Memento Mori

We are subject to many fears, failures, weaknesses, illnesses, suffering and mortality. To mark the ritual of distribution of ashes during Lent, Pope Francis said in his homily, 'We bow our heads in order to receive the ashes to look within ourselves.' Ashes remind us that our lives are transitory and insignificant in larger scheme of things. It helps bring us back to reality, making us humble and available to one another.

In Hinduism, sacred ash symbolises purity, spiritual attainment and self-renunciation. Ash is what remains after burning wood and body, signifying the impermanence of physical existence. Applying ash on the forehead invokes divine presence and protection, enabling us to stay humble and observe a healthy detachment from earthly connections. In some temples, after 'darshan', we receive a packet of sacred ash, representing the ultimate truth of creation: everything returns to dust. In Buddhism, ashes after cremation are scattered or enshrined in stupas, symbolising a return to the elements in cyclical nature of things.

In ancient Rome, when a victorious general featured in a parade, he was trailed by a servant who repeated to him, 'Memento mori - remember you will die.' This reminder of mortality helped the hero keep things in perspective. Being aware of our mortality does not mean that we passively endure the human condition; we should engage in positive action to leave a legacy that would inspire others.