CHAPTER 1
THE WONDER OF LIFE
Introduction
May you live all the days of your life!
Jonathan Swift, Anglo-Irish Satirist and Essayist, 17-18th Century.
Life is a gift. It is a gratuitous gift. No one has any claims on it. Wedo not find life. Life finds us. We do not choose. We are chosen.There are no eligibility conditions, no contracts to be signed and noentrance exams. We have little choice over life and, for that matter,over death. It is the in between time that belongs to us. It is the timeof our making. Life is our first gift. It is primary. Everything else issecondary. Life bestows existence and initiates within us the stream ofconsciousness. It gives us identity and inaugurates our story. Throughits munificence, we break out of anonymity and enter into recognition.Life brings us into communion with everything that breathes.
Life is our best gift. Whatever other gifts we may have, they paleinto insignificance when compared with the gift of life. They are thewrappings, life is the gift. The wrappings are different, but the gift isthe same. Life is not the same as life situations. Life situations vary.Some are rich, others poor. Some succeed, others fail. Some are lucky,others not so fortunate. Yet all have the gift of life. Life situationschange. It is a long road that has no turning. Success and failure,joy and sorrow, come and go. But life abides. We can improve ourcircumstances. But we cannot improve life. It is already perfect. Littlewonder, then, life is the first and the foremost source of inspiration.The wonder of being, the feeling of being alive, of being aware, ofbeing who one is, of the absolute uniqueness of one's self, the bond ofcommunion with every other self—life is a wonder that seldom ceasesto amaze!
A Life of Purpose
When I consider the short duration of my life, swallowed up inthe eternity that lies before and after it, when I consider the littlespace I fill and I see, engulfed in the infinite immensity of spacesof which I am ignorant, and which know me not, I rest frightened,and astonished, for there is no reason why I should be here ratherthan there. Why now rather than then? Who has put me here? Bywhose order and direction have this place and time been ascribedto me?
Blaise Pascal, French Philosopher, 17th Century.
Life is a mystery. Where we come from, why we are here and where weare headed after our tenure on earth, we are not certain. How many arethe years in our lives we can but wonder! It is hardly surprising then,the unfolding of life's mystery has occupied so many bright mindsfrom times immemorial! And we are nowhere near solving the riddletoday. We find ourselves, as the French Philosopher Jean Paul Sartrewould say, 'thrown into the world.' Mystery envelops, not just life ingeneral, but also our individual lives. The meaning of life, therefore, isnot just a philosophical problem. It is also an eminently personal one.It concerns each and every one of us. It has as much to do with theorigin of our species as our own.
The essence of life is statistical improbability on a colossalscale.
Richard Dawkins, British Evolutionary Biologist and Author, 20-21st Century.
Life's mysterious nature has at times driven people to despair. Andsome have simply concluded that there is no meaning to life. Lifeis too random to contain a grand plan. We are here by accident.Anything that is an accident cannot have a definite purpose! It is wehuman beings who try to fill life with meaning in order to justifyour existence. It is one of the absurdities of human existence, theFrench Philosopher Albert Camus would say, that we spend our entirelives trying to convince ourselves that they are not absurd. We aretransient creatures. We are contingent, not necessary. Here today, gonetomorrow! And in the end we all die. And where we go from there noone really knows. As Hinduism would suggest, human life is a lila, agame, enacted for the pleasure of the gods.
The living self has one purpose only: to come into its ownfullness of being, as a tree comes into full blossom, or a bird intospring beauty, or a tiger into lustre.
D.H. Lawrence, English Novelist, 19-20th century.
Nevertheless, it is unwise, I think, to dismiss purpose from life solightly. There is little to gain from doing so. It makes a lot more senseto fill life with purpose. Life is too precious to be left to whim andfancy. Purpose is mandatory. As William Shakespeare says, 'Everywhy hath a wherefore!' When we lack purpose, we lack direction. Wewander aimlessly. As the Austrian Psychologist Victor Frankl pointsout, it was purpose that prevented thousands of people from fallingapart, faced with the horrors of the Concentration Camps. Life canbe dismissed simply as a puzzle. But it can also be accepted as areason for wonder. We can despair over life. We can also embrace itas an opportunity and set about discovering its promise. Life is not aproblem to be solved, but a mystery to be lived. It is not the enactmentof fate; it is an experiment in freedom and responsibility.
The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sightbut no vision.
Helen Keller, American Author, Political Activist and Lecturer, 19-20th Century.
We are destined, not disposable. We are here by design, not by default.Life may be transitory, but not trivial. Purpose fills life with power.A life without purpose is like an engine without fuel. Belief shapesoutlook. Complacency, on the contrary, cripples action. We onlyachieve that which we truly believe we can. Purpose fills life withpassion and flair and promotes happiness and fulfilment. Whenwe lack purpose, we are like rudderless ships. We fall prey easily todiscord, fear and anxiety. Fire fighters speak of the flashpoint, thatis, the temperature at which combustible materials burst into flame.Purpose is the flashpoint. It ignites us. When we discover purpose, weburst into flame.
Not only do our lives have purpose, our purpose is also unique to us.It is our vocation, our personal mission. Nobody else can accomplishour mission. If it is not fulfilled, then, it remains unfulfilled. Andthe universe is the poorer for it. Our purpose is the task that destinyplaces on our shoulders. What is crucial is not what we expect fromlife, but what life expects from us. As Vaclav Havel., the former CzechPresident, says, 'The real test of a man is not when he plays the role hewants for himself, but when he plays the role destiny has for him.'
A mighty flame follows a tiny spark.
Dante Alighieri, Italian Poet, Prose Writer, Literary Theorist, Moral Philosopherand Political Thinker, 13-14th Century.
Our purpose may not be grand, but it is nevertheless ours. Not everyman can play the main role in a play, not every woman a prima donna!It is not the grand acts that make us but the daily grind. Howeverinsignificant we may think our lives to be, they are nonethelessmeaningful. It is not the task we are called to that is of supremeimportance. It is the passion that we bring to it. It is not just thedestination. The journey is important as well. We have to judge ourlives ultimately, not simply by what we have achieved, but also by howmuch effort we put into our achievements. Satisfaction comes, notsimply from achieving goals, but also from being absorbed by them.What we bring to life is just as important as what we get out of life.However insignificant our purpose, it is our faithfulness to it thatcounts. And faithfulness always inspires.
Finding purpose is essential to a fulfilling life, but not easy. Life doesnot yield its purpose lightly. We have to search for it with diligence.There are, of course, some who almost spontaneously discover a purposethat consumes them. There aren't enough hours in a day for them.However, many of us struggle with discovering purpose in life. Life forso many is a humdrum monotony, an endless pursuit of trivia. Peopleoften try to compensate for inner emptiness with interminable activity.However, activity alone does not engender purpose. Filling one's lifewith activity can often be an excuse for the lack of a real reason to live.It is better to cease to exist rather than sleepwalk through life. It isbetter to struggle for authenticity rather than surrender to mediocrity.Struggle for authenticity is not a waste of time. It is out of such strugglethat lasting happiness arrives. People often complain about chaos intheir lives. However, chaos need not necessarily be calamitous. It canlead to clarity. It is the crossroads that make one probe one's direction.
There is chaos, scientists admit, even in the workings of nature. Naturedoes not always behave uniformly. Regular and random can both bepredicted of nature's behaviour. Chaos is not absurd. Out of chaos, asthe Bible suggests, emerges creation.
Life's purpose generally gravitates around that which we are passionateand enthusiastic about. The Bible puts it this way: where your treasureis, there will your heart be too. It is in engaging with life that wediscover our purpose in life, not by withdrawing from it. It is when wemove from the sidelines and jump into the middle that life begins tohappen. Finding purpose is itself a part of the excitement of living. Weseldom regret the opportunities we seized upon; it is those we walkedaway from that fill us with torment. The way we are towards life is theway life will be towards us. As Anthony D'Mello, the Indian SpiritualTeacher puts it, to discover wine one must drink wine, not just readtomes about it.
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's thelife in your years.
Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the US, 19th Century.
Discovering life's purpose is a personal journey. We have to embarkon it ourselves. Others may journey with us, but they cannot journeyfor us. Meaning in life arises out of the exercise of personal freedom.It is the result of the choices we make. It is so easy to waste one's lifeaway trying to please others and make the right impression! How doesone judge success in life? Ultimately success arises out of followingone's heart. Of course, what others think cannot simply be discounted.We all like to be loved, accepted and acclaimed. However, liking orbeing liked cannot be the rod that measures success in life. Popularityis a slippery slope. It can be a hurdle in the search for self-discovery.True identity arises from within. It cannot be bestowed by others.We often seek security through conformity. We yield to the pressureto fall in and succumb to the fear to step out. However, one seldomarrives at fulfilment by trying to conform to a standard outside one'sself. Happiness emerges from within. To thyself be true. We are oftenanxious about projecting the right image. And we delude ourselves intothinking that we are the image we project. However, true recognitionand lasting fame are not pursued, they follow.
Whatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it. Boldnesshas genius, power and magic in it.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German Writer, Pictorial Artist, Biologist, andTheoretical Physicist, 18-19th Century.
History is filled with examples of people who resisted the pressure toconform and followed their vocation in life with single-mindedness.The Dutch Painter Rembrandt (1606-1669 CE), one of the greatestpainters of all time, is one. Personal tragedy and financial hardshipsfollowed him throughout his life. However, they did not prevent himfrom pursuing his calling with determination. No force on earth wasable to distract him from the pursuit of his passion. Neither fame norfortune clouded his vision. He died penniless. However, he left behindartistic treasures that continue to inspire millions throughout the globeeven today. Joseph Campbell, the American Comparative Religionist,is another person who ardently advocated the following of one'sdreams. Throughout his career, he never tired of telling his studentsto 'follow their bliss' in life, that is, dedicate themselves with devotionto that which they truly care about. Those who take the middle of theroad, risk being run over!
This is true joy in life—being used for a purpose recognisedby yourself as mighty, being thoroughly worn out before you arethrown up on the scrap heap; being a force of nature instead of afeverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complainingthat the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
George Bernard Shaw, Irish Playwright and a Co-Founder of the LondonSchool of Economics, 19-20th Century.
Being true to one's purpose in life requires courage and consistency.One of the obstacles that stand in the way is the temptation tocompare oneself to others. Comparisons are odious. They blind us toour own resources. Jealousy is a sign of poor self-esteem. The grass inthe other man's field is always green. However, what truly matters isthe little patch that we own. Our society revels in the cult of fame.Millions are fascinated by the success of celebrities, but they seldomthink about their failures. How important it is that we awake to theworth and dignity that is unique to us! That is our path to success. Weare different from every other person alive, dead or yet to be born. Asthe saying goes: No one in the entire world can do a better job of beingyou than you!
Begin to be now what you will be hereafter.
William James, American Psychologist and Philosopher, 19-20th Century.
It is important to seek purpose within this world, not just defer it tothe hereafter. Of course, eternity is an integral dimension of earthlylife. Even our Stone Age ancestors believed in after life. However, lifeon earth is not just a footnote to life after. It is not a vale of tears. Itis the stage on which the drama of our lives is enacted. As Camusputs it, in hoping for another life, we should not become blind to theimplacable grandeur of this life. Faith in heaven should not lead toflight from the earth. How would we ever know what death is if wehave never experienced what life is! Life is the gateway to eternity. Itis the decisive moment during which our destiny is shaped. It is hereon earth that the crucial battles are fought and the decisive victorieswon. It is here that we encounter our angels and exorcise our demons.The Hindu tradition speaks of our earthly existence as a trainingground where we develop our highest capacities. Judgement is not tobe reserved to the end of the world. It takes place every day. Heavenand hell are not distant horizons. They begin here and now.
Living Life Abundantly
The tragedy of life is not death, but what we let die inside of uswhile we live.
Norman Cousins, American Political Journalist, Author, Professor and WorldPeace Advocate, 20th Century.
Living life to the full is the best way of responding to the gift oflife. Meaning in life is not ultimately about success or failure, butparticipation and passion. It is not just about winning, but alsotaking part. 'The glory of God', the ancient Christian TheologianIrenaeus points out, 'is man fully alive'. Mystery and uncertaintywill always surround life. They are inevitable. They are an expressionof our finitude. However, we cannot wait for the fog to lift in orderto begin to live. We must grab life with both hands and embrace itwholeheartedly. Failing to live while we are alive would be a greattragedy indeed! There are too many people who rust out rather thanwear out. Life's heaviest burden is to have no burden to carry!
Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage tolose sight of the shore.
André Gide, French Author, 19-20th Century.
Living life fully means taking responsibility for life. Wherever wemay find ourselves, whatever our circumstances, taking responsibilitymeans assuming ownership and avoiding the blame game. People whoinspire others do not wait for things to happen. They make thingshappen. They do not mourn about the unfairness of life. They do theirbest to make it fair. They are not passive observers. They are activeparticipants. Of course, jumping in is never easy. Sitting on the fenceoften appears far more secure. Indeed, the concept of living life to thefull frightens a lot of people. Fear is often the enemy. It is the enemywithin. It is fear of failure that prevents many people from taking risksand getting the best out of life. Fear of death haunts so many in oursecular society. However, what is to be feared is not death but emptylife. The greatest regret at the point of death, as my friend Jim who wasclinically dead but was brought back to life found out, is not dyingbut failing to live fully, a lesson he never forgot. How unfortunate isit that so many of us do not really begin to live until death stares usin the eye? How regrettable that so many of life's gifts fail to make anappearance until death knocks at the door? One cannot postpone life.One must live it today. As Dale Carnegie, the American Writer, wouldsay, 'we must stop worrying and start living.'
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experiencein which you really stop to look fear in the face.... You must dothe thing which you think you cannot do.
Eleanor Roosevelt, American First Lady, 19-20th Century.
