As reports begin to filter in on the behind the scenes life of Michael Jackson, his alleged addiction to Demerol (a narcotic painkiller) and possible cause of death, his rumored marriage to Rwaramba (the children's nanny), the number of plastic surgery procedures undergone, his court appearances regarding his alleged inappropriate behavior with young boys, his shyness and insecurities, and his undeniable talent - on a level that comes but once in a lifetime - that has been and will continue to be a meaningful part of our lives, one does wonder about the complexity of the human being and what it is all about.
The meaning of life has been the subject of much philosophical, religious, scientific and spiritual debate throughout history. And in this time of death, we find ourselves wondering ...
... "Why are we here?"
... "Do we have a soul?"
... "What happens when we die?"
... "Do we have a purpose?"
... "Why is happiness so complicated?"
... "What is the meaning of life?"
I wouldn't presume to have the answers to these questions, although I suspect that we are often barking up the wrong tree.
Alice came to a fork in the road. "Which road do I take?" she asked.
"Where do you want to go?" responded the Cheshire cat.
"I don't know," Alice answered.
"Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter."
~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
In this moment of reflection, which death often provides, I offer you some thoughts from some of our most respected and best philosophers, writers and just plain folk that may help us find our way.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau
The fish trap exists because of the fish. Once you've gotten the fish you can forget the trap. The rabbit snare exists because of the rabbit. Once you've gotten the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words exist because of meaning. Once you've gotten the meaning, you can forget the words. Where can I find a man who has forgotten words so I can talk with him? ~ Chuang Tzu
Life has the name of life, but in reality it is death. ~ Heraclitus, Eustathius ad Iliad
It requires a great deal of faith for a man to be cured by his own placebos. ~John L. McClenahan
You don't have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body. ~ C S Lewis
Spread the word ... NOT the icing!
Janice
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Janice Taylor is a Health & Wellness Coach, award-winning artist and author.
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