What Actually Happens When We Die?

The question met head-on, taught as the tradition’s model: the last thought, the two departures, the year-long road walked alongside the mourner’s year, Vaitarani crossed on what one gave, the court of Dharmaraja, and the sentence that ends.

Lessons in this chapter

• The Last Thought — The departing thought as the rudder.
• The Two Departures — You leave the way you lived.
• The Road of Twelve Months — The dead and the grieving walk the same year.
• Vaitarani — The river is crossed on what you gave.
• The Court of Dharmaraja — The fairest judge, with two faces.
• The Sentence That Ends — No forever in this map.

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