Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Somehow I want to live...Somehow

'Somehow I want to live. I really want to live for some more time. Somehow....' the old man continued his irritating refrain.

This man is close to 90. He has been invalid for last 10 years. Totally dependent on others. He can't even take care of his basic needs and duties even with the help of others. Everything has to be done by other people. Bed ridden and wheel chair bound. In last few years, even ingesting food and breathing have become problems. Tubes have been inserted for food and breathing.

This is the physical condition of the man who keeps saying that he wants to live longer and somehow he wants to live longer. Emphasis is on 'Somehow'

For what? I wonder.

There is a Sanskrit saying 'Shareera Madhayam khalu dharma sadhanam'. It means 'the body is the medium for all rightful activities.'

Absolutely correct. Human body (which includes the mind which is nothing but subtle body) is indeed the medium for all activities, good or bad. That's why we should take good care of it.

But, it is body's nature to age, wither, lose its vitality and finally release vitality for good (die) one day.

I don't know how you feel. But, even a normal flu is enough to put your body out of order. It is not able to accomplish anything when you are down with flu. During such times, the body feels like real and painful liability. Unnecessary baggage. Doesn't your inner-self crave for freedom without the sick body?

If you feel really sick and tired of the body in sickness which is only temporary, I wonder, how can a old man, in 90s, so want to live for some more time? Even if there are legitimate reasons and unfulfilled desires, his body does not allow their fulfillment.

I really could not understand why the person may want to somehow live longer, even if it is only a little longer.

Kept thinking about it. Shared with someone during a casual conversation. What the other person casually remarked was an epiphany...an Aha! moment.

The old man probably does not know what is beyond death. The fear of the unknown. That's what is making him to desire to somehow live longer, a little longer and after that a little more longer.

Probably that's the case. The fear of unknown.

No judgement here. There is no absolute right or wrong. So, don't think I am saying the man was wrong wanting to live longer.

PS: He passed away recently to the relief of many people who feared he might outlast many of his caregivers. RIP.

2 comments:

sunaath said...

ಮಹೇಶ, ನೀವೊಂದು ಯಕ್ಷಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಯನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿರುವಿರಿ!ಇದರ ಉತ್ತರ ಧರ್ಮರಾಯನಿಗೇ ಗೊತ್ತು!(?)

Mahesh Hegade said...

ಧರ್ಮರಾಯನನ್ನು ನೆನಪಿಸಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಧನ್ಯವಾದ. ಯಕ್ಷ ಕೇಳಿದ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಅವುಗಳಿಗೆ ಧರ್ಮರಾಯ (ಯುಧಿಷ್ಠಿರ) ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಉತ್ತರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಕಲ ವೇದಾಂತ ಅಡಗಿದೆ.