people, of no more authority or wisdom
than I, that people die in threes. Usually, Ive heard that sort of thing out
of the mouth of someone I worked with round about the end of the year after the
death of a celebrity of some stripe. And usually, or so it appears, the
persons magical summation regarding the triple-bucket-kick phenomenon has been
borne out, at least to the best of hir satisfaction. A bit of confirmation
bias, perhaps? That ol What you look for is just what youll fine? as true
when looking for the bull and finding the horns as when looking for three
consecutively croaking famous people.
Just a thought, though:
Has anyone yet been firing up their confirmation-biased radar for the third
holy man to join this party?
Mormon President/Prophet, Gordon Hinckley, Jr.-Died January 27, 2007.
The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Founder of Transcendental Meditation-Died Feb. 5,
2007.
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These are both men who were born in the years surrounding WWI. The first man
was born in a Super Power now in decline. The latter man came into this world
in a once and soon-to-be again Super Power for our new, young century.
Hinckley was at the head of a church whose hierarchy both mirrors the old
Catholic Church and a corporation, and which tends to be conservative,
pro-capitalistic (despite its proto-communalist early days) and
well-represented in business and politics. Yet, nevertheless, Hinckleys form
of Christianity is looked at suspiciously by quite a large swath of the more
conservative Protestant and Catholic believers of his own country. Likewise,
the Maharishi was a hell of a business man, opening corporate management
schools to balance out the more spiritual side of recruiting transcendental
meditators; he himself was a corporate head; his followers are well represented
in Hollywood and also in politics, via the Natural Law Party in various European
countries such as the UK and, less so, in the United States. And just like
Hinckley, while the Maharishi thought of himself as a devout Hindu, his brand
of commercialized adherence drew suspicious glances from many of his brethren.
For my money, I think Hinckley was probably the more sincere man. Certainly,
Hinckley was the man who could keep it in his pants better. Though, being more
sincere doesnt necessarily mean he was better or more on the right track about
life, The Big Something, and the individuals purpose on this Great Blue-Green
Ball.
I certainly am no expert.
But just wondering. Is there gonna be a third holy guy to go? Will he be of
the same era as these two men and will he likewise be the head of an
established, influential yet still popularly-suspect religious/spiritual group?
Or not?
Either way? Is wondering about this anything but a quaint waste of time?
Heres a notion:
If you were a holy guy or gal about to leave the mortal frame?what would be
written about you? Use the you that *you* are right now and write the obit. How
did people close to you perceive/remember you and how were you consistently
viewed/perceived by everyone else? What interesting similarities are there
between *you* and the late Gordon Hinckley and Maharaji?
Now, how would you like to be remembered by those closest to you and everyone
else? Write that version of your obit.
Now, how would you go about making that one the more likely scenario? (Dont
worry, youre probably not gonna die anytime soon. Relax.)
Now try this: suppose no matter what you tried, you couldnt really make much
difference (nor would you give a rats ass) how you were perceived after your
passing, but that you could and *still can* change who and how you actualy
*are* to be in line with your best self for the inevitable moment when you *do*
leave this sleep-walking world?
Whats your game plan? What are you gonna do about it? Now?
Phone lines are open
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