Life and Death

Mr. Perone, 6th Period
01-31-11
I. INTRODUCTION:
What are the true meanings of life and death? Why are people afraid of dying while others don't know what they accomplished living? To understand life and death, one has to accept death, which shows the value of life, and concentrate on God, which later leads to self-realization.Thesis: Chinmayananda's The Bhagavad Gita and Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie both show how life and death's meanings lie in the removal of the external world of materialistic items, entrance into the spiritual universe, and focus of the soul and intellect towards God.
II. BODY PARAGRAPH 1: Time Period of Authors Reflecting Life and Death
A. Mitch Albom
1. Published Tuesdays with Morrie in 1997
2. Main Character
a) experienced life hardships
b) knows about the value of life
c) believes in accepting death
3. Author's values before book
a) money
b) success
c) materialism
d) busy with work making no time for himself or wife
4. Author's values after book
a) love instead of money
b) forgiveness to himself and others
c) living life to fullest
d) having no regrets
e) accepting people over pop-culture & media gossip
B) Chinmayananda
1. Published own version of The Bhagavad Gita in 1979
2. Ideas in Book
a) Divine Immanence and Transcendence
b) Remembrance of the Lord at Death
c) Creative Cycles
d) The Life Hereafter
3. Chinmayananda's values
a) man healthier to face outside world
b) enjoy happiness intelligently
c) positive values & thoughts for positive behaviour
III. BODY PARAGRAPH II: Symbols of Life and Death
A. Tuesdays with Morrie-(Thebestnotes.com)
a) Food
      1. cushions reality of Morrie's approaching death
b) Media
    1. negative impact draining Mitch of appreciation of love & life
    2. OJ Simpson trial: pop-culture & media contribute nothing to life
c) Morrie's hibiscus plant
    1. Morrie body gradually gives way to death-the... [continues]

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