There’s more to life than this life by Chaitanya Charan Das
Based on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02, Text 18
This life” can refer to both the duration of our present
life and our present conception of life.
When referring to our lifespan, “there’s more to life than
this life” means that our life doesn’t end with death. Though we treat our life
as meaningful, death’s suddenness can make our life seem meaningless. A blow or
a bug can destroy our fragile bodies. No wonder when death abruptly befalls
someone, especially someone we know closely, we feel shocked. Our shock is not
just because we have lost that person, but also because our whole life
conception feels threatened. We are brought face-to-face with the dubiousness
of the assumption of meaningfulness that allows us to live and pursue as
worthwhile the various goals that society sets for us.
We are brought face-to-face with the dubiousness of the
assumption of meaningfulness that allows us to live and pursue as worthwhile
the various goals that society sets for us.
Gita wisdom assures us that life is indeed meaningful. Death
doesn’t make life meaningless because death doesn’t end life. Life comes from
the soul, which, the Bhagavad-gita (02.18) declares, is eternal. Instead of
misidentifying with our bodily shell, we need to identify with our spiritual
core, thereby changing our conception of life.
When referring to our present life-conception, “there’s more
to life than this life” refers to the limitedness and hollowness of the pursuit
of worldly pleasures, possessions and positions – pursuits that usually define
our life. “This life” given to materialistic pursuits can never satisfy our
heart’s innate longing for love. We long for not just love, but love that lasts
– and lasts forever. And that longing can be fulfilled only when we embrace a
spiritual life-conception.
When we truly understand our spiritual identity, we
naturally direct our loving propensity towards the eternal supreme person,
Krishna. In loving him and redefining our worldly pursuits as modes of loving
service to him, we gradually relish the supreme love that makes our life
eternally meaningful and joyful.
No comments:
Post a Comment