Life is imperfect, incomplete, and impermanent

GUEST COLUMN: Dr. N Prabhudev

Bengaluru Express

Bengaluru, Oct. 17: In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life- “It goes on”! The answer to the question – what is life appears a simple at first glance but becomes more complex the longer you sit with it. At its core, “life goes on” speaks to the relentless nature of time and the human spirit’s ability to endure. Accept Change, Stay Positive, Set Goals, Learn from Experience and keep moving! Never quit! Pursue your dreams!

Happiness equals reality minus expectations. Smile as often as possible. When you don’t even feel like it. Just do it all the time. It will eventually rub off. Realize that it’s okay to make mistakes. Just make sure to learn from your past mistakes, forgive yourself and move on.

If I were to propose a way of looking at the world I would single out “an ethos of symbiosis”. I am talking about the kind of mentality that favours harmony over opposition, unity over division, “we” over “I.” We do not see things the way they are; we see things the way we are. It’s not what you look at, that matters; it’s what you see.

May you have-

Enough happiness to keep you sweet,

Enough trials to keep you strong,

Enough sorrow to keep you human,

Enough failure to keep you humble,

Enough success to keep you eager,

Enough friends to give you comfort,

Enough wealth to meet your needs,

Enough enthusiasm to look forward,

Enough faith to banish depression,

Enough determination to make each day better than yesterday.

Life can be understood only backwards but has to be lived forwards. The mistakes are clothed under the name experience. Like apes, we sleep, we breed and die. Yet like God we say, “I am”, me and myself! We are more of an ontological oxymoron. We see many virtues that we do not have. The real battle of life is not with those who think differently from us, the real battle of life is against our perceived view of ourselves. Someone else doesn’t have to be wrong for you to be right.

Nobody is perfect! I am nobody! Does it make me perfect? We live in a world that often chases perfection. In reality, life is not perfect. Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool and a comedy for the rich and a tragedy for the poor. Life is a collection of experiences, ideas, education and events.

It’s a cruel and random world, but the chaos is all so beautiful. All the most powerful emotions come from chaos -fear, anger, love- especially love. Think about it! It shakes you up and spins you around. And then, eventually, it falls apart or you fall in love. Violence all too often dominates life in the contemporary world. Human history has constantly been scarred by conflicts.

In Nature Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist. It is survival of the fittest! Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing – moving away from our comfort zone, living boldly. A ship is always safe at the shore, but that is not what it is built for – Albert Einstein. Yes, but don’t be reckless!

Fear of failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of going broke. Fear of being alone. Fear of humiliation. Fear of speaking out. Fear of being ostracized by family and friends. Fear of physical discomfort. Fear of regret. Fear of success. How many of these fears are holding you back? Have you convinced yourself that you aren’t really afraid? Convince yourself now!

Everything in life is temporary. Time and Tide waits for none! A flower blooms beautifully, but eventually withers. The sun rises and sets each day. Seasons come and go. Time is an elusive concept! It is both fleeting and eternal, always ticking away!

Measured against eternity, our time on earth is just a blink of an eye. Relationships, like everything else, are subject to the law of impermanence. Friendships fade, romances end, and even the closest bonds are vulnerable to change. While this can be a painful realization, it also opens up the possibility for growth and transformation. Each relationship teaches us something, even if it doesn’t last forever.

We spend much of our lives chasing after happiness, believing it to be a destination. But happiness is not something we attain and hold onto forever. It is a fleeting emotion that comes and goes, just like every other experience in life. Accept that suffering, like happiness, is also temporary- this too shall pass,”!

Seasons shift, rivers carve new paths, we grow old, relationships evolve, and even the stars eventually fade. Nothing is immune to time. If nothing lasts, what is the point of striving? Why build, why love, why dream—if it will all dissolve? Yet this question hides a deeper wisdom. Precisely because nothing lasts forever, every moment gains meaning. It is not to despair at their falling, but to marvel at their existence while they last.

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