We don't know why we are here

Earth is like a dot in the solar system –even Jupiter can contain 1000 earths and the sun can house more than 1000 Jupiters. The sun has 99.8% of the mass of the solar system. The Milky Way galaxy alone has more than 100 billion solar systems and which, in turn, is one among more than 20 trillion galaxies in the universe. Thus the earth's size tends to become zero in the universe.

According to NASA there are at least 1 billion earth-like planets in the Milky Way itself where life can be evolved and sustained. There must be trillions of earth like planets in this universe. They are all far away; many of them are millions or billions of light-years (a light year is 300,000X365X24X60X60 kilometers) away that makes it almost impossible to know whether life (intelligent ones included) exists there or not. Such humongous distances make us ignorant of their existence and ignorance is as good non-existence.

We are conscious of the existence of this universe and it exists. If there is no consciousness that is aware of this universe, is there any meaning for its existence?  We humans live for a millisecond in the cosmic time scale. Our earth has been spinning on its axis and revolving round its star for the past 4.5 billion years! It will do so for another 4.5 billion years or more before its programmed demise. Life on this planet may end any time-with a huge volcanic eruption or with the impact of a comet or an asteroid. There is nothing special about human life here which comes and goes like a bubble in water just for 100 years or less.

The universe, the earth and the sun, are least concerned whether we live or die, whether we are happy or sad. Quakes, floods, volcanoes, hurricanes, plagues and viruses have killed us and inflicted untold pains. The massive volcanic eruption, Thoba of Sumatra that erupted 65,000 years ago, almost wiped out the evolving Homo sapiens. The less than 10,000 humans left out in Central Africa multiplied, spread out and here we are.  An asteroid hit had destroyed all dinosaurs. A similar asteroid or comet hit can finish us all. Sometimes, the human civilization may find ways to destroy itself. The earth, the sun and the universe are massively indifferent to human life.
                                                 

Life evolves in the hospitable zone of medium stars like the sun with enough energy and long life. With favorable conditions, various organisms and sometimes intelligent beings may evolve. There could be trillions of planets in this universe where life exists at various levels. But they all come and go like bubbles for a moment. We came on the scene accidentally, and the little matter and energy that make us up will merge into this universe as we go. When the hydrogen fuel ends up, stars will stop shining and die and no new star, planet or life will be formed. Where do we come from? What is the meaning for our transient existence? No meaningful answer has yet been unraveled although philosophers, scientists and others have speculated on the question for long.  The answer of religious believers merits no consideration as all their gods have been created by the primitive humans who did not understand this world or life. God is an anachronism. They deified nature-phenomena and later created souls that live eternally like the gods they created. Religions have been selling these silly concepts and making a plum living.


                                                 

We are in an era when humans make a slow but steady progress from superstitious beliefs and magical rituals to reason and science. The universe is self-originating and self-propelling and it does not need any god.People have come to realize there is nothing divine in any religion.  But why we come here for a second and go just like that? There seems to be no meaning. May be only humans want a reason for their existence. We come and just go.

It would be great if we can be happy while we are here. Forget about the past and the future-we don’t know anything about them- this moment is all that matters and let us try to be happy now.   

Be not in a complaint mode

A lot of us are always in a complaint mode. We don't have this, we don't have that. We did not get a university education. we did not inherit wealth, great talent or influential relatives.....well, we have a lot to complain about. 
Let us assume whatever you complain is genuine. Still, what is the use in complaining? There are some who are born rich, famous or talented; there are others who are athletic or beautiful. But there are millions who are born blind, deaf or crippled. No one can stop this; that is the way the game of life is played down here. Those who are born rich or handsome did not ask for it. It is not their fault that they are lucky. You have no right to complain as there are billions not as lucky as you are. If you stop for a  minute and look around, you will be amazed at the good things you have around you.

Be grateful for what you have and don't regret what you don't have. However poor or unlucky you feel you are, you will be better off than so many others. You compare yourself to the less fortunate. You are blessed in so many ways: you are probably an educated, healthy,  normal individual with a steady income. Savor what you have-- your normal body and mind, your education, family, children, friends and so many others.
There may be some more things you would love to possess. Remember, as Vermon Luchies says, "if we get everything we want, we will soon want nothing wee get." If we don't enjoy what we have already, how could we be happier with more? You are sufficiently blessed and ungrateful people cannot develop happiness.

The truth is nobody is interested in your wants and deprivations, in your pains and failures. The world is not interested in your problems. People want to associate with those who have something good to share and those who are promising. Show you are worth and promising, show you are climbing up the hill and invite others to the top. .         

There is no grey cloud over your head

The world is not against you and no one is born with a ‘grey cloud’ over his head. The future is not the past. One can easily overcome the ordeals of childhood but the pain and disappointment of the past need not repeat in your future endeavors.  Do not let a self-fulfilling prophecy to work in your life. (If you expect bad results there is a higher likelihood that they happen.) Do not worry about what is happening to you and what has happened so far, but think about what you can make happen. Learn from the past and set new goals (be careful in their choice-you should simply enjoy working for them) and pursue them.  If you try sincerely some of them will yield good results and some others not so good. Have at least a mixed bag.  Make positive incantations involving your body and soul. Make a list of your positive qualities and achievements and post them where you can see them very often.

Start savoring everything good life has to offer. Make enough money for our basic needs: it can be (annually) $40,000 in the US, Rs600,000 in India and so on. More money need not necessarily make you happier. Stay close to your dear ones as relationships with our friends and family has a closer impact on our happiness. Have a job you enjoy doing. Smile more; forgive and forget. Do not torment yourself with grudge or enmity. Have people around you who share your interests. When something goes wrong, try to figure out what went wrong and fix it up; do not indulge in self pity or curse your fate. Try to be healthy through exercise, diet and meditations. Know that every day offers new opportunities to be better than yesterday. Enjoy what you are at this moment. Nothing else matters. These days we are always doing something or the other. The ambitious work harder and longer with fewer breaks. Are you always busy and still achieve nothing? Do you miss those beautiful and joyous moments of life simply because you’re always caught up with one thing or another? Many feel It is good to take a little time off to look into yourself to see what is going on in your life, to think about those hours you are ‘doing’, to examine your work, health, relationships, just to take some time to be with your inner self. Moments of silence could be found anytime during a day to reflect on the good things that happen in life and to feel grateful to nature and the people around.