Soulmate
Plato invented the concept of soul mate in his Symposium that humans have been looking for their soul mate ever since Zeus cut them in half. In his mythic story, Plato describes a world where there were men, women and people who were both men and women. Apparently, humans began discussing how they could climb up to heaven and replace the gods. The gods were upset by this and discussed what should be done. The simplest solution would be to destroy mankind, but Zeus came up with a better idea. He suggested cutting all human beings in half. This would serve two purposes. First, it would immediately double the number of people making offerings to the gods. Second, it would weaken the humans, so they would not be able to carry out their plan. Zeus’ idea was accepted, and the humans were all divided into two. Ever since then, humans are in the search of their soul mates.
I believe in beauty and mystery of soul mates, but not determined for the search. If soul mates are destined to join each other, their path will meet one day. Because in my mind, soul mates will meet driven by karma, like everything else in life. It should be, how shall I say, effortless?
“A soul mate, is someone to whom we feel profoundly connected, as though the communication and communing that take place between us were not the product of intentional efforts, but rather a divine grace. This kind of relationship is so important to the soul that many have said there is nothing more precious in life,”
- Thomas Moore
Filed under Story Telling | Comment (0)A Moment of happiness
First, let me tell you the story of Faust.
The story starts in heaven, where the devil Mephistopheles makes a bet with God to win over the soul of his favorite human being, Faust.Faust is an aged philosopher, who has grown weary of his life in vain efforts in searching for a knowledge of real essences of things. In despair he seizes a cup of poison to put an end to his existence as he sees the light of a new day . He curses science and faith and asks for infernal guidance. Méphistophélès appears and offered him the chance to find a perfect moment of true happiness on earth in the cost of his soul. The devil’s role is to serve Faust on earth, and the roles are to be reversed below. If during the time while Mephistopheles is serving Faust, Faust is so pleased with anything the devil gives him that he wants to stay in that moment forever, he will die in that instant. Faust is pleased with the deal, as he believed that the moment will never come.
The rest of the story is very complicated and you should read it by yourself sometime.
In the end, through many many steps in between, Faust eventually realizes his highest moment of happiness - when he does good on behalf of humankind to tame the forces of war and nature. He wishes to stop in the moment forever, and the devil declare for his soul instantly. When the devil tries to grab his soul, God intervenes and he was accepted into Heaven.
The story ends. Okay, sounds not bad. But, if you are offered this deal, I will caution you that it may not always turned out that way.
This story always fascinates me, as I admire people’s vigilant attempts for searching for happiness. On the other side, I do not quite understand why it is so hard to search for it in the first place. I will certainly never make this bet with the devil, as I frequently find myself guilty in term of feeling happy. I am not talking about moments of graduation, moments of success, moments of union of love ones, and many many highly emotional moments in life here. I agree they are worthy for celebration… but I am not talking about those moments.The moments I talk about here are much simpler.
There are small hours in life shows me the true joy and clarity, maybe by standing in front of ocean, or by feeling early summer breeze, or by gazing into eyes of someone special in life. I really wish that my life can pause in that very moment. Or, I am expecting that the devil may jump out in front of me and I die.
Then, I wonder, maybe I shall keep my mind in that state of happiness, while the life passing me by, instead of trying to pause time. Because if one can achieve the happiness in the mind unconditionally, nothing from outside matters. Although still need to live a daily life and go through routines, the mind is captivated into a state which has no concept of time. In that sense, one will never age in life because the time is paused at heart.
A moment of happiness is a lifetime.
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