Life is worth living to Experience its Many Facets.

 

Life Is Worth Living to Experience Its Many Facets

“The purpose of religion and secular ethics is to make life more human. We are all members of one human family. Different faiths may serve different needs, but the health we seek is the same: a peaceful mind, a compassionate heart, and a life that brings less suffering and more happiness to others.”— His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama

Life is a precious gift. To live is to experience its many facets—to see, feel, think, learn, create, love, struggle, achieve, share and grow. Every human being is born with the fundamental gift of life and the energy to live it. Nature does not discriminate. Air, water, light, heat, space and countless other resources sustain all living beings.

Yet our lives unfold differently. Family, circumstances, geography, education, opportunities and social surroundings influence the course of life. At the same time, human beings possess the ability to learn, think, innovate and act. Through knowledge,  rational thinking, effort and responsible action, we can shape much of our own destiny.

Over centuries, humanity has created science, technology, institutions, cultures, religions and systems of governance to meet its needs and improve the quality of life. We have conquered distances, expanded knowledge, created extraordinary progress and unprecedented comforts and connected people across continents by establishing an interconnected world. The whole universe has become borderless and  remain  well connected. Yet this progress has also created a striking paradox.Connection without attachment has led only to isolation, loneliness and desperation for no justifiable reason or logic . In the process , some avoidable contradictions have come to surface. 

Human beings have divided themselves in the name of faith, ideology, race, status, wealth, power and political identity. Politics, which should serve society, has too often become a struggle for dominance. Autocracy, democracy and competing political ideologies have all been shaped by human ambitions and conflicts. Extremism, intolerance, hatred and the desire for power have repeatedly produced violence, war and suffering.

Even education and technology, which should unite humanity through knowledge and understanding, can become instruments of division when they are used without wisdom and responsibility. Digital technology has connected the world as never before, yet human beings have not necessarily become more understanding, peaceful or compassionate.

The paradox is striking: the world has acquired enormous material wealth and knowledge, but has yet to discover the wisdom to live together. The tendency to  invade nature is on the increase though it continually reminds us of our limitations. Earthquakes, floods, storms, wildfires, changing climates and other natural forces demonstrate that human beings cannot permanently dominate the forces of nature. Nature provides the foundations of life, and when those foundations are disturbed, the consequences are ultimately felt by everyone. Human beings cannot ignore the natural foundations of life. We may transform nature, but we must also learn to live with nature.

 We continue to divide ourselves in the name of faith, ideology, race, status, wealth, power and political identity. Technology, education and politics, which can unite and uplift humanity, are often used for division, conflict and dominance. This leads us to a fundamental question: What do we really mean by progress? Is progress merely greater wealth, technology, infrastructure and material comfort? Or should it also mean peace, dignity, justice, security, happiness, harmony with nature and freedom from fear?

The Meaning of True Progress

The world today possesses much of what is needed for a better life—knowledge, science, technology, resources, infrastructure and global communication. What is still missing is the wisdom and collective will to use these achievements for the common good. Perhaps humanity must look beyond its divisions and rediscover a simple truth: life itself is common to us all.

The ancient Indian ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—The World Is One Family expresses this interconnectedness. It reminds us that the well-being of one cannot ultimately be separated from the well-being of others or from the health of the planet we share. We have learnt how to accumulate wealth, but we must also learn to share opportunity. We have learnt to communicate instantly, but we must learn to understand one another. We have created powerful technologies; now we need the wisdom and responsibility to use them for the benefit of humanity.

The question before all of us—thinkers, scientists, educators, leaders, rulers, reformers, intellectuals, institutions and citizens—is simple but profound: What kind of world do we want to leave for future generations?

The answer cannot lie merely in greater competition for wealth, power and dominance. It must be found in cooperation, compassion, responsible freedom, mutual respect and the wise use of nature's resources.

The Responsibility of Institutions

This responsibility belongs not only to individuals but also to every institution, public or private.

Governments, legislatures, courts, educational institutions, hospitals, banks, businesses and all organisations engaged in public or private service have an important role in improving the quality of human life. They should function with integrity, accountability, fairness and, above all, a human touch.

Rules, technology, efficiency and profits have their place, but they should remain means, not ends. The ultimate purpose of every institution should be to serve human welfare and contribute to a better quality of life. When institutions function with ethical values, a spirit of service and genuine concern for people, they can transform civic, cultural and social life. Peace everywhere and happiness all around should become a conscious and practical objective in the delivery of every service. The misuse of power, technology, institutions and developmental activities must be prevented so that progress does not create new forms of exploitation, inequality or suffering.

The Wisdom to Live Better Together

Life is not meant merely to be survived or spent accumulating material possessions. It is meant to be lived, experienced and shared—with the simple attitude: Live well and let others also live well.

Nature gives us the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we grow and countless other forces that sustain life. Its abundance is not something to be taken for granted or merely consumed. It must be respected, protected and shared. Perhaps this is the ultimate wisdom humanity needs: To enjoy life without destroying the conditions that make life possible; to seek prosperity without denying others their opportunities; and to live freely without forgetting our responsibility to one another and to nature. If humanity can combine knowledge with wisdom, freedom with responsibility, development with sustainability, and individual achievement with concern for the common good, the world can become a better place for everyone.

We have learnt much about how to live better. Perhaps it is now time to learn how to live better together.That is the real meaning of progress. And that is why life is worth living—as long as nature and its life forces permit us to experience, enjoy and share its many facets. “Balancing the inner and outer facets of life—while engaging meaningfully with politics, economics, social developments and technological advancement—is a real blessing that enables us to live with contentment, fulfilment and a fuller appreciation of life.”

Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavantu

May all beings in all the worlds be happy.

T V G Krishnan

(personal Views).