Rediscovering hope, purpose and life
Life is not meant for dying. It is meant for living and letting others live,” a writer once said. Very thought-provoking words these are! They contain a profound philosophy about the very purpose of human existence on this earth.
Life is not a burden imposed upon man, nor is it a meaningless journey moving helplessly towards death. It is a rare gift meant to be lived meaningfully, wholeheartedly and with a sense of awareness. To live life “to its absolute fullness” naturally leads us to the understanding that life itself is a celebration.
Here, celebration does not merely mean pleasure, amusement or uninterrupted happiness. It means accepting life in all its hues and rhythms. It means participating wholeheartedly in the flow of existence.
A person who lives meaningfully learns to cherish relationships. He values human bonds, understands emotions and discovers beauty even in ordinary moments. He learns from suffering, delights in small joys and gradually acquires emotional balance. That is where a person’s true courage, wisdom and intellect lie.
Life is a blend of joys and sorrows. Light and darkness follow one another. The dazzling light gradually fades into darkness, and even pitch darkness, in the course of time, must yield to penetrating light. Neither is permanent. This is the eternal law of nature.
Human beings gladly welcome happiness and revel in it. But when sorrow strikes, many lose their peace of mind. Unable to bear pain and disappointment, they become emotionally unstable and begin to view death as an escape.
At such critical moments, the wisdom gained through experience, the values nurtured from childhood, the strength imparted by education and even ordinary common sense seem to disappear. Man completely loses his sense of judgement.
“Man is a wonderful creation. In all of living creation, he is the most supreme, powerful and resourceful,” said Shakespeare. Indeed, among all living beings, man alone is blessed with an extraordinary power of thought. From the days of the primitive caveman to the modern technological age, humanity has undergone astonishing evolution and unimaginable transformation. Through his ever-sharpening intellect, man has achieved remarkable progress in knowledge, science, civilisation and technology.
Yet, a disturbing question remains.
When sorrows surround him, why does man fail to display the same maturity and mental strength? Why does such a brilliant mind lose its resilience in moments of distress? Does he forget that troubles are temporary? Does he fail to realise that no night lasts forever?
This beautiful life must be lived until its very end.
We must protect our families, nurture our relationships and keep our loved ones safe and flourishing. Only then can we truly taste the sweet nectar of life. We must preserve our great civilisation, artistic brilliance and precious literature, passing them on to future generations. The humane qualities within man must multiply. He must grow into a person of wisdom, compassion and discernment.
If such a transformation takes place, could there be any heaven greater than this very earth?
The writer is a columnist, lecturer and radio presenter. He has delivered several talks on spirituality and literature; Views presented are personal.
