Metaphysical Meanderings

Metaphysical Meanderings

We all have heard people say, or the words written, the sad refrain: "I wish I'd never been born." This thought has repeatedly appeared in the context of those enslaved, or at least living a miserable life. Oft times intermingled with the inevitability of death, as in: "Hush little baby, don't you cry. You know your momma's (or in the case of Elvis, daddy's) bound (sometimes, born) to die. All my sins, lord, soon be over." Some folks, given the choice, apparently would rather never have been a zygote, the product of a human sperm and egg. This seems absurd, or at least aberrant, at first blush - Oh, I mean "the beauty of life" and all - but at least let's take a moment to examine the concept.

Take me, for example. I've been blessed with great parents and siblings, a comfortable childhood, a relatively nice lifestyle, a great education and wonderful companions, both, two-and-four legged. Why would I even consider such an alternative?

The answer, my friends, is pain. Both self, societal and spiritually inflicted. Having to live my whole life in the anticipation of death - when was about five or so, I asked "Mommy, am I going to die?" - and having witnessed the demise of family, dear friends and, for me, especially four legged creatures, I have actually thought staying in "Nothing Land" might have been better.

But let's forget about me and consider the life of a far worthier man, Yeshua-bin-Joseph; for the record, the original Aramaic name of someone more widely known in the Greek and particularly Latin languages, as Jesus of Nazareth. Most Christians believe He was the son of the one and only true G-d, sent to earth to absolve mankind of its sins. If you are one of these believers, let me ask "What, if anything, did He have to say in the matter?" I mean, and please don't think me sacrilegious, as I'm only postulating this idea for purposes of discussion, was He told, "Son, you're going to earth to be born as a human to a poor Jewish carpenter and his wife, already pregnant, to live your life under mysterious circumstances, to disappear for many years, then to reappear as an iterant rabbi(teacher) offending establishment officials of both temple and state, to die an excruciating death to save others and then to come back home. No choice, you must go.” How did He feel about being born a human? Given a choice, would he have chosen that path?

In traditional Hinduism most adherents believe in the reincarnation of the Atman (Soul). According to that belief system, we are continually reborn as something. Could be another human, animal, plant- anything. The better lives of the future are determined by how thoughtfully we live our current life. When the most famous Buddha came along - there were several - Siddhartha and his followers saw the pain that was being caused by the process of continual rebirth (they say in the American South "that gets old after a while") and decided, that taken the proper path, that process could be stopped-the flame of the bright burning candle could be snuffed out. No more earthly births; back to "Nothingness," given the choice. Well, at least back to the Universe from whence they came.

So, you see, the original question remains: Given the choice who amongst us would decide not to have been born? Given your life, what would YOU decide? Sorry for bothering you with such a troubling question.

Just a metaphysical meandering.