Real or surreal?

By Nidhi Mattoo

I have often wondered the purpose of life of a human being on this planet, which is the only one to sustain life in our universe. Why are we born? Why do we get into a specific profession, while some become legends in their fields and others are lost into oblivion?

According to Hindu mythology, we get the birth of a human after completing 84 lakh births of other living organisms. The human form is considered to be the most evolved and intelligent among all the species. This form is said to be the gateway to Moksha or release from this cycle of birth and death.

Scientists all over the world believe that we are not alone in this universe; there are several other parallel universes that may have similar life forms and solar systems. The vastness of all of these universes and the boundless space which encircles it, makes us just tiny specks in the entire creation of the Supreme Power.

It makes me understand the nothingness of humans as individuals and the higher purpose of this human birth. When we realize ourselves completely, it is at that moment we understand our higher purpose. This is also when we realize that the whole world seems to be living in a dream and nothing exists in reality.

Christopher Nolan's Inception, a worldwide smash hit, also talks about the dream that we live in and how we cannot differentiate between the real and surreal.

Whenever I get upset, my friends often pacify me with the phrase "Sab Moh Maya Hai" and I wonder do they actually understand what they are saying.

Bhagvad Gita also propounds the same thought that we are living in a dream created by the Supreme Power that wants us to be a part of this dream. This dream becomes so real for us that we get attached to the worldly desires of materialism and power. We forget that this is actually a game and we are merely players, who are controlled by the rules of the game.

We are so engrossed in the daily struggles of our lives that we forget that nothing exists in reality. Money, power, jealousy, ego make us go to the extent of hurting our loved ones. We forget the real self, the pure soul which understands the language of unconditional love for everyone. We waste this precious life in negativity, fear, animosity, anger and other such thoughts which corrupt our thinking and our outlook. The only problem is that we do not understand ourselves completely and neither this dream.

A monologue from William Shakespeare's As You Like It articulates it in the most lucid manner - All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.

We just need to realize our true self and our purpose in this life it will make living this dream much easier and worthwhile.