Seek the Right Philosophy of Life

In the year 2008 a special programme was held in the Parliament Annexe in New Delhi. On this occasion, a well-known journalist was conferred with a national award. In a speech introducing the celebrated journalist, it was explained that his philosophy of life was to “Enjoy good things in life”.

But sitting on stage, the person who was to be awarded was a living rebuttal of this philosophy. He was almost 95 years old and had become very weak. He walked with a stoop and looked very dejected. His smile had disappeared from his face. Witnessing this sight, I thought to myself that a man who had propagated the philosophy of enjoying the so-called good things in life had himself become so weak that now he was unable to enjoy anything.

This isn’t the story of just one person. It is, actually, the story of almost the whole of humanity. In every age, men have sought to build a palace of happiness for themselves. But, finally, old age arrives and causes all their plans to fail.

This almost universal phenomenon should cause people to reflect on what they should make as the philosophy of their life so that they are not compelled to face despair in the end. Few of us do this, however. As a result, most people die in a state of utter hopelessness and frustration.