A Thought Experiment

This insight was imparted to me by a teacher during my school years.

Take a moment to pause and observe everyone currently present in your home. Count them on your fingers.

Now, let’s expand our view. Think about everyone residing in your apartment building, neighborhood, or community. Perhaps you are visualizing 100, 200, or even 500 individuals.

Now broaden your perspective to encompass all the residents of your entire city. Envision the population of your state, and then consider all the states in your country—just try to grasp the magnitude of the number of people living concurrently in your nation.

Quite a staggering figure, right?

Now, contemplate your existence in relation to other nations and the world as a whole.

In the grand scheme of things, you are merely a fleeting presence.

Release any sense of shame, for what you do will soon fade into insignificance with time.

Most of you will not be etched into history! Only a fortunate few may be remembered for a couple of generations, and then they too will be forgotten.

History's Revision

History is rewritten by those who seize power or by those who come after you. Most will ensure that your contributions are overlooked.

Those who toiled tirelessly to achieve success will find their names lost to the new generation.

This is not an indictment; it is simply the way of nature.

Nature grants you gifts, but it also has the power to take them away at will, maintaining a balance of power.

All those once deemed Great, Supreme, or Legendary are now nothing but dust.

Remember: You are in a constant state of decline.

“This is our great error,” Seneca noted, “to believe we are looking ahead to death. Much of our existence has already been claimed by death.”

We are dying with each passing day, and once a day is gone, it cannot be reclaimed.

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash

The Illusion of Legacy

Striving for remembrance is often in vain. Your code will be rewritten, software will become obsolete, companies will fail, buildings will be razed, and innovations will be forgotten.

In the end, no one will remember you, your name, or the efforts you poured into your work.

All the pride, ego, and achievements will not ensure that your legacy endures.

The desire for immortality is a myth; few can be remembered for long.

Here's a brief narrative: At my school’s entrance, two bulletin boards displayed the names of the top students from the 10th and 12th grades. Like many of you, I aspired to see my name listed there, but that dream never materialized!

As time passed, I confronted a sobering truth—despite the struggles with studying and mastering complex concepts (all the perseverance and hard work), what remains is merely a name on a board.

No one experiences your journey or truly understands your challenges.

Embracing Service

Upon realizing this, rather than succumbing to despair, consider dedicating your life to the service of others.

Addressing the problems and alleviating the suffering of others can give your existence profound meaning.

Ultimately, you owe more to others than to yourself. It is only through dedicating time to help others that you truly experience the essence of living.

“Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.”

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Photo by Bethany Legg on Unsplash

Chapter 2: The Cosmic Perspective

This video features Janna Levin discussing the acceptance of our cosmic insignificance, encouraging viewers to reflect on their place in the universe.

In this video, the theme of humanity's insignificance is explored, urging a deeper understanding of our fleeting existence.