My observations about unpredictability of life, individual efforts, rewards, failures and future. From my experience of working in a big organisation as medical doctor and observing closely, life of my patients. Expecting your comments and opinions. Contrary or otherwise.
Past as everyone says, is irreversible. One only has the present in their hands. To experience, to enjoy, to suffer or to act. Future is future, one never knows what it will be, till they reach it. And even then, it will change into present, the moment we reach it.
And yet the present may not determine the future. At least on an individual scale. Individual actions have a limited sphere of influence. Beyond which they fail to achieve much. One’s actions or lack of it, thus may not be completely responsible, for their own future.
Actions or inactions in the present, can be individual or collective. But the future is exclusively collective. And by being collective, it does not mean that it is the sum of every individual’s action or inaction in that group. (By group I mean a family, a neighbourhood, a town, a state, a country or the whole humanity) In fact, an individual’s or a group of individual’s actions or inaction, can turn out to be the sole determinant of the future of a group, of which they are part of. And at the other extent actions or inaction of a large majority, may not influence the collective future of that group. At least in proportion to their numbers or efforts. These are two extremes.
The actual influence of various constituents of a group on their collective future, may lie somewhere in between the two extremes, but never in proportion. Each of us may have experienced this at some point in their lives. A Single individual or a small group of individuals exerting a disproportionately greater influence on a huge groups collective future. Examples are, an abusive parent affecting the future of their children or a politician or a political party changing the course of a country for good or for bad.
Here the karma theory also fails. It’s not the individual who is responsible for the course of their own future. They are never. For example, an individual can be a very good player in a team sport. But if their team is not good, then they can end in losing their game. Similarly an individual can be a great scientist or an entrepreneur, but if they are living in a war torn country or in a country with no resources and necessary infrastructure, then their actions and efforts in the present, won’t lead to a much better future, individually and collectively. Which otherwise would have yielded better and enhanced results, in a different country.
That explains the randomness of life. It’s unpredictability and it’s indeterminate nature. Which we conveniently ascribe to fate.
And when the future does not commensurate with the past, an individual must suffer agony and pain. There’s this wide gap between the expected future and how it actually turns out. This wide gap is where the cults and religions always try to squirm in and entrench themselves. If not already filled by mental breakdowns or addictions.
What is better, religions claim. Mental breakdown, addictions or worshiping the unknown. The answer seems extremely simple for the gullible. It’s easier to fall in line, than fight. It’s easier to find solace in praying and worshiping, than seeking unpalatable answers.
So what does an individual do, when they come to know, that their actions solely, won’t be responsible for their future. Should they stop whatever they are doing? Should they stop dreaming about a better future?
Questions for which there are no easy answers. In fact there may be multiple answers. Each right, in its own time and place. But the fact remains, that we must always try to seek. For not seeking is not living. And it’s worse than actual death.
And finally what about the wide gaps between expectations and reality. What to fill them with. If not with anxiety and anger. Or god or some higher power. Should we leave them as it is or try to narrow the gap. Or just wallop in despair. These are difficult questions to answer. And every individual has to find their own answers.
What kind of help they can take in their endeavour, no one can advise. But what help they should avoid, there’s some clarity. Anger, anxiety, depression, addictions, higher power, cults, ancient texts, dogmas, etc., are a few paths, one should try, not to walk on.
©️ShashikantDudhgaonkar
