Chadtha Sooraj…has to set

It is not often that one gets captivated by a song, a song that inspires and continues to influence me in my truth-seeking endeavours in my otherwise busy life – in this case  an old Urdu qawali by Aziz Nazan. I have taken the liberty to add my own take on it. This philosophical rendition repeatedly touches a nerve whenever I hear it.  It goes like this.

"You, oh man, dressed in your robe of pride and putting on a false pretense, why do you gloat on your self-made dance of arrogance. Your ballet of life on planet earth is indeed ephemeral. You are but a mortal puppet sitting on a transitional fragile throne. You have conveniently forgotten that living life is all about humbleness and humility. All the snobbery and haughtiness you wallow in, is momentary. Remember, the sun which rises with much gusto in the morning also sets down in the evening. Every life on earth is like the sun, who eventually has to go down when the time comes.

Why do you, who are mere passengers on this journey, revel in your pride, knowing very well the station to depart could be right now.  Why do you pompously sport your ?ego? hat just because of a little fame, fortune, position, money and power – all worthless in the final equation. The plain truth is you have arrived empty handed and you will go empty handed, but you continue to live life as if it is infinite.  You have lost yourself in earthly and materialistic pleasures having conveniently forgotten the ?absolute? power who has you in the palm of his hands. Some of you continue to complain and even cry about your existence – about your world beset with problems, problems made by you and your people?s doing.  Crying and worrying has never resolved problems but standing up to it and facing it with resilience and determination is life?s mission. Understanding life has never been easy and you need to wake up from this deep slumber. Remember the sun which rises in the morning has to set down in the evening.

From kings to beggars everyone has to turn to dust. Remember Alexander?s power and passion to rule the world, what did he take when he left it. We have all read about his might, his army, his power and his ambition to conquer the world.  If history is to be believed, he walked the earth with a god like arrogance – nose in the air – chest upwards. Today, dear friends, there is not even a candle to pay homage to him.  All the ego, the smugness, the pride all turned to dust.  The holy books rightly say  "What you sow so shall you reap" so bear in mind those of you who walk with your head in the clouds, it is just a matter of time till you are brought down to the ground with a resounding thud. Remember the sun that rises in the morning sets down in the evening.

Death has to happen, no one has escaped it. All those you called your own, when were they yours. When you die, every relationship ends, Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, Son, Daughter everyone is left behind. Their role ends at the burial site, when they deposit mud over your face. Whether rich or poor you will finally be wrapped in a 2 meter cloth and laid down to rest.  The same people who cry over you, after laying you down to rest immediately turn their attention to your hard earned fortune (the hard to digest universal truth in many cases). You in the meantime will be erased from people?s memory in a flash – people who liked and loved you will forget you tomorrow. That is why it is no use to dwell on your pride and ego, hoard your riches (you are better off helping your needy brethren) no use to assess life and all its complexities. Your bodily existence is as fragile as a snowflake.

We never know what lies beyond death, even the sun doesn?t know whether his resting each day is beautiful or not, everyday to him is a new day – but he continues to shine and our lives should be like that – radiating brightness and light in peoples lives – for the moment and day to depart could be right now."   

Author: Irwin Rego- Bahrain