A revelation from across the ages - Ramblings on Life #13

Revelation

Study as if you have not reached your goal as if you are afraid to lose what you have.
~ Confucius

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I have recently been listening to a brilliant philosophy podcast called Philisophize This which I highly recommend to anyone who finds interest in philosophy or likes to ponder on thoughts and ideas like me.

While listening to one of the episodes, I came across the above quote by Confucius. The profoundness of its meaning got me thinking.

Confucius

Confucius was born into abject poverty and neglect and had to go through a lot of difficulty in his childhood. His growing up years were also a time of great political upheaval in China. However, his socio-economic and political situation could not stop him from the pursuit of knowledge and learning. It was his knowledge and education which later on helped him to find a stable job and formed the groundwork of his philosophy.

Coming from his background, it is easy to understand why he said what he said. He wanted to make use of the opportunity when it lasted because he never could know what may happen tomorrow or the day after.

How is it applicable now?

Most societies today, barring a few scarred by tyranny, civil war, economic decline or religious fundamentalism, provide people with the opportunity to pursue knowledge and education. However, I thought about it and I realized that this simple idea holds good even in today's world as well.

In places where there is socio-economic uncertainty, it's easy to see why acquiring knowledge whenever the opportunity presents itself is the wise thing to do. By knowledge, I do not mean just formal education but any learning which may help in the betterment of one's life and society.

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However, this urgency for learning should drive everyone even in relatively affluent societies. The reason I say this is because each day not learning something is a day lost. The world is moving so fast that today's jobs will become obsolete tomorrow. What is a niche skill today may either become common knowledge or something not required at all.

It's not only about your job but the satisfaction of learning itself. Isn't it great when you learn something new, something useful which you can use to build something, create something? Learning gives you the power to create. It gives you the power to think, to sharpen your mind's eye.

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A gift to yourself

So I think educating yourself, at least a little each day is arguably the best gift you can give to a future you. I say arguably only to mention something else which is equally important, a healthy lifestyle.

Each day I don't learn something is a day when I do a disservice to a future me.

When I was a kid in the nineties when India had just opened up to the world of satellite television, there used to be an advert from Discovery Channel which said something like this:

Entertainment is that which helps you.

I connected with that line from the very first time I heard it. Now I realize how profound it's meaning is.

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But maintain balance

Confucius also said this:

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop

This quote sounds to me to be in contradiction to what I started my post with, but it reminds me of how forward movement is necessary each day even if it's a little.

I think one should strive for what the first quote requires but when such kind of effort is not possible or a break is needed even then one should try that at least what the second quote says is achieved each day.

I do not preach that there is no room for enjoyment and carefree fun in life. Absolutely there is. Only thing is that there needs to be constant progress and improvement.

What do you think of my ponderings and ramblings? Please leave a comment while leaving. I love conversations.

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