Part 3--Afterlife, Perceived from Common Sense
It is uneasy to clearly demonstrate the variant viewpoints on afterlife, so I simply sort it out on the ground of common sense.
Very roughly, the viewpoints could fall into two categories or schools: one believes afterlife exists; another one does not.
In the first category: Christians believe that they can go to heaven after death if they believe God and commit no sins. Buddhism disciples believes that if one cannot transcend the samsara, than a being will be trapped in the cycle of life-and-death endlessly.
In the second category: Materialism denies the existence of afterlife.
According to my observance and knowledge, those who believe afterlife may face death in an easy and natural manner, as they know they are not really stop being a being, but transform into another form of being. Therefore, they are not afraid of death, but to some extent, welcome, expect and embrace it warmly.
On the contrary, those who don’t believe afterlife will have an absolutely distinctive reflection: they, as was told that there is only this one life, are always worrying about losing it. And this may bring them two opposite attitude to human life: either treasure it and live a life carefully and kindheartedly; or spoil it as they need not to care about the next one second after death. And the latter may lead to devastating aftermath, disaster and calamity either to himself or to the outside world.
Now, let’s move from the viewpoint of personal common sense to a relatively simple theoretical exploration in Part 4.
Have you ever read Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay, titled Self Reliance? In it he advocates disregarding mainstream views and searching for wisdom... much the way you (and I) are.
True, such topics are not easy to discuss when confronted with a society that is more interested in celebrities than in wisdom. Still, one might find a receptive ear in which to pour one's thoughts.
I'm glad to have found you, my deep friend.
To some extent, it is out of fear.
Firstly, I fully appreciate your belief in "living as good and charitable life as I can". The same with me.
It is really not easy to discuss philosophy, especially in the areas where may involve our world view which may not be in line with the mainstream ones.
What I am discussing is just be confined to the "commen sense" or our daily thinking mode.
Furthermore, when starting a philosophical topic, the discussion will not go in an natural and easy way as we do now.
And the beauty of that construct is that it is self-perpetuating: if our ancestors live through us, then we will live through our future progeny!
Looking at our existence on that scale should motivate each of us to be the very best we can be, both in honor of our dead and in the hope that future generations will reflect us.
How do you want to be thought of/remembered? That, I believe is my motivation to live as good and charitable life as I can.
I truly thank you for this discussion. Not many people open themselves up to discuss philosophy. Out of fear?
Right and thank you very much: the aspect neglected by me has been remedied by you now!
What you said is a quite fresh and inspiring viewpoint on afterlife: our ancestors live on through us. Once everybody regards his life like this, he would pay great attention to his own words and actions as he is shouldering the responsibilities to honor his forefathers as well as himself.
There's one aspect that you've neglected, my friend. A life well-lived - with kindness and charity and seeking only good - makes for an easy death. Only a greedy person would mourn all that they've not experienced and all that they left behind!
And then: we already know an afterlife of sorts, don't we? Do you recall your grandparents with love and devotion (if they have already died)? Wouldn't you say that they live on through you? And that you have a duty to be the best person you can be so that, every day, you honor them?
Wouldn't you say that that is afterlife?
Comment