Today’s life is a fleeting experience. Time and material possessions have become the benchmark not only for life’s worth, but also for the individual feeling of worth and self-concept. From infancy, life is a blissful imagination; an imagination coupled with bouts of naivety that makes one feel as if the possibility of any idea is like a walk in the park. It is inconceivable though – this bliss from the place of physical emptiness until one reaches the stage of acquisition. That is when the perpetual state of inadequacy and lack begins into a long life of insatiable dissatisfaction. At this point, the bliss of nothingness evaporates into thin air of an addictive perpetual state of chasing the wind. This can be as worse that one may even faint at the thought of the word ‘nothing’.
The aforementioned is the complete opposite and does not only expose humanity’s insatiable greed but, more importantly, its hypocrisy. We live in a society that mostly, geographically, associates with religious beliefs, of which one of its pillars is that we came from nothing and will return to nothingness. It even reaffirms the fact in its suggestion that our existence is temporary and fleeting, and that ultimately, everything will return to a state of nothingness or non-existence. Of course, this idea can be both sobering and liberating. On one hand, it reminds us of the transient nature of our existence and the impermanence of all things. On the other hand, it can inspire us to make the most of the time we have, and to focus on what truly matters in life. Yet, all these seem to be a subscription to conformity, acceptance, and a need to belong only. Because right after we exit the physical structure of the synagogue, every action defies and throws sand in the faith’s face.
Nothingness as a concept or lifestyle is uncommon and hard to penetrate the daily mainstream discourse. This is because it is the opposite of everything that we know and
hold dear, and it is often seen as a void or a
state of non-existence. From this perspective, nothingness is related to and associated
with emptiness, lack of substance, if not impoverishment and suffering. It is against everything that the external world and life put on a pedestal.
However, for those who have experienced it, it is a state of pure awareness, inner peac, and ultimate bliss. It is a state of complete freedom, where the mind is free from the constraints of the ego and the material world. It is not a place or state for special people, but available to everyone who wishes to attain it.
It is, therefore, necessary that every now and then, one must take time to fathom the thought of how it may feel to be in the state of nothingness and non-existence. Because, truly, it is the very state we came from and shall eventually return to. It would even be more meaningful to experience a life of being nothing; to imagine ourselves how it would feel to be nameless, with no title or social status, but to identify as nothing. Of course, it is unimaginable but worth pondering on, but it may be the one and only thing that is necessary at this juncture. It may bring understanding that gives us a sense of purpose and belonging in the world, and it can inspire us to focus on what truly matters in life.
*karlsimbumusic@gmail.com
Uncommon Sense is published every Friday in the New Era newspaper with contributions from Karlos Naimhwaka.