Discovering the meaning of life

It would be amiss to underrate the exciting power of human brain. Human life form has taken its shape by an extreme development and struggle through the moulds of nature’s harsh reality. With this ultimate product called “brain” comes an ever widened concept of life and reality! (For the functioning of human form is determined at the discretion of neuron impulses, has become a popular and widely accepted idea). Evidently the argument is tautological and is baffling in terms of defining the actual cause of events, namely, brain or nature- what comes first? Even if we are able to resolve on this issue, can we ever settle down on the deterministic behaviour of mind or brain? I suppose extracting complete answers to these questions is nearly impossible and one needs to look at them from a different as well as wider perspective.

Apart from this, I think I have grown into an individual who considers intellect and knowledge to be of paramount importance. My mind has started functioning in a way which caters for most, if not all, possibilities of reason and inquisition. I learnt to think deeply of simple things. But once again, I am thrown on the horns of dilemma when I try knowing what shaped or made me into an individual of such outlook on life. How far did I control the events that happened for me? This brings in the usual and clichéd words of ‘fate’ and ‘predestination’. World has perhaps been engulfed in this debate for ages now, but with still no final answers. The acceptance of such sensitive issues has only been determined by the preordained inclination of individuals towards a set of ideas. So once again the circle completes its turn and lands us into in a similar problem. Maybe there are no clear cut answers to such problems, we need to think and learn about matters differently.

On a more informed level, I try finding meaning to things which happen to me. To me kindness and good being are the traits fundamentally and conscientiously present in the universe, and digression from them seems to me strange and sad in all respects. I have known many instances in which I feel to be treated unjustly and the matters get worse when such injustice takes a toll on my academic well being - I do remember the day in my mathematics class (O’ Level) when we were taught about regular polygons and the sum of their external angles to be 360 degrees. All I made was a shape that resembled more of a red cross. It looked perfectly ‘regular’ to me and, with straight sides it was a ‘polygon’ to me too. On calculation I was able to calculate a sum that went over a staggering 2520 degrees. On questioning I was scolded and embarrassingly made to stay quiet. Similar cases have occurred in physics where ‘gravity’ and ‘relativity’ were not explained the way they should have been. Such events did bother me to frustrating levels and made me question myself the meaning of such unfortunate events. Similarly I was bent to think about others too! Why has life been so ruthless to those dying in earthquakes (one of them hitting Pakistan on 8^th Oct) and Tsunami? Why are there so many innocent killings all around the world? What convinces nations to crush peace and climb the ladder of hatred and call for war? Sometimes the picture turns really grim. People often exclaim that every cloud has a silver lining, but I ask, even a mushroom cloud. Maybe once again there are no answers to such events, all we need to do is an attitude adjustment.

I am amused each time I struggle through and try to find the meaning of life. With so many intellectual, social and ethical dilemmas, I am convinced nature cannot be so cruel to leave us totally blank and unattended. I have actually found the meaning of life in its very diversity. Life is all about moving on and discovering new things where perhaps nothing is good or bad, appeasing or annoying. I suppose Buddha was divine in describing himself to be awake when he was questioned about the meaning of his life. All I have tried to do is remain awake and appreciate that life is so full of life!

EUTHANASIA

Euthanasia is commonly known as ‘mercy killing’ In Greek, "eu" means both "well" and "easy" and "Thanatos" is death. Euthanasia is the intentional premature termination of another person's life by direct intervention (active euthanasia) where the patients have gone beyond the limits of treatment and rehabilitation. Thus their death becomes inevitable. This is in no way, denying the material mortality of all other human beings but only to justify that the real meaning of death becomes clearer when it is seen as a surety instead of a chance. Euthanasia can also be brought about by withholding life-prolonging measures and resources (passive euthanasia), either at the express or implied request of that person (voluntary euthanasia), or in the absence of such approval (non-voluntary euthanasia). Involuntary euthanasia - where the individual wishes to go on living - is a euphemism for murder.
All this seems to be pretty clear and easy, but it is only until the problem is brought under the realm of philosophy and religion (ideas governing the minds of many). Like every other issue, euthanasia has its proponents as well as opponents. The fundamental argument of those against euthanasia is perhaps an easy guess – it is suicide! I believe it is imperative here to clarify that suicide in itself is a wider term and we need to resolve on its true definition. Self-sacrifice, avoidable martyrdom, engaging in life risking activities, refusal to prolong one's life through medical treatment are all closely related to suicide. They all involve a deliberately self-inflicted death. But does one have a right to take one's life? The answer is: it depends. Certain cultures and societies encourage suicide. Both Japanese kamikaze and Jewish martyrs were extolled for their suicidal actions. Certain professions and industries are knowingly life-threatening like the manufacture of armaments and cigarettes boost overall mortality rates. In general, suicide is commended when it serves social ends, enhances the cohesion of the group, upholds its values, multiplies its wealth, or defends it from external and internal threats.
However many major religions/ideas in the world disallow subjective suicide by putting forward their own clarification, justification and rationalization. Society is a superior platform as it deals at a scale which is wide and all encompassing. Owing to the fact that each individual is born with unique strengths and weaknesses, and therefore, somewhere, maybe suicide is all justified and true; society on the whole only caters to the general repercussions. It fears that influences of such nature can engulf healthier, happier or even mentally weak individuals and thus wreak major havocs unknown to the human kind before.

Apart from this, majority of the population does not have the awareness or the courage to challenge the established and to cap it all, many consider themselves to be the pioneers and saviours of the laws put forward by the ideologies. People are mostly driven by religious fundamentalism or lack of true knowledge. Intolerance and erratic emotions, both pave the way for a conservative and conformist society. On these grounds it is fairly easy to visualize that a majority of the population has developed a subjective abhorrence towards euthanasia and even more strongly for suicide.

Life is indeed a complex web of both logic and emotions, where the importance of both cannot be denied. Adopting euthanasia involves passing through a cascade of both of these. There are naturally people who simply cannot decree a death of their loved ones even when life has become synonymous to death alone, while there are others who believe in the physical emancipation of the patients. But there are instances when the problem is ejected out of emotions and brought down to sad ground realities. It is fairly easy to come across a situation in a hospital or a hospice, where a poor family is over burdened by the colossal costs of medical treatment. Dilemma sets in. Should they linger on and expend huge sums of money on a potentially dead person or resort to measures which can at least save the rest of them from a detrimental end?

Is euthanasia ever justified? I believe it is, but only on grounds which are perhaps on their own not thoroughly justified. I suppose one thing to be glaringly evident; euthanasia can never be bracketed with suicide. Suicide involves a decision of the certain individual only, in which he thinks life to have gone beyond control or is not worth living. But such a decision can sometimes be saturated with emotional instability or subjectivity. On the other hand euthanasia involves a decision coming forth from an objective analysis of doctors and the experts. But it is quite possible for the decision to be restricted by an unknown time frame. What if the cure to victim’s disease is found only ten minutes after euthanasia? The problem here lies in accepting the superiority of science over miracles or denying the inherent uncertainty present in the universe.

I am certain that if we are able to resolve on predicting the absolute death of human being ‘euthanasia’ would lose its charm as a controversy.