Who am I?
A universal question. A question of conscience. A question of existence. A question of self exploration. A question seeking meaning of life. A question to which there would hardly be a perfect answer. A question for life.
When people asked why apple fell to the ground or why sun rises and sets or why storms and quakes happen, science came to the fore and answered most of those. But the question of 'who am I?' is not a question that can be answered by a scientific, mathematical or logical mind. It is a question that even sages, mystics and religious gurus are struggling to answer.
Why am I here? Why was I born? Why was I created? What purpose was I created for? What if this happened to me? What if that happened to me? What if I was born somewhere else? What if I was born way richer or poorer? What if I was born a 100 years earlier or later? What if I was born as opposite gender? What if I was born into a different creed, color or culture? These are profound existential questions that a lot of people ponder.
Unlike other petty things people do, one's birth and the circumstances surrounding that are something that cannot be changed or undone. In this vastly unequal world, those with less privileged circumstances are expected to show frustration about their situation in which they had no say in choosing. However, if one thinks about these things in a larger-than-life perspectives, one can find solace in appreciating that this particular life is just a single peg in a large chain of events. That chain of events is a evolutionary journey transcending many births, deaths and incarnations in different forms of existence. At least that is what most of the myths and religious doctrines say. If one thinks rather deeply and considers the many unanswerable mysteries of life, that notion seems the only plausible explanation of what one experiences.
Though it may seem dogmatic superficially, on deeper thought, one slowly starts to appreciate the fact that this particular life is not just a one shot blip in the vast cosmological journey of infinite time. If lives are created, there might be a creator and if there were a creator, that creator would create these plethora of lives with some purpose. If one starts to believe in this larger than life perspective, one also tends to appreciate the larger purpose of one's existence and possibilities of one's life. This perhaps also helps in appreciating the fact that each person is not just that person's own self but part of a much larger integrated and interrelated picture. This notion also leads to compassion, empathy and a feeling of harmony with others. Perhaps this is the notion of coexistence, global fraternity and the notion of self-vs-nature-vs-the-world identity that many good-natured icons have promoted over the course of history.
However, these questions are such that one cannot even assume to answer easily. These are questions that are better unanswered because that keeps the mystery alive. That keeps the quest alive. That keeps the thirst and desire alive to make life more meaningful. That keeps the aspiration afloat to have a higher fulfillment in life, above material and worldly accomplishments.
Let the questions persist.
01 August 2018
A universal question. A question of conscience. A question of existence. A question of self exploration. A question seeking meaning of life. A question to which there would hardly be a perfect answer. A question for life.
When people asked why apple fell to the ground or why sun rises and sets or why storms and quakes happen, science came to the fore and answered most of those. But the question of 'who am I?' is not a question that can be answered by a scientific, mathematical or logical mind. It is a question that even sages, mystics and religious gurus are struggling to answer.
Why am I here? Why was I born? Why was I created? What purpose was I created for? What if this happened to me? What if that happened to me? What if I was born somewhere else? What if I was born way richer or poorer? What if I was born a 100 years earlier or later? What if I was born as opposite gender? What if I was born into a different creed, color or culture? These are profound existential questions that a lot of people ponder.
Unlike other petty things people do, one's birth and the circumstances surrounding that are something that cannot be changed or undone. In this vastly unequal world, those with less privileged circumstances are expected to show frustration about their situation in which they had no say in choosing. However, if one thinks about these things in a larger-than-life perspectives, one can find solace in appreciating that this particular life is just a single peg in a large chain of events. That chain of events is a evolutionary journey transcending many births, deaths and incarnations in different forms of existence. At least that is what most of the myths and religious doctrines say. If one thinks rather deeply and considers the many unanswerable mysteries of life, that notion seems the only plausible explanation of what one experiences.
Though it may seem dogmatic superficially, on deeper thought, one slowly starts to appreciate the fact that this particular life is not just a one shot blip in the vast cosmological journey of infinite time. If lives are created, there might be a creator and if there were a creator, that creator would create these plethora of lives with some purpose. If one starts to believe in this larger than life perspective, one also tends to appreciate the larger purpose of one's existence and possibilities of one's life. This perhaps also helps in appreciating the fact that each person is not just that person's own self but part of a much larger integrated and interrelated picture. This notion also leads to compassion, empathy and a feeling of harmony with others. Perhaps this is the notion of coexistence, global fraternity and the notion of self-vs-nature-vs-the-world identity that many good-natured icons have promoted over the course of history.
However, these questions are such that one cannot even assume to answer easily. These are questions that are better unanswered because that keeps the mystery alive. That keeps the quest alive. That keeps the thirst and desire alive to make life more meaningful. That keeps the aspiration afloat to have a higher fulfillment in life, above material and worldly accomplishments.
Let the questions persist.
01 August 2018
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