A good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge
A good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge. Neither love without knowledge neither knowledge without love makes a good life.
- Betrand Russell
Ralph waldo Emerson once said " The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful to be honourable,to be compassionate ,to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well".
Good life
"Good life is a process , not a state of being, to live a happy life. It's a journey, not a destination. "
observed Carl Rogers. A good life should adhere to the ideals and principles, uphold the rule of law. A good life is measurable with a set of parameters like good education, good health, good social connection, friends, finances. Money is important but not all important. It's like a fuel in a car to run a vehicle smoothly.
Good life should be a life for humanity, for mankind. It should be inclusive, including self. Good life is Where we fill proud of ourselves for society recognise you as a good human being, where we strive to achieve our dreams with all heart.
A good life should have the substance of everything, like good times, bad times, happy times, sad times, as, some phase in life are meant to build us.
Good life means having sense of fullfilment, which life generates when we achieve something. To understand how we may contribute to the world we must first understand ourselves.
"An unexamined life is not worth living". - socrates
'Aham brahmasmi'. In me, Universe exists. We are a tiny part of universe.
A person turns inward to find himself, tap is true human potential and succeeds in realising his own self. He then helps others too, towards relishing their dreams.
Love is the most vital aspect of a happy existence. Love is sweetness of emotion, a pleasant sensation. Love splashes out sweetness to the people involved, from that , the positive core of human values bubbles up, making the world a happy place to live.
Love is the emotion with humanity, which makes person selfless. He works for greater goods and common interest of all. Love is the active concern for the life and the growth of that which is love,care,concern, responsibility, and respect are the fundamentals of love.
Respect comes from a Greek word (Respicere - to look at). The ability to see the person as he is, to be aware of his own unique indivisuality. It means to let unfold the person as he or she is.
In his book 'The art of loving', author Erich form writes
'It is clear that respect is possible only if one have achieved independence.
if you can stand and work without needing crutches, without having to dominate or exploit anyone else. Respect exists only on the basis of freedom.
" I ' amour est I ' enfant de la liberate" As an old French song says love is a child of freedom ; never that of domination.
To respect a person is not possible without knowing him. Care and responsibility would be blind if they will not guided by knowledge.'
Rumi beautifully expressed how love is required for the sustenance of creation. He says...
"Never, in sooth, does the lover seek without being sought by his beloved.
When the lightning of love has shot into this heart,know that there is love in that heart.
When love of God waxes in thy heart, beyond any doubt God hath love for thee.
No sound of clapping comes from one hand without the other hand.
Divine Wisdom is destiny and decree made us lovers of one another.
Because of that fore-ordainment every part of the worldis paired with its mate.
In the view of the wise, Heaven is man and Earth is woman: Earth fosters what Heaven lets fall. When Earth lacks heat, Heaven sends it; when she has, lost her freshness and moisture, Heaven restores it.
Heaven goes on his rounds, like a husband foraging for the wife's sake;
And Earth is busy with housewiferies: she attends to births and suckling that which she bears.
Regard Earth and Heaven as endowed with intelligence, since they do the work of intelligent beings.
Unless these twain taste pleasure from one another, why are they creeping together like sweethearts?
Without the Earth, how should flower and tree blossom? What, then, would Heaven's water and heat produce?
As God put desire in man and woman to the end that the world should be preserved by their union,
So hath He implanted in every part of existence the desire for another part.
Day and Night are enemies outwardly; yet both serve one purpose,
Each in love with the other for the sake of perfecting their mutual work,
Without Night, the nature of Man would receive no income, so there would be nothing for Day to spend."
Knowledge and love
" He who knows nothing, loves nothing he who can do nothing, understands nothing. But he who understands also loves, notices, sees.... The more knowledge is inherent in a thing, the greater the love." ~paracelsus
Man is gifted with reason ; he is life being aware of itself, He has awareness of himself, of his fellow man of his past and of the possibilities of his future.
It's tough if we do a work out of sheer responsibility without love. it is taxing and we will soon run out of fuel. Love is the food of human soul, Out of love, we not only enjoy it more, but also we do it better.
"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine and man cannot live without love" remarked Max Muller, a German philosopher
Love is not enough to live a happy life sometimes love blinds us it causes to lose sight on reality.
In 21st April 2019, A Church in Sri Lanka was brutally attached by gunman. It was blind love in the name of religion, even religion teaches it or not . The attackers even feel justified for their heinous crime against humanity . They feels killing the innocent people will lead them to attend heaven which unfortunately is not.
The missile man of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam priortised national security first and made many destructive missile, Prithvi,Agni,Trishul,Nag. He was inspired by love for the motherland and was properly guided by knowledge of its proper use, that too for national interests.
Love without knowledge is threat to everyone. Terrorist attack, Mob lynching ,Honour killing, which our society has witnessed a proof for it.
Knowledge without love
Crimes such as cyber crimes, online fraud also takes place with the help of science, done by some of the knowledgeous people, is also an aspect of knowledge without love.
In Harshad Mehta case, he was a natural talent in the field of stock market, Embazzlement of the hard earned money from people for personal benefit and engaging in a scam reflect knowledge without love.
India's context
'Vasudhaiva kutumbakam' whole world is a family. India has taught the world tolerance and acceptance.
India is a responsible emerging power. During corona period India have given vaccine to about more than 100 countries through Vaccine Maitri program. Under Bande Bharat mission, India has undertaken its largest human evacuation program in history during covid times. India is a responsible power with care for world also have insights, which is required to become a responsible state and a global player. A balance of love and knowledge is what takes our country forward.
It is indeniable that many inhuman crimes are happening in our country where love without knowledge or knowledge without love played an important role. In the same time mathematician such as Mr Anand Kumar of Bihar who's love for teaching profession and knowledge has created wonder in the lives of many people by his 'super 30' program.
Physics wallah Alakh pandey sir also started his Journey in the white board and a simple mobile camera. Now it become the 101st unicorn of country Its market valuation is about 8000 crores rupees now. It also extending to it branches in various competitive field. This educational revolution is possible with a good mix of love and knowledge for the students and the zeal and passion he posses.
Khan sir also is a great icon in revolutionising ed-tech sector and making education affordable and available to the youth.
Mahatma Gandhi is an example for real leader inspired by love for National freedom and guided by knowledge of the Satyagraha, he done in South Africa and gained experience which is also reflected in national movement of India state by him
Confucius once said 'real knowledge is to know the extent of once ignorance' it is when we realise the extent of our ignorance and move towards knowledge the love will find its way and meaning in our life.
Footnotes
1) The art of loving by Erich fromm
2) Essay on A good life is inspired by love and guided by knowledge.