A great philosopher was once asked, what is the most intriguing thing about human beings. He said, it is the fact that although we know our lives will come to an end, we go on as if it is never-ending and all this is perpetual. Like we are invincible. It is reflected in the choices we make, our actions, our ego, our lust after material possessions, our relationships and everything in general.
The point here is that life is not just short, it is also finite. It will come to an end for all living things on this earth, whether we like it or not. Whether we choose to or not. Do we know what death is? What happens to us or the concept of us after we die? I have had many life experiences over the last many years, and fortunately I have emerged more enlightened. And while I’ve had these musings for all that time, it is my aunt’s sudden demise in a car crash couple of weeks ago that has made me want to write this.
We often hear people say, life is short so I want to do whatever comes to mind. Life is short and I want to have fun. Life is short so I want to try everything adventurous. We seldom hear people say, life is short so I want to be the best person I can be. Our notions of success and what is best are often based on material success. We want to compete with the person next to us, to be more beautiful, more successful, more accomplished, more famous and of course more materially endowed. Sometimes we are competitive with our own siblings (luckily not in my immediate family, although I’ve seen it in other places too often), forgetting the fact that we shared the same womb. Why is it that we never compete on goodness? Why don’t we ever say that I want to be a better person than him or her?
So now back to my aunt. The family came together like never before, forgetting all past differences, bonded by the common tragedy. Now while I don’t think something so horrible is what should bring families together, I still couldn't help ponder that some more and why it happened. The aunt that passed away was the youngest of my father's siblings. She was just about a decade or so older than my oldest sibling, and some of the other cousins were the same age as her. She therefore had the opportunity to relate to both generations. She also had this uncanny ability to make people feel comfortable around her because she was the 'young aunt who was so much fun'. Of course to her brothers and sisters she was the baby sister that was sweet and had to be pampered. So the net result was that wherever she went, happiness followed. She was someone who continued to maintain important family ties without getting embroiled in family politics or differences of views, and more importantly she and her husband were known to give help unconditionally to those around them. Even I have been the recipient of that, in the early days of my career as I was trying to figure out my next move after college. I then realized, as much as it is the enormity of the tragedy, it is also the goodness that she spread while she lived, that brought the family together. It is the collective positive impact she has had on all our lives that brought us together. That has been an added epiphany for me in the last couple of weeks, reinforcing that I am in the right spiritual path that is laden with such truth about life.
I also am inspired everyday by my grandmother’s sister, who in her 80s, has lived a mostly single life since she became a widow at 18, and has selflessly devoted her life to first being a teacher, and now taking care of her brother who was mentally challenged and is now disabled. She is a big source of strength for me, and one that helps me count my blessings every single day. What is the purpose of her life? Do we know what the purpose of our life is? Do we spend time thinking about that, ever?
Are we able to imagine for even a second, the inevitable end that we will face? How will we spend those last moments here? As we travel to another plane of existence? What legacy will we leave behind? What regrets will we have? What will bring a smile to our lips and peace to our hearts? Will it even occur when we are prepared to contemplate all this? Or will it come so suddenly?
While it is true that most things in life are beyond our control, like the tragic accident that took my aunt away, there are some things that are. Like the love and joy we can experience within ourselves, which can then be spread to others starting with our own family. By making our physical being useful to those around us, and seeing God in everything and everybody around us. But most importantly, living life everyday with the realization that life isn’t just short. It is also a miracle. It is a gift. It is to be lived with abundant goodness, so that when our time comes, there are at least a few people who we have impacted positively will miss having us around.
And no, it cannot wait until tomorrow. Because life is also unpredictable.
The point here is that life is not just short, it is also finite. It will come to an end for all living things on this earth, whether we like it or not. Whether we choose to or not. Do we know what death is? What happens to us or the concept of us after we die? I have had many life experiences over the last many years, and fortunately I have emerged more enlightened. And while I’ve had these musings for all that time, it is my aunt’s sudden demise in a car crash couple of weeks ago that has made me want to write this.
We often hear people say, life is short so I want to do whatever comes to mind. Life is short and I want to have fun. Life is short so I want to try everything adventurous. We seldom hear people say, life is short so I want to be the best person I can be. Our notions of success and what is best are often based on material success. We want to compete with the person next to us, to be more beautiful, more successful, more accomplished, more famous and of course more materially endowed. Sometimes we are competitive with our own siblings (luckily not in my immediate family, although I’ve seen it in other places too often), forgetting the fact that we shared the same womb. Why is it that we never compete on goodness? Why don’t we ever say that I want to be a better person than him or her?
So now back to my aunt. The family came together like never before, forgetting all past differences, bonded by the common tragedy. Now while I don’t think something so horrible is what should bring families together, I still couldn't help ponder that some more and why it happened. The aunt that passed away was the youngest of my father's siblings. She was just about a decade or so older than my oldest sibling, and some of the other cousins were the same age as her. She therefore had the opportunity to relate to both generations. She also had this uncanny ability to make people feel comfortable around her because she was the 'young aunt who was so much fun'. Of course to her brothers and sisters she was the baby sister that was sweet and had to be pampered. So the net result was that wherever she went, happiness followed. She was someone who continued to maintain important family ties without getting embroiled in family politics or differences of views, and more importantly she and her husband were known to give help unconditionally to those around them. Even I have been the recipient of that, in the early days of my career as I was trying to figure out my next move after college. I then realized, as much as it is the enormity of the tragedy, it is also the goodness that she spread while she lived, that brought the family together. It is the collective positive impact she has had on all our lives that brought us together. That has been an added epiphany for me in the last couple of weeks, reinforcing that I am in the right spiritual path that is laden with such truth about life.
I also am inspired everyday by my grandmother’s sister, who in her 80s, has lived a mostly single life since she became a widow at 18, and has selflessly devoted her life to first being a teacher, and now taking care of her brother who was mentally challenged and is now disabled. She is a big source of strength for me, and one that helps me count my blessings every single day. What is the purpose of her life? Do we know what the purpose of our life is? Do we spend time thinking about that, ever?
Are we able to imagine for even a second, the inevitable end that we will face? How will we spend those last moments here? As we travel to another plane of existence? What legacy will we leave behind? What regrets will we have? What will bring a smile to our lips and peace to our hearts? Will it even occur when we are prepared to contemplate all this? Or will it come so suddenly?
While it is true that most things in life are beyond our control, like the tragic accident that took my aunt away, there are some things that are. Like the love and joy we can experience within ourselves, which can then be spread to others starting with our own family. By making our physical being useful to those around us, and seeing God in everything and everybody around us. But most importantly, living life everyday with the realization that life isn’t just short. It is also a miracle. It is a gift. It is to be lived with abundant goodness, so that when our time comes, there are at least a few people who we have impacted positively will miss having us around.
And no, it cannot wait until tomorrow. Because life is also unpredictable.
