Friday, 6 December 2024

THE WORLD

 

THE WORLD

The briefest definition of the world is ---- the earth, with all its countries, peoples and natural features.

Everything that exists anywhere is part of the world. Some common synonyms of world are -----earth, globe, earthly sphere, planet, cosmos, universe and nature.

At the time of our birth we don’t know anything about this world. As we start growing up, we start thinking about what life and death are and what was the origin of this world. We start thinking about God the creator and preserver of this world. . So many other puzzling questions arise in our mind, but we find no answers to them and the world appears to be a riddle, a mystery, an enigma and conundrum.

It is undeniable that the world with all its sufferings remains attractive. We don’t want to leave it. We try to survive as long as we can but as we are mortal have to become non-existent.

   Some religious authorities like Lord Krishna differentiate between man’s body and his soul. The former ceases to be at some stage but the latter being eternal reappears in some other form of existence.

    Given below are some interesting quotes:

(i). The world is God’s epistle to mankind---his thoughts are  flashing upon us from every direction. ---Greek philosopher Plato (427 Bc-347 BC).

(ii). The world is seldom what it seems; to man who dimly sees, realities appear as dreams, and dreams realities.---Irish writer and poet Thomas Moore (1779-1832).

(iii). The world is a looking glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Fown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly, kind companion; and so all  young persons take their choice.----English novelist William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863)

 (iv). This world is a dream within a dream; and as we grow older, each step is an awakening. The youth awakes, as he thinks, from childhood; the full-grown man despises the pursuits of youth as visionary; and the old man looks on manhood as a feverish dream. Death the last sleep? No ! it is the last and final awakening ! ---Scottish poet and novelist Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832).

(v). Trust not the world, for it never payeth what it promiseth. ----Roman monk St. Augustine (died 604).

                        Finally, this quote by the American clergy Talbot Wilson Chambers (1819-96) :

“It is a beautiful and a blessed world we live in, and while life lasts, to lose the enjoyment of it is a sin.”

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G.R.Kanwal

6th December 2024

 

                                    ********

G.R.Kanwal

6th December 2024

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