To live or to Die

It's all an illusion - to Live or to Die

We could be very much alive physically, and yet we could be so barren in our Hearts.

We humans have an ample amount of devotedness to the materialistic world and due to the attachment to our body and mind. We substantiate our identity to this very aspect. We call ourselves "human beings", we've made it a habit to identify people as other "human bodies". All that we interpret using our senses, makes perfect sense. Logic and reasoning with our intellect has become our very nature. As we move forward in the 21st century, we try and create these tall sky-scrapers, there are cities that never sleep, the need for money grows and the need for power is immense.

How well do we do in our jobs, how successful or well achieved we are academically and in our careers, how good we look - the skinnier we are the more we "fit" in (into our clothes and in this shallow society), how independant we are... or how less dependant we are on others. Pornography is just a click away. People want to have relationships with people who are "hot" they look. How much we flaunt our bodies involves a big chunk of this. Divorce rates are sky-rocketing. There is always this image that everyone needs to put up in front of others. Plastic surgery to deform our perfectly fine bodies. There is so much tonnage on how this body looks and also how we portray ourselves on the outside. There is one thing that people perpetually worry about - their weight, how fat they are and how they need to lose weight!!

Does that mean, we must not strive to live up to "speed" with the trend? Does this mean we try and live without any ambition or having comforts? I am not saying that. When we have all of the comforts and riches, where everything around us is complete on the outside... we could be completely barren in our hearts. We could be the richest person on the planet and appear on the outside to have a "happening and lively" life / lifestyle, but there could be so much emptiness in the heart.

Being angry at one's own self
Being angry at our nearest and dearest ones who care about us the most
Talking bad about others
Indulging in unwanted gossip
Talking about things that are negative
Not being able to smile when you look at someone
Being consumed by the superficiality
Getting caught up in the mundane routine that we create for oursleves
Getting lost in the aim to accumulate more and more money!
Feeling less comfortable in the bodies that we are blessed with.
Living in fear and insecurity
More than anything else, living and dwelling in our own little world where all of the above ways of being are oriented towards nothing but towards satifying one's own selfish needs, where other people do not exist.

We could very well be alive on the outside and still be so dead in our hearts within... with a constant need and want for something to fill up the void. And when we actually leave this body, what have we left behind? Nothing. It does not make any difference if we are physically dead or alive!!Indeed, it's all an illusion, to live or to die.

To feel alive is to acknowledge the Presence of everyone around us and to acknowledeg the Presence of the Divine within...

Taking the joy in simple pleasures in Life, even if it is 5 minutes of humming your favorite song in the morning.
A nice bath, a great meal and a roof on top of us, and a thankful moment for everything is being taken care of so very well for us.
A nice and quiet conversation with God.
A walk in the park.
Playing with kids, having a hearty no-brainer conversation with them.
Knitting a scarf for your dear ones.
Doing a project / a task at work (may be)... doing it with passion without expecting any benefit, without having the need for power or the need to prove yourself to others... just doing it because of the reason you enjoy it and that it gives others joy and it makes them feel good.
A nice chat with a dear friend with whom when you talk, no matter how you are down, at the end of the conversation you hang up with a smile on the face
A beautiful smile on your face when we meet someone, just because of the only reason that you are happy to see them.
A gesture of kindness.
Doing atleast one good thing a day that will make some one happy, and that is totally selfless and unconditional.
The security that there is Someone who is constantly watching out for us, and provides us with everything when we need it.
Being content with what we have and being thankful for the same and having the confidance that God will provide for us based on our needs and all we have to do is just do our duty with all dedication.
Being thankful for all the blessings that we are bestowed with, that makes us unique.
Being thankful for all the wonderful people that we are blessed with in our lives and never to take them for granted.
Being there for everyone around us, unconditionally.
Being able to go past relating to a person based on their external appearances and to only see the Beauty of the Souls within... Being able to see the God within, the Goodness within.
Blessing the heart of someone who hurts us.
Taking good care of this body which is the Temple of the Divine Energy with in us.
Treating ourselves right and in turn treating one and all around us right.
Always seeking and wanting the connection and conversation with God...
Living a life for others... living a life to be able to Serve everyone around us... and in turn Serve the God within.

Living a life of surrender...

... is the essence to LIVING and FEELING ALIVE. Now when we leave our mortal coils, then we have something to leave behind, hearts that are filled with Love and hearts that spread the same message of Love and inspire one and everyone who cross their path. Hearts that are inspired to Live life to the fullest and hearts that find joy and bliss in the Simplicity of things... in Simple acts of Kindness.

When we become "Present" to the Souls who are around us, we become "Present and Alive" in our hearts. This Life is not to live for ourselves, but to Live it with Everyone. And when we live this way, irrespective of whether we stay in this body or not, we continue to Live. I have come to know this and I have seen this through a person who has been so dear to me. She may be gone from Her physical body... but She continues to Live and She continues to shine Her love on one and all. She continues to Live as the Love and Beauty in everyone's hearts.

I have penned these thoughts down only from what I have learnt from my teacher, my dear friends and family. It is what they teach me through their Love and I am humbled today for this moment.