India, Dec. 7 -- One of the most brilliant sections of the Mahabharata is the Yaksha Prashna, where the mythical Yaksha asks a series of profound questions to Yudhishthira on life. His answers are equally remarkable. Among the questions the Yaksha asks is: "What is the most wonderful thing within this world?" There could be many responses, but Yudhishthir's reply-as I paraphrased it in my book, Yudhishtar and Draupadi-"Millions pass on, yet the living think they won't die; what can be more wonderful than this strange life?"

It is true that human beings refuse to accept the inevitability of death, and believe-so long as they are well-that this happens only to others. This belief is perpetuated by modern science.

The advancement of life-s...