I am at a stage in life where everything and anything makes very little sense to me. The purpose of all human actions seem misguided, purposeless, like small steps in the endless of expanse of wasteland.
Consider this..
Stephen Hawking in an public address once said (and i do not quote,i just am writing what i vaguely recollect of that address) that the existance of life is an overrated phenomenon. That there is life on earth stands testimonial and is added proof to this statement. The existance of life nothing more than an anomaly in the endless expanse of space-time. Considering this there need not be necessarily a purpose to the existance of the human species.. (you or i)
I for most parts concur on his above views -
What do the deeds of men mean? What purpose do they serve, considering that, if creation was an anomaly, destruction is also more than just a possibility.
What does it all mean when all of what has been done, 5000 years of human evolution, is destoyed by a single stroke from the dark expanse of space, or by the natural death of our solar system, our universe?? What else will remain.. absolutely nothing....
So tell me all those of you who care to read this post - What will your efforts be worth after armageddon? Where all that is left is the darkness of space..
Anyone who gives a fitting answer will save a poor human from an endless stretch of demotivation, and purposeless meanderings...
Did you ask this same or similar question to me once, at my home? I do remember answering something on that. What is relevant, is not the worth of your efforts after the D Day, but whatever it was worth at the time of your deeds. Money, Respect (Sigh!), Knowledge (sigh again!), Relationships etc. - None of which we seek accumulate, we will take it with us. So why accumulate? Did I ask this question and answer it as well? Or am I confusing the question in this post and what we discussed some two months before? Either way, do leave a response.
ReplyDeleteCheers
G Saimukundhan
I wud be lying if I said the thoughts you pen above have never crossed my mind..
ReplyDeleteAnd we're not the only ppl..I'm assuming a lot of ppl wonder about the futility of their actions in an existence that lasts merely for the duration of a wink in a cosmic time scale that runs into billions of years.
To a granite rock in the earth's crust, the lifespan of which is three billion years, our existence must be a mere flash in the darkness..so does anything we do or say or discover really even matter?
But then if what we do doesnt really matter to the universe and if our lives are utterly insignificant, then our existence is light and our choices meaningless (thats what Milan Kundera postulated in his book The Unbearable Lightness of Being, a book I thoroughly recommend to u)
On the other hand, there is a way to look at this fact as freeing, liberating.
Becoz then that means if our actions have no consequence to the grand plan, or even if there is no grand plan..we are free to do what we choose, to become what we wish to become, to think, read, discover..not for the sake of mattering or becoming important..but merely for the pleasure of living.
Live becoz you want to. Do as you wish to. Learn becoz you love to.
I started living for myself when I stopped living for the sake of the universe. ;)
sorry for the hideously long comment. I cudnt make it any shorter.
I like ur blog and I am adding to my blogroll..I hope thats alright. :)
ReplyDeleteMe...
ReplyDeleteGood you wondered about this issue. The first time I'd wondered on a related issue was when I was 16, and had realized that all our emotions, feelings, experiences, memories--all of which are basically driving forces for 'living' were nothing but merely certain chemical molecules (neurotransmitters) crossing over from one cell to another. I was extremely depressed then. I'd promised myself that I won't think of the question till I got used to that fact. And that happened in 3 days! I realized, life was very addictive. As TUIB, and somewhat even Sai have pointed out, there may not be an external purpose (as in something else that'd be the substrate/subject/object of your deeds on which your life would be an influence), but there's an internal purpose (doing what you like to do) to living.
Coincidentally, another blogger and I had had a discussion on EXACTLY the same issue, and not sure if TUIB read it, but I'll post the link here. See, if it adds anything to your understanding/knowledge. It deals with dryly biological, physical, psychological as well as intensely personal and emotional drives for living. You'll find the concerned discussion in last 10 or so comments, starting from Harshad Srinivasan's comment:
http://ketanpanchal.blogspot.com/2009/05/futuristic.html
And you needn't actually read the post--it's actually quite frivolous that way, just read those comments.
Unfortunately you've asked a question, to which the only counter-question I can ask is--you want to know the truth or you want to someone to tell you that what you know is not the truth?
I for one, can't do the latter. :(
TC.
Sir
ReplyDeleteNo confusions here. This is exactly what we had discussed that day. Though i did get my answer that day, this thought comes back to haunt me every now as then ushering along with it long spells of indifference. The intention of the post is that i would let myself to the answer once again, so that once again i would find a purpose to carry on..
TUIB ( I like that acronym, sounds kinda weird..) You are most welcome to my blogspot..
And what is with this - hope its alright stuff??
Considering whatever we do is of little consequence or relevance.. whether i am alright with it is of little relevance to you liking my blog or otherwise.. (Phew..). I look forward to more interactions with you..
Ketan
I did have this feeling or thought even when i was very young.. I just thought that i d share it with a larger audience(??), so that i wanted to whether i was alone in having all this thought (I v shared this thought with a lot of my acquaintances in schools and colleges only to be greated by hideous expressions in their faces).. I do not know whether this thought is good for me or not, i sure hope that it does not drive me crazy (If i m not already a lunatic that is..)..
(Sigh!)..
No, me..., you're not a lunatic, if lunatic is one whose beliefs are detached from objective reality. Okay, I know, I could be creating too many quicksand puddles for myself using terms like 'objective' and 'reality'.
ReplyDeleteI read all the comments once again and felt, I couldn't have put it better than TUIB.
Yes, some people have thought on the same lines, but a vast majority have not even thought of 'thinking'.
Most of the times motivation for doing something, especially, mundane stuff is some sort of temptation, something that'd gratify you, but at other times, one's has to keep on doing those very mundane stuff only for survival, or to avoid pain brought about by deprivation of daily needs. To put it plainly, for food, clothing and shelter, which sounds and is insipid, but had to learn it somewhat the hard way.
TC.
Altho' it may be of little consequence, Mama says its always polite to ask..
ReplyDelete:P
On a more serious note, this blog is a great addition to my blogroll..now more posts please :)
All i can say TUIB is thank you..
ReplyDeleteMotivation.?? why we exist? Veronica decides to die.. Go back to that dangerous book
ReplyDeleteeven before Armageddon happens, we have the more immediate fate of our own death to deal with. The question also is, in the face of imminent death, does it make sense to go on living? I think, the desire to live goes beyond semantic justification. It is embedded in the way we are.
ReplyDeleteMy one word answer is 'Nothing'!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry if that de-motivates you.
But, lol, it actually motivates me in my life somehow.
Ciao.
Loved your blog
Sundar.. I donot think you have understood the book well enough or atleast in the way i have coz in that case i would nt have seen the posts "Of god and haywire" from you..
ReplyDeleteAnd i think i will read that book once again .. it has become one of all time favourites..
Chiya..
You answer was like a slap in the face.. (I could n think of anyother fancy language to describe how hard the message was driven across)... Really happy that you d enjoyed it...
Trade Express i was referring to the ultimate end.. just to drive the point that not only a humans actions are futile in not only in his own life time but if any legacy is left behind that also become irrelevant some point in time..
Hey as ketan puts it desire is nothing but a transmission of nuerotransmitters from one cell to another. And my personal view is that nothing is beyond justification or reason.. anywhere we try not to reason we are just giving ourselves one less chance of understanding and appreciating life for the way it is.. But then again it is just my take on it.. Your view is well considered and much appreciated..
'anywhere we try not to reason out, we are giving ourselves one less chance to understand life for the way it is'--very well put, me... That's the most prominent instinct that's driven me for a long time. I try to project it as some kind of moral duty to think and try to understand, but I think, the honest fact is I enjoy understanding things, and can't help it, even when understanding proves to be of detriment to some 'worldly' purpose in life (like preparing for exams without understanding the deeper concepts involved).
ReplyDeleteI think one of the challenges and aspirations for me in life is to try to become a person I'd love and be proud of. Even as of now, if I cast off all unrequired modesty, I do love the way I am, but may be not proud enough 'cuz I've not overcome some inherent weaknesses. Not that eventually what kind of person I turn out has any purpose or cosmic implication (I'd go on to say, it doesn't have much implication for even the closest relations), but it's like this: You're drawing a picture, and you add exactly one pencil stroke each day. At the end of 10 years maybe, when your picture would be 'complete', you'd be happier if it turns out beautiful and/or the way you wanted it to as compared to if turns out ugly and not like how you wanted. That's exactly the case with life--at each stage when you look back at your life--your thoughts, words, actions (and maybe, their outcomes) you'll know whether you're proud of your drawing or not. What is beauty with regards to drawing or your life is entirely your prerogative. You may like the lively colors and abstract themes of Picasso, or the detailing of a da Vinci, but you'll know what you like.
You may or may not enjoy putting those pencil strokes, and you may or may not enjoy looking at your drawing after 10 years or even in between, but you'll save yourself from a lot of self-despication that drawing a bad picture will entail, especially if you'd know it was within you to do a better job of it.
Hope I made sense.
TC.
Why not wonder at the stroke of brilliance that created such a complex ecosystem( which albeit started as an anomaly)? why not strive for making it better as long as it survives? why be cynical that a destruction is more than just a possibility? why get demotivated by something that is actually so motivating when you look at it in a way. i mean, just think about it, something so brilliant evolved by ACCIDENT and not calculation!
ReplyDeletethink what'd happen if the creator(? or whoever?) calculated!
First of all i regret the very belated reply.. couldn't help it...
ReplyDeleteYou know what guys? I can only say guys that I am honoured, being beside such wonderful people. My opinion about humans and humanity has improved infinitely after this conversation. It has shown me that man is unique because he is intellectual. I shall keep that in mind when i talk to others in the time to come.
And as for the answers in the comments i will be lying if i say that i had not realised them already. Self above all, Perfection, Excellence in execution, Living for the moment, the brilliance that is creation and nature - these themes i have dwelled on for long..It is just that sometime i tend to let emotions cloud my intellect and therein lies the purpose of this post..
I am amazed that this post has captured such passionate comments. I realise now that i am not among a few who are intensely passionate about life. All i can say to you guys is Thank you.
Before the intellectual i bow down....
me...
ReplyDeleteI'm always ahead to grab any praise I can. So on behalf of all other contributors, I thank you, and accept graciously the praise. ;)
Emotions are not an antagonist of intellect. If you on occasions (it's not always possible or required), can take a detached view of your emotions, you'll love them, not unlike, reading about the emotions of some character in an engaging story.
If I may take the liberty to call it so, you might have been somewhat perturbed by the thoughts you had that you'd penned down in this post. But just today itself, to me, you're visibly happier. Isn't that 'fluctuation' interesting? If you notice things in this manner also, a subtle smile will always be a part of your being.
And just one warning--people who've replied to your post, do exist, no doubt, but you'd be majorly mistaken if you take them to be the representative of general population. Many times, you'll find yourself in subordinate positions or one of dependence on those intellectually much inferior to those who've responded here, and of course, even yourself. So the conclusion about humanity that you've verbalized here, would be of much significance in 'those' times.
And when I interact with someone who's thought a lot (about the world and the people in it, and themselves), it's with this assumption that I'd be simply repeating 95% of what they know, but just maybe 5% would be something that I could learn from me, with this overt desire that 5% or more of what they tell me would increase my understanding.
And if it's alright for you to talk about it, where's GSM-ji? Not in your pocket, I hope. ;) Any time soon will I have the pleasure of interacting with him?
TC.
Yes ketan you are right about what you had said about emotions. I have had moments of clarity (very good post of yours by the way) when i have felt emotionally charged up. (I am not implying that emotions are protagonists of thought either). My next post narrates one such incident. As usual your comments are much appreciated in letter and spirit..
ReplyDeleteAnd as regards GSMji - Beats me.. I have as much as an idea as you do in this regard..
ReplyDeleteThanks, me..., again!
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of general interest, do go through an article called 'meaning of life' on Wikipedia. It won't address any of the personal questions, but will be an interesting read. It's lengthy, though.
After our disagreement on doing poetry, I did finally do a poem--'Duel'--after 3.5 years. :)
TC.