Live an undying life
Gibran Khalil Gibran said, “You are nothing but a fraction of the past that time gathers in its fold and death scatters into its unseen realm.”
Both Islam and Christianity focus on the belief in the afterlife and working in this life to achieve accomplishments and rewards in the world to come. The doctrine of these religions relies on faith in life after death, resurrection, and recompense, while considering death a part of human life and the beginning of a new, eternal life in another world.
While these beliefs provide psychological comfort to many of their followers, they also achieve success in managing life with a focus on attaining achievements pleasing to God and meeting the conditions for entering Paradise. However, immersing oneself in some aspects of this philosophy can easily lead a person to focus on life after death and neglect life before it. This steals life from the individual and takes it away from others around them, leaving behind no beneficial legacy.
Both Muslims and Christians have been aware of this problem since the early days of their faiths, comparing the decline of some who focus on death and forbid life to the failed experiences of the ancient ascetics, some ancient Egyptians, and the Moors, who were preoccupied with death to the point of sanctifying graves and neglecting life itself and accomplishment within it.
To address this issue, many Muslims and Christians have turned to one of the oldest and most important sayings, “Work for your worldly life as if you will live forever, and work for your Hereafter as if you will die tomorrow.” Some Muslims considered it a noble Hadith or part of the Sunnah of the Prophet’s companions, while some Christians attributed it to Jesus himself, one of his disciples, or the Prophet Mani. Similarly, Buddhists considered it a saying of Buddha, the Dalai Lama, or others.
The importance of this saying is immense and influential, and its positive value as a guide for life has ensured its presence across the centuries. It calls for a balance between focusing on life and what follows it, without deviating towards one aspect and neglecting the other.
I find the perspective of French philosopher Albert Camus on death a good and fitting representation of the first half of the saying, “Work for your worldly life as if you will live forever,” while the teachings of Islam and Christianity excellently serve the second half, “Work for your Hereafter as if you will die tomorrow.”
Albert Camus addressed the idea of death in the context of human existence and the frailty that characterizes it. He believed that humans must confront and accept death as part of human existence, and that humans achieve freedom when they can accept death as a final stage, during which they must accomplish significant achievements before arriving at it. Accepting the reality of death is what liberates human energy to achieve humanitarian accomplishments that serve the interests of society.
In this article, with respect for the beliefs of those who have faith in the afterlife or other realms, and for the sake of broadening knowledge, I discuss how a materialistic view of death can help individuals achieve an inspiring and meaningful life that benefits others. Materialistic philosophy considers matter the basis of existence and regards death as the end of material existence, with life and consciousness being valuable gifts that must be wisely invested before they come to an end.
In this regard, materialistic philosophy shares common ground with most religious philosophies, which believe in life after death, even though materialistic philosophy opposes the idea of an afterlife. However, it helps focus on achieving accomplishments in life that serve others and give life meaning, by appreciating the gift of life and giving it its due respect. Consequently, materialistic philosophy sees that continuity after death is achieved through the high value of the intellectual and knowledge-based legacy we leave behind for people. This legacy is the part of us that continues to live on after death.
Focusing on Life and Achieving Beneficial Goals
Understanding death from a materialistic perspective can lead to a greater appreciation of our current life and the pursuit of accomplishments that benefit others. In this context, individuals realize that time is limited and that opportunities and life experiences are valuable. As a result, they are motivated to achieve feats that make their lives inspiring and useful to others, who will carry on their legacy.
Enhancing individual and collective well-being is an essential part of achieving these accomplishments. An individual should strive to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of those around them through sustained effort and continuous learning. They seek to strike a balance between individual and collective well-being, encouraging others to adopt similar attitudes and ideas to achieve sustainable growth and more cohesive societies.
Inspiring Achievements that Endure Beyond Death
Although materialistic philosophy views death as the end of individual existence, a person can leave a legacy that continues after their death, serving the collective existence. This can be achieved through contributions that touch people’s hearts, inspire them, and motivate them to effect positive change in their lives and communities.
Inspiring achievements include artistic, literary, scientific, and social works that positively impact individuals’ lives and inspire them to achieve success. These accomplishments can take the form of developing new technologies that contribute to improving the quality of life, or creating social initiatives aimed at combating poverty, hunger, and ignorance, and enhancing the quality of education and healthcare.
Inspiring achievements can also take the form of authoring books and novels that convey powerful and influential messages, inspiring readers and motivating them to change towards personal and professional growth. These books and writings can serve as inspiration for future generations and form an integral part of our cultural heritage.
In the scientific context, inspiring achievements can take the form of new discoveries and innovations that expand our knowledge horizons and help solve the significant problems facing humanity. These accomplishments can encourage researchers and science enthusiasts to continue investigating, exploring, and working to improve human life.
Leveraging Life Positively and Working on Continuous Improvement
The materialistic view of death enables an understanding of the importance of striving for continuous improvement and self-development. This directs individuals to focus on developing their skills, abilities, and knowledge while recognizing the significance of improving their relationships with others and the communities they live in.
This continuous improvement can take the form of participating in educational, cultural, and social activities, helping individuals become acquainted with new opinions and different perspectives. These experiences can aid in understanding the problems and challenges faced by society and finding innovative and effective solutions. As an individual, your presence is always part of the solution, while your absence or negativity is always part of the problem.
Influencing the Next Generation and Contributing to a Better Future
Achieving an inspiring and meaningful life is not limited to individuals alone but extends to encompass the next generation as well. By leaving a positive and inspiring legacy, individuals can contribute to building a better future for the children and young people who will follow in their footsteps.
This legacy can manifest in an educational form, where individuals share their knowledge and experiences with the rising generations, whether through formal education or intellectual discussions and group debates, both in person and through social media platforms. Individuals can also encourage young people to continue learning and discovering their aspirations and ambitions.
Contributing to Social and Environmental Change
The materialistic view of death encourages contributing to positive social and environmental change. Individuals can work together to improve living conditions and promote sustainable development on both local and global levels.
This can take the form of participating in community development projects and local neighborhood initiatives or collaborating with governments and non-governmental organizations to implement policies and initiatives that promote social justice and equality. Additionally, individuals can contribute to protecting the environment and natural resources by responsibly adopting consumption and production patterns and supporting eco-friendly ventures.
Advocating for Important Issues
Individuals should contribute to achieving an inspiring and meaningful life by advocating for issues they believe are important and deserving of attention. These issues may include human rights, social equality, education, health, and environmental and climate concerns.
By promoting these issues and working collectively to influence change, individuals can contribute to improving people’s lives and building a more just and sustainable world.
Effective Communication and Building Positive Relationships
The materialistic view of death encourages effective communication and listening to others, leading to the establishment of positive and lasting relationships. Individuals can work on improving their communication and empathy skills, enabling them to understand the feelings and opinions of others and interact with them more compassionately and respectfully.
Additionally, individuals can work on building strong networks of friends, colleagues, and relatives, providing them with the necessary emotional and social support to achieve an inspiring and meaningful life.
Taking Care of Physical and Mental Health
Finally, the materialistic perspective on death urges individuals to pay attention to their physical and mental health. Individuals can adopt healthy habits such as regular exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, getting adequate sleep, and effectively relaxing and managing stress.
Furthermore, individuals can continually strive to enhance their mental health through self-care practices and developing positive thinking and mindfulness skills. This can help foster a sense of happiness, self-satisfaction, and improve the ability to cope with stress and life pressures.
in Conclusion
The materialistic view of death offers individuals an opportunity to live an inspiring and meaningful life. By focusing on continuous improvement and working towards a positive impact on the next generation and social and environmental change, individuals can contribute to building a better and more sustainable world.
In addition, individuals can improve their quality of life through effective communication, building positive relationships, and taking care of their physical and mental health. These materialistic-based efforts can help individuals achieve a life full of challenges, accomplishments, and happiness, ultimately leaving a positive and inspiring legacy for future generations.
