Unifying Life

How do we unite various aspects of human life into a comprehensive and integrative rule for everyone?

An assortment of theories, premises, propositions, and notions exist in the present time about existential paths. Counselors, life coaches, therapists, consultants, and the list of professionals with expertise about mundane life are amongst us. Their approach as professionals is completely academic, and speculative. They do not rely on practical and proven experience to guide clients. People seek their help, but the received guidance is underwhelming. Why would professional help be anything greater? Various stories in the media, unequivocally, states the professional understanding they possess is inconclusive. They will suggest several options hoping that something will resonate. As clients we do not have clarity, and as professionals they do not have clarity. It is akin to searching for a black cat that does not exist in a totally dark room by a blind person. Futile attempts at resolving a problem that does not exist is the role of the professionals amongst us. They follow along a process, force a process on us, neither the professional, nor the client will have confidence in the process. We engage with hope. 

Modern world: overwhelmed with issues generated by ignorance about our existence, and existential processes abound in nature. Overeating, avoiding food, appearance, sexual orientation, love, lack of love, loneliness, hatred, anger, public killings, over desirous, envy, insecurity, and many more are burdening our lives. How did people develop so many issues in modern times without provocation? As individuals we must investigate the existential conditions prevalent in society. Individuals, society, and nation will thrive, only, and only, with a deeper and broader understanding of existence. Seeing societal and individual conditions as discrete and discontinuous processes of existence will ripen to disintegrate individuals, society, and nations. Problems cannot be imaginary. If it manifests in a naive form today, it will mature to a stronger force unless appropriately dealt. 

Problems are an antithesis to nature. There might be hurdles in life, but problems do not exist. The harmony we witness in nature indicates a system free from problems. We are not concerned that an object will fall from the sky accidentally. We expect the order in nature to persist. When an order is witnessed, what is the fodder for problems? Everything in nature must be fed; modernity must be feeding problems, too, institutionally. Life is nourished with food; problems are nourished with ignorance. We need to awaken to the fact that modern systems are imprecise, incomplete, impotent, and hastily assembled for the benefit of the ultra-wealthy. 

Growth is the fodder for modern existential systems and problems. Growth for humanity is intelligence. It is not material wealth. The resources modernity relies upon growth are not meant for just a few generations. They are resources meant to be shared with generations not yet born. Observe from the perspective of sharing our existence with unborn generations to discover why modern economic growth produces problems for humanity. A pharmaceutical company grows if and only if diseases grow. Lack of disease growth will keep the growth of the pharmaceutical industry at bay. Every industrial sector is locked in a similar constraint. If humanity does not become dependent on the products and services offered by modern industrial structure, growth will disappear from the economy. Modern growth imprisons humanity, and robs future generations of prosperity. 

Observe a just born child. While in the womb, the child received nourishment from the umbilical attachment. Enter the world, the child graduates to the breast. A few months later, graduates to being fed solid food. From  one year on, the child nourishes independently. Growth is the transformational change exhibited by the child. Child graduates to higher chains of sustenance due to, unknowingly, recognizing and adopting transformational growth. Every entity grows from dependency to independence in nature. Independence to reverence is the progressive path of growth for humanity. Upon standing on a firm platform of deriving nutritional benefits, a child commencing intellectual transformation is the natural and sustainable path for humanity. Unlike other species, we must engage in a deliberate and methodical transformational journey. Due to the capacity of our minds to process far more than the visible realm, our transformational journey is an independent discovery to value the source that propels the vastness. Unencumbered, and sustainable growth is possible, only, through valuing the source for life, and keeping the value unchanged is the responsibility of our superiority in nature. Reverential valuation toward nature comes by discovering that billions of ancestors preceded us, billions are present now, and billions more yet to take birth. As an intelligent species we have a responsibility toward the unborn generations. Natural resources must be preserved and protected, not pillaged. Our resources do not grow, they are eternally recycled in nature. 

Superiority of the human race is not accorded to us because we can build machines, and rely on gadgets for our daily needs. Humanity is recognized as superior because we have the potential to unload the burden of baggage of life. Other species do not possess the ability to unburden. We possess it because we can develop intellectually to discover the self against the backdrop of vastness. We can see the abundant dependencies in nature. We can see the dependencies of our existence. Life is fully illuminated for humanity to discover that our journey is not concluded when the body drops. It continues, when fully awakened to the intellect, to the farthest reaches of life. Nature demonstrates that life’s limits are not Earthbound. Far superior worlds are within the grasp of our intellect. If as a superior race we pillage our only resource for sustenance, our superiority transforms to imperiousness. Imperious humans are destined for a fall. 

For all the brilliant modern inventions fail to define life, and its purpose. Where does modernism take humanity collectively? Do we exist purposefully, or purposeless? We should have a few basic questions in our minds when we embrace the journey of modern times. We have embraced, unquestioned, individual growth as our purpose in life. However, why are we not able to attain success like the richest amongst us? Basic needs, rich or poor, are equal is an undeniable truth! Experts may offer many opinions for inequity, but it does not constitute truth. Truth is the only element worthy of acceptance for the superior human race. Anything less, we fall into a precipice. Modernity is a valueless system of existence. We need to learn to live a valued life. 

Values are discovered only through education. Education in a system that values eternality, which establishes an existential purpose far superior to survival. Survival of the fittest theories are inapplicable to humanity. We should abandon everyone with physical and mental issues if we accept the theory of fittest surviving. We can see that we are infinitesimally small against nature. Nature is a material world, our existence is that of mind and intellect, which is far superior. It is imperative for us to acquire intellect of who we are, and what sustains us. Without it, we are destined for unsolvable problems.

Two examples are sufficient to show how we diverged as species from our roots. Sri Rama, from the epic of Srimad Ramayanam, spent fourteen years in the forests. He was sent to the forests within hours of being crowned as the ruler. The reason for his dispatch to the forest is unimportant. However, had he not gone to the forests he would not have become a figure worshiped even today. He had completed his education, and possessed complete knowledge in every field of study offered in those days. His valor was incomparable. His dedication, devotion, and reverence toward ancestry was unmatched. Yet, he went to the forests with his wife, and brother. He journeyed relentlessly for fourteen years. Countless sages, living in the forests, blessed him, and imparted their knowledge. He discovered governance of humanity requires nurturing of every element in nature, small or large. He returned after fourteen years of exile to rule the entire world. His journey in the forests is the quintessence of the epic. A journey of fourteen years. Transformational journey unequaled in human history. 

Sri Rama’s journey happened millions of years back. Srimad Mahabharatam narrates the rivalry between Pandavas and Kauravas. Pandavas, also were exiled to the forests for thirteen years. The great battle between Pandavas and Kauravas happened at the conclusion of their exile. Pandavas won the battle. Pandavas journey is similar to that of Sri Rama. They were accosted by countless sages, and imparted knowledge through ancestral stories. The knowledge from the ancestral history enabled them to gain an upper hand over the Kauravas in the battlefield. They outflanked the enemy despite having fewer soldiers on their side. Exile in the forests honed their senses supremely. 

Both texts narrate the difficulties endured. It does not depict the luxuries in life. Humanity cannot learn, and discover in luxury. Adversity in life is the greatest teacher. The lessons from adversity remain permanently. Learning in a comfortable environment is forgotten, and does not journey with us in life. When our intellect remains aloof in our lives, problems ensue. Problems in life are unsolvable. But difficulties in life are solvable and welcome because life assumes permanent betterment upon overcoming. Once overcome, those difficulties can be seen only upon reflection. Observe the child learning to take the first steps. Unsteady first, but overcomes the difficulty through relentless effort to discover the purpose of legs. We discovered our bodily abilities at a very early age. We have not discovered our intellectual purpose in the modern age. Our existential purpose does not reveal itself to us. We need to endeavor to discover just as Sri Rama, and Pandavas discovered, exiled in forests, life from value, purpose, and responsibility. Valueless, purposeless, and irresponsibility are not the traits of an intellectual, and superior race. 

We need not spend time in the forests. Sri Rama and Pandavas were transcendental figures in our history. We need a discourse that brings us closer to nature. Danger lurks for humanity with technological advancements, which rerouted the purpose of life to the here and now. Here and now is for animals. Generational thoughts are our domain. We can distinguish problems and difficulties through a thoughtful existence. Technological progress is diminishing the strength of humanity; we will demand and seek an even more luxurious life that technocrats cannot offer a few years forward. The diminished strength of humanity is unacceptable to nature. A species unable to overcome difficulties is a race unworthy of preservation. Nature will steer us through the difficulties of exile in the not-too-distant Post-modern times unless we accept value, purpose, and responsibility.