| Sunder (Account, Sultanate of Oman) February 2007 |
| Hi, First, about trying to know about our existence etc, do u think an exact
answer can be obtained? We are here now, lets live life to its fullest. maybe
rather trying to find our existence, if somebody can answer why we human beings
fight against each other, instead of living peacefully without any boundaries,
how great it would be? |
I applaud you for taking out the time to even ask about our existence as
human beings. The average person does not stop and think about why he/she
exists.
First of all, let me wholeheartedly agree with you that there is an absolutely
urgent need to know why we cause unbearable pain and suffering to our own people
of the world. Although the answer is right there, we still turn a blind eye and
a deaf ear to it and continue killing each other for land, corporate
profiteering, market share, religious rewards, and political power. In fact when
you say “Instead of trying to find out why we exist, why not find out what is
the cause of humans killing each other” you’ll find a common source and possibly
an answer.
I understand that you are trying to move away from philosophical reasoning that
apparently does not solve real world problems, but you see I don’t believe that
the underlying cause is any different for both issues. If we as people could
come up with a larger-than-self-centered-ego view about ourselves as individual
persons, I guarantee there would be more peace. And I have to say that this view
can only come about through introspective philosophical reflection about our
existence.
Our fundamental existence in the world and our purpose may not have a definite
and single answer. However each person must chart out a purpose for themselves
and reason out their existence, whether it is from a religious perspective or
otherwise. One single answer to “why we exist” can actually be translated as
“this is who I want to be and that is why I exist”. You exist as a product of
what you choose to be. You need to find your own answers and come into what I
call your own ‘niche of genuineness’. So where does truth come in? I’m afraid
the ‘truth’ is also a product of your choices to believe and not believe. Many
contemporary philosophers say that we are subject to determinism and everything
is but a chemical reaction. But I say we are so ultra free that we end up
destroying ourselves and killing our own out of frustration just to get out of
the burden of having to make a choice. We are lazy, weak, and afraid of
exercising our will.
Can you close your eyes and imagine a world where people knew that they want to
love and be loved, they want to help others achieve dreams, and they want to
stop poverty, hatred and injustice where they see it? A peaceful world is
possible only when each person believes that his/her existence is so much more
than their social circle, their community, their country, and their planet. I’m
sad to say we just don’t choose to exist beyond our narrow view of what it means
to BE. Ask anyone who they are and all they will tell you is “Jack” or “I’m an
accountant.” Most people’s worlds are confined only to their job, their address,
and their bank balance.
You are not even a grain of sand in this infinitely large universe of ours my
friend. Wake up and look at the stars. How far does your immortality reach? Will
you even be around to experience this power after you’ve killed a few hundred
million people with a push of a button? What is all the power in the world for?
Do we have a reason to live beyond hoarding land and money? Why are we here on
earth and why is it the only planet with intelligent life (that we know of)? Why
do we exist and what does it mean to “be”?
Human beings are the only species capable of the greatest good and the greatest
evil. Our intelligent abilities have given rise to our selfish nature. Our
conscious existence goes beyond what we currently know, think, and feel. But we
choose very easily not to accept this.
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