Man's Eternal Quest

Aug 28, 2010


Ever since the human race came into existence, man has been searching for answers.  His quest for understanding life, of what life is and should be has never been found and perhaps never will be.

We need to understand one thing, a non-negotiable truth that to all the questions of our life, we are the most possible answer; to all the problems of our life, we are the best possible solution. Science and religion have been fighting hard against each other trying to understand life in its fullness. I can’t tell whether it is the mother or father of all battles, but it is certainly one of those. We are only temporary simple beneficiaries out here. We have a game to play with some rules. Abiding and following these rules, we may put up a good score. But through these rules we will be introduced to Him who creates all life. The secret is to play intensely and enthusiastically.  Be prepared,
         
          What did you bring with you, which you have lost?
          What did you produce, which has been destroyed?
          You did not bring anything when you were born,
          You came empty handed and you will go the same way.
          Whatever is yours today, was somebody else’s yesterday
          And will be somebody else’s tomorrow.
          Change is the law of the universe.
                                                                   -Vedanta-

There's no point holding on to something and saying, “It is mine…!” It never was. Many a time we hear the cry of 'why?' 'Why me?' 'Why my dear ones?' 'Why…!'
 
But don’t you think, the god who gives us life and happiness, will also give us sadness? There are people who say, ‘I cannot worship a God who demands that I tear out from my heart and my mind the question of why innocents should suffer. To what kind of God can one pray when life plays foul? To that God who, as St Paul wrote, ”Spared not his own son.” 
 
           
 Allow yourself to be unmade, and into the vastness of the beyond, you will Be made                                                          
    -Jaggi Sadguru Vasudev-
 
Moreover our life is not fully ours; we influence our family, travelling companions along the journey. They will not be the same after having your acquaintance because they will carry an opinion of how you behaved with them, be it love, anger, affection, discontent. In flavouring others we flavour ourselves, in illuminating others we brighten our own lives. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts, no point going to a water park when your mind is filled with tension. Your struggle is worth praise only if there is harmony in your life.  We are like a prepaid card with limited validity.  If luck is on our side, we may go on for another 30-40 years. Don’t be serious, be sincere.
 
“Let us remember that whenever we see a flower blooming, a lovely tree spreading its branches, the ebb and flow of the tide, we are watching divine life in action.”
 
So many people say life is boring, sad and …!

But this happens because they miss the point that all creation is sacred. We are more engrossed in man-made things rather than God-made ones.  Sometimes I suggest you to have
 
                   Walks in the park,
                   Listen to the music of the birds,
                   Watch the rosy sunset go by,
                   Picnics by the water bank...
      
The best things in life are free.
Would you not agree?
 
Above all, have gratitude in all your doings and serve with a smile. You will find your truest satisfaction in that and let it guide your response to everything that happens.
 
I will leave you with a fascinating true-life story. A poor boy, who was selling goods door-to-door to pay for his education, one day found that he did not have enough money to buy a meal. He knocked the door of a house for a glass of water.
 
A young lady who opened the door looked compassionately upon him and offered him a glass of milk instead. This boy, named Howard Kelly, left the house with much gratitude in his heart. Years later, this young woman became critically ill. She was admitted to a city hospital.
 
A well known doctor was called in for consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from he began to recall something.  He went straight to her ward and recognized her at once but said nothing.  He went back to the consultation room and determined to do his best to save her life.
 
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr Kelly requested the accounts department to pass the final billing to him for approval.
 
He wrote something across the bill and sent it to her. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. But tears welled up in her eyes when she read the words in bold letters: ”Paid in full with one glass of milk” and signed 'Dr Howard Kelly.'
 
These are some of the things which bring a smile in the market place .

Edmond Fernandes - Archives:
Email: edmondvirgo@gmail.com

by Edmond Fernandes
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Comment on this article

  • suresh, gujarat

    Thu, Sep 02 2010

    Thanks for this eye opener. It's really touching

  • Silvy, ROME

    Wed, Sep 01 2010

    Excellent and enlightening! Continue writing. we need people like you in the scoiety to make people think and act.

  • Sajan Joy, Kerala

    Mon, Aug 30 2010

    its a wonderful article for all, to think upon

  • Oliver Sutari, Manipal

    Mon, Aug 30 2010

    Wow, such philosophical thoughts at such a young age! You have put across some very simple truths beautifully. I know you will go a long way, Ed!

  • Crystal, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 29 2010

    Very nice article Edmond. keep it up. yes, some times we just go on asking questions but we don't get the answers. Eventually, I think the answer lies in us. In today's world we hardly find people who spend time admiring the beauty of nature instead we find them busy with technology like cell phones and so on. We should spend some times with the nature, and this will benefit every single person for sure. Thanks for putting light on these aspects. All the best.

  • Edmond Fernandes, India

    Sun, Aug 29 2010

    thank you Ms Christine For the wonderful quotes you have given.

    Fr Anand, special thanks for taking time out to comment.inspite of your busy schedule.

    Mr Hinal & shaun, a big thanks

    Mr Theo, appreciated & admired.

    shaun you could email me, if you want to know more about me.

  • Christine, manglore

    Sat, Aug 28 2010

    Good article,Some advise in the bible.
    Ecclesiastes13.What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
    218-19.I must leave them to the one who comes after me And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
    510 Whoever loves money never has money enoughwhoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income 13wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner 15, Naked a man comes from his mother's womb,and as he comes, so he departs.He takes nothing
    19 Moreover,when God gives any man wealth and possessions,and enables him to enjoy them,to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God
    62 God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor,so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them,and a stranger enjoys them instead a grievous evil.
    87 Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?8 No man has power over the wind to contain it so no one has power over the day of his death 15 So I commend the enjoyment of life,because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad.Then joy will accompany him
    1213 Fear God and keep his commandments,for this is the whole duty of man.14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing,whether its good or evil

  • Christine, manglore

    Sat, Aug 28 2010

    very nice artickleSome of the answers we can get Ecclesiastes in the bible.It was after proverbs
    Ecclesiastes 13,What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? 218-19.I must leave them to the one who comes after me And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless who can bring him to see what will happen after him?
    510 Whoever loves money never has money enough whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income 13wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner 15, Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs.He takes nothing
    19 Moreover,when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them,to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God
    62 God gives a man wealth,possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires,but God does not enable him to enjoy them,and a stranger enjoys them instead a grievous evil.87 Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come 8,No man has power over the wind to contain it so no one has power over the day of his death 15 So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him 1213-14,Fear God and keep his commandments For God will bring every deed into judgment,including every hidden thing,

  • Fr. Anand Pereira S.J., Mangalore/Omaha, USA

    Sat, Aug 28 2010

    Dear Edmund,
    Thanks for this enlightening article. It's so philosophical, yet down to earth. We live in a world that believes in hoarding. We often tend to forget that we cannot take anything along with us when we go away from this world. Isn't that the reason why luggage racks are not fitted on to hearses? Thanks for opening our eyes to see the things that really matter. Do continue your good work.

  • Hinal Shah, mumbai

    Sat, Aug 28 2010

    its a awesome article , never read like this before. thanks to edmond. recommend more people to read this.

  • Shaun D'souza, Abu Dhabi

    Sat, Aug 28 2010

    this is a awesome article, never read like this before,
    good work Mr Edmond. could please tell me what you do?

  • Theo D'Silva, Kadri/Toronto

    Sat, Aug 28 2010

    Dear Readers,
    Its a beautiful article with veda quotation. But, remember brothers/sisters, you are a intelligent creation/or not, see even the enimals, how they protect their own. We the Intelligent creation have a rational thinking power and creativity. Beleive in Jesus Christ the Saviour, The Only One Who said through me is the resuraction and Salvation and sacrificed his Own Life for our Sins.
    The brother Christians of yester years, Karl Marx and Hitlter, went in wrong direction of Christianity by seeing the injustice and disparity of rich and poor. But, where are they? The truth is we need non-voilence and trust in Jesus Christ's Preaching.
    Thanks, Theo


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