In the Bhagavad-gita’s eighth chapter, Krishna states that whatever we remember at the time of death, we will attain the corresponding state in our next life (08.06). 

Why does the object of our remembrance at the moment of death matter so much? Because it reflects our overall value system. Whereas some religions claim that we attain heaven based on our beliefs (e.g. belief in a particular savior), the Gita stresses that our post-mortem destination depends on our values. The Gita’s explanation highlights God’s reciprocity: he ensures that we go in our next life to the state of existence that corresponds with what we have come to value the most in this life. 

How does our remembrance reflect our value system? Because the remembrance that Krishna recommends (08.07) is to be cultivated with both our mind (our faculty for emotion) and our intelligence (our faculty for reason). This remembrance is not like some factual memorization of, say, the capital of Botswana; it is the spontaneous movement of our consciousness toward that which our emotional and rational faculties have adjudged to be of the greatest value. 

Amid danger, we naturally turn toward that which we value the most. And death is the greatest danger. At that moment, what we remember reflects what we have come to value the most during our life. Thus, when we remember Krishna at the time of death, that implies we have lived our life in such a way that he has become our life’s most important reality. And when he sees that we want him more than anything else, he naturally ensures that we attain him, eternally (08.05). 

One-sentence summary: 

What we remember at the time of death reflects what we have come to value the most over the course of our life — based on our valuation, Krishna reciprocates by arranging for us a corresponding post-mortem destination. 

Think it over:

  • Why does our remembrance at the time of death matter?
  • How does our remembrance reflect our value system?
  • How does our post-mortem trajectory reflect Krishna’s reciprocity?

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08.05: And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body remembering Me alone at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt.