Reminder of “Momento Mori”

Hearing or reading “remember that you must die,” probably sounds morbid and fear-mongering, but “Momento Mori,” which has roots in Ancient Rome and with the Stoics, serves to remind us that none of us are immortal and we do not know for sure when our time will come to an end.

This makes many of us uncomfortable, with good reason, but also offers the opportunity to ensure we are making use of our time while here on Earth. We are fortunate that we do not have to worry about being eaten by a predator on any given day, as some of our ancestors had to do, but that does not mean we are invincible in young age.

Reflecting on our impermanence can help guide our actions and the direction we take in life.

Knowing we won’t be around forever does not mean we partake in risky behavior every day, but there’s a middle ground we can find. One where we stay disciplined, but also take calculated risks at times or do something different than normal because we recognize our bodies do not survive forever.

Marcus Aurelius, one of the most well-known Stoics, writes in Meditations, “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”

While I do not want to think about mortality all the time, taking time to contemplate this fact on occasion can motivate me to do what matters most.

Thoughts on “The Mystery of Life”

I am watching “The Sopranos” on HBO GO and loving the show. During a recent episode Tony is talking with his therapist, Dr. Melfi, about his son Anthony Jr’s recent behavior. Tony is concerned about Anthony’s casual rhetoric and ambivalence regarding the purpose of life. Dr. Melfi points out that Anthony Jr. is entering his adolescent years and existential questions are common for someone his age. She goes on to say “well that’s the mystery of life isn’t it, why are we here?”

Why are we here?

Such a simple, yet profound question.

Many would offer that a divine being created our existence. Deists would stop there and say there is no divine intervention beyond our creation. Theists would argue that their divine being(s) gives us purpose. Finally, atheists would say that there is no divine being at all and we are simply here because of evolution. Then there are those who believe in reincarnation, which does not really fit one of the above categories. Of course there are other general viewpoints, but those cover the main ones I would think.

What do I believe?

I’m not really sure, as I don’t think others are, thus the msytery of it all.

I would like to think there is a divine being out there who wants what’s best for us. What challenges this belief is that the world is full of so much tragedy and unnecessary suffering. Many of us in well-off areas struggle to remember this fact. With that being said, I’ll take my chances and continue to believe that there is one.

Whatever anyone believes, I think there are universal ethics we could agree upon to make the world a better place.

Civilized societies have done an amazing job of putting laws and rules in place over time. Without these, there would be chaos.

There are also incredible individuals who have contributed to society in great ways.

All in all, we are responsbile for our own actions. Free will is a different discussion, but we do have the ability to make our own choices. 

Why do I like Buddhism so much? Because there is more emphasis on actions, rather than just beliefs. Buddhism offers a guide to an ethical way of living. 

One of my goals over my short winter break coming up is to go to a Quaker meeting. Why there? Quakers sit in silence during a meeting and only speak if they feel compelled by God, or the inner light within. For me, this set-up offers a nice combination of what I’m looking for as I can meditate and potentially hear valuable insights from others.

While one could technically be happy and well being totally alone in a cave, our relationships with others, in combination with our relationship with ourselves, is the focal point of our well-being.

With all the craziness in our world, I think we could use more spirituality, for sure. 

“The highest happiness is peace.” -Buddha … LOVE IT

Worth a Listen

Sometimes you really can learn a lot from shorter YouTube clips. One of my favorite things to do when I’m hungry for information and inspiration. This is absolutely worth a listen. Lots of wisdom clearly articulated with energy and empathy.