Everyone Is Searching For Answers To These Three Questions.
Duality of life - pleasure and pain. Rising above this eternal cycle and realizing the true self.
There is something charismatic and mystic about literature and philosophy which always captivates my mind.
Once, I was reading the philosophy of Rumi and this particular quote left a deep impact in my heart.
“Sit, be still and listen” — Rumi
And as suggested I started practicing it. Initially, it was a bit difficult but gradually in the stillness of my mind, the curiosity of wisdom and creativity was ignited once again.
And the rudimentary questions of my existence were again revolving in my curious mind.
- What is life?
- What is the purpose of life?
- Who am I?
And in this questioning and searching for an answer, I realized a few insights and I will share these with you.
We all are well aware of the fact that life is not just about money, success, fame, and so on and has a deeper meaning.
And to realize that deeper meaning the first and foremost is to understand —
WHAT IS LIFE?
- Life is about curiosities with insecurities.
Human beings are born with curiosity as well as insecurities. After fulfilling the basic needs of life there is this expansion of curiosity with this subtle fear of the unknown also.
And as a human being, we have three prerequisites.
- Cognitive thinking and analysis.
- Creativity and innovation.
- Language.
And the blend of these three can quench the thirst of our curious minds.
Therefore, Life is all about the desire to know but with the fear of the unknown.
- Life is the eternal play of pleasure and pain.
Out of every life form, Human life is the most precious benediction.
The hope to explore this beautiful creation, evolve wisdom, and enhance self-growth is astonishing and satisfying.
But there is this other side of the story also.
Life is also about pain and suffering, diseases, death, old age, poverty, discrimination and the list goes on.
With my life experience and its lessons, I realized that life is all about the duality of pleasures and pain.
Just like a bug flies around the fire and enjoys its warmth and light but also burns itself in that fire only.
Similarly, Life is like that fire around which we fly like a bug but in the pleasure of warmth and light, we burn ourselves in that fire only.
Therefore, Behind the veil of pleasant experience life is full of pain and suffering.
Here the second question that arises is that if life is pain and pleasure then
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS PLAY OF LIFE?
According to Vedanta (Indian philosophy), there is two purpose of this life — 1. To settle your pending karmas with other beings.
2. To achieve the highest potential of this human life.
That is to experience the essence of existence and esteem in ecstasy till eternity.
The third question is about
WHO AM I?
The Katha Upanishad (Indian philosophical text), explains human life beautifully with the allegory of the chariot where
- The body is a chariot.
- Self is the passenger of this chariot.
- Intellect is the charioteer.
- Organs are horses.
- Mind is the reins of the horses.
- And pleasure and pain is the path.
“Dance until you shatter yourself ” — Rumi.
When words, work, body, mind, heart, and soul are in rhythm and the ego is shattered completely then the music of life originates from love and wisdom, and life dances, evolves, and sustains.
