A CHAT WITH LIFE AND DEATH… (5)

CORONA19… A few thousands have died all across the world. Interestingly, it has not distinguished people because of nations, races, colour, creed, religion, belief systems, wealth, knowledge, power, authority, wisdom, humility, service and name any thing else. It has been a great neutralizing evil, if one could call it. Talking of Julius Ceaser, Shakespeare remarked “Vini, vici, vidi” – He came, He saw and he conquered. It appears to be true of COVID-19. It has come like a viral tsunami, impacting people before one could even take precautions.

 “Death- the last sleep? No, it is the final awakening” says Walter Scott. To this planet, it appears, that covid-19 is the final awakening. An awakening – that could caution us; an awakening that could sensitize us; an awakening that could rehabilitate us to the reality of our existence.”

“The impermanence of the universe is manifest, inescapable. I know that, yet I am immoderately attached to this life, these pleasures, this place.” Says, Stephanie Mills. All religious messages worldwide have culminated on this powerful message of the impermanence of life. So, what are we here to celebrate for? 

How do I matter to this planet? How do I matter to this universe?

I am somebody in my family. I am somewhat visible to a group of people who have been with me over the years. I am no body in my city. In the state I live in, less than 0.0001 percent of people know me. In the country I live, I am absolutely insignificant and just another life in the midst of 130 crore of people, leave alone other organic environment with which I exist. Then, how do I matter to this world? Who knows me or who intends to know? This planet earth is so beautiful, awesome and large, how does it matter to this planet who I am? And, this planet is one in the solar system, and the Sun is a small star in the Milky way; there are nearly 11 billion of galaxies in the universe like the milky way… and the Universe is expanding… Tell me, how do I celebrate my ‘self’?

The great saint Adi Sankara in his bhajan “Bhaja Govindam” remarks about the impermanence of the world in the following lines:

maa kuru dhana jana yauvana garvam

harati nimeshhaatkaalah sarvam

maayaamayamidamakhilaM hitvaa

brahmapadaM tvaM pravisha viditvaa

Boast not of wealth, of youthful vigor or exalted friendship

These could all come to nought, in an instant

Cut the illusionary bonds, that you in Maya, enmesh

And attain that timeless truth, which remains constant.

While, not allowing myself to be quite philosophic, I want to get to terms with reality. Excessive consumerism, physical, material, emotional or of other kinds has an adverse effect on our existence, simply because we tend to assault on the balance of existence.

Keeping aside any spiritual or religious connotation, there has been a long conviction in the western metaphysics that “Nature balances herself.” There has been a serious debate on this issue among the existentialists, scientists, ecologists and others. The earliest Greek philosopher Herodotus was convinced of a fine balance between the predator and the prey. Cicero, the Roman philosopher added a religious colour calling it as ‘the wisdom of the creator’. Modern ecologists, however, claim the role of human intervention as ‘Nature is dynamic’ and ‘ever changing’; and hence the dire need of the wisdom of the human to ensure the optimal balance between Nature’s dynamism and its evolution. Says Matt Palmer, the ecologist of the Columbia University ““In some ways it argues for a stronger hand in managing ecosystems or natural resources,” he says. “It's going to take human intervention.” I think it is important for the human beings to ensure that they don’t assault the Nature so that it starts bleeding and its adverse effect doesn’t eliminate the human species from the planet earth. What lessons we need to take?

“Sweet are the uses of adversity” said William Shakespeare. We should contemplate on using the onslaught of these adversities to understand the underlying message. We need to become wiser, responsive and respectful to our co-existence. Has the effort to come from the community or the individual?

I think the ‘personal self’ of the people has to play a significant role, because a community is nothing but a harmonious conglomeration of the individuals. “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate action of its members” claims C.S. King. Hence the role of the glorious self, the divine self, which is a manifestation of compassion, conviction and consideration is important for social emancipation. The current status of a sick world is an outcome of our negligence and lack of compassion to our dynamic environment. It calls for change. However, there are a number of people who think that assault on nature is just a part of growth. They have serious doubts about the challenges Nature would pose to the human existence. Voltaire remarked once “Doubt is an uncomfortable condition; but certainty is a ridiculous one.” There comes the intervention of science and its magnificent role in the pursuit of truth.

What are our immediate concerns?

1.      The individual needs to go inwards. Self- restraint is the first step

2.      The individual needs to introspect. Self-analysis is vital to examine the impact of each of us would make on Nature

3.      The individual needs to be self-disciplined. No law of any land can correct or reform any individual unless he respects his own understanding of discipline.

4.      The individual needs to understand that every other species on this planet has as much right to live as he or she has. Hence take personal responsibility to let others live a healthy life.

5.      The individual needs to understand that consumerism is fatal to our existence. Excessive consumption disturbs the balance of the society as well as Nature.

6.      The individual has to adopt a life style that doesn’t harm or injure the existential rights of any other species in any part of the biosphere.

7.      The individual needs to take responsibility for his or her physical or mental health. The way the individual conducts oneself has a serious impact on the life-style of other life systems.

8.      The individual needs to stop exploiting Nature. This could be done only by understanding and appreciating limits to growth.

9.      The individual needs to pursue a positive approach to life. A positive approach to life is ‘Celebration of the Being’. It is living in abundance and living with joy.

10.   The individual needs to understand he lives in an inclusive world. Hence any challenge to this inclusivity would isolate one’s own existence.

Let us understand that life is all about ‘celebrating our existence’ in harmony with other life-systems. Nevertheless, sometimes we need to isolate. It is said, “A season of loneliness and isolation is the period when the caterpillar grows its wings”.  – LET US GROW INWARD; LET US PREPARE OUR WINGS TO FLY IN THE A BEAUTIFUL WORLD THAT THE GOD HAS GIFTED US!!