Sweet Irony Pie

There are various definitions of the word "irony" depending on its usage. For my particular musing this definition is quite apropos:

2a. Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.

We spend so much time and energy trying to make a permanent situation in a world where we know that death is inevitable. In the face of such a reality we may begin to question the purpose of our material pursuits, such as work, school, family, material enjoyment, etc. After all, if we're just going to die, then what's the point of striving so hard to attain our material goals? How does my college degree or my large bank balance help me at the time of death?

It's ironic. We spend so much time trying to get what we want in this material world and in the end it's all taken away! We have an expectation or desire of how things should be. For many of us we never fully actualize all of our desires and for those rare people who actually achieve all of their goals and dreams it's all taken away through illness, old age and ultimately death.

We have the expectation that we'll be here forever, in this same body, with these same friends and family. It's this expectation that leads to the belief in a heaven where you're reunited with all of your family and friends (and even your pets). Unfortunately the reality is that all of these material, bodily connections are temporary. Our expectations do not align with reality and therefore our material existence is ironic.

Human life is meant for inquiry into the purpose of our existence. If I don't stop to question why I'm doing what I'm doing then I'm living in this illusion of bodily identification and the illusion that I'll be here forever. The whole world has its foundation upon this illusion. We rarely stop to question anything, simply living from one material enjoyment to the next and trying to minimize our suffering or misery. We neglect the big questions and ignore the reality of death.

A child builds a sand castle on the edge of the shore, spending so much time and energy creating it. When the tide rises and the waves come in all of their hard work and effort is washed away. Similarly we're in a situation where we spend so much time creating our identities, personalities, families, friendships, living spaces, etc., but when death comes it's all washed away. We know death is a fact and yet we ignore it. We know our life here is temporary, yet we ignore it. That in itself is ironic! We know the reality, yet we choose to live the opposite of it, perhaps hoping it will just go away.

I know that of late many of my blog entries have been about death and impermanence, but don't worry: I'm not having suicidal thoughts! It's just something that Sri Krishna and Sri Guru constantly remind me of. It's easy to get so bogged down in our day to day existence and overwhelmed with our responsibilities and obligations that we forget this is all temporary. It's easy to forget that there's something beyond all of this. And as soon as we forget that this present material life isn't the be all and end all, then at that moment we fall back into the same old illusions, further prolonging our anxiety, suffering and depression.