Undo Button
If there were an undo
button in life, what would I undo? This
is the question raised by Anjana
at Indiblogger this week.
Wishing to undo something
is a sign of regret. There are many
things in my life that I have reasons to regret. But I choose not to
regret. I go with Don Juan, the “Man of
Knowledge” in Carlos Castaneda’s many inspiring books, who advised us not to
regret but make decisions. Regrets don’t
achieve anything. To err is human. To forgive or not to forgive is also human. Forgetting certain errors makes life easier. Learning from certain errors makes us
wiser. Undoing errors is only wishful
thinking. There is no undo button in
life.
Could I undo my
birth? The ultimate absurdity of human
endeavours would have made me wish that.
But I don’t want to be a Hamlet oscillating between a harsh reality and
an undesirable alternative. Nor am I pining
for the Buddhist nirvana since nirvana is the inevitable end of every human
being as far as I understand human life.
I am caught in the cycles of desire and delusion like all normal human
beings. I know that I have to move from
one desire to the next, from one delusion to the next, until nirvana will
descend on me one day as naturally as the leaf falls from the tree. I hope the fall will be elegant.
Graceful.
In the meanwhile the leaf
has to face the winds that blow and the showers that refresh. The seasons cannot be undone. The planets have to follow Newton’s laws of
gravity. Newton cannot be undone. The stars will continue to shine until they
burn out. Gravitational collapses cannot
be undone. Black holes swallow their own
light.
We live in a black
hole. The event horizon surrounds
us. It warps light rays. There is no undo button.
Learning from mistakes is wisdom not deleting the trails of mistake. Very apt point made. And very true that Nirvana descends on oneself. One cannot seek Nirvana.
ReplyDeleteThere is no option either but to learn and go ahead toward nirvana.
DeleteA post which is motivational and portraying a message to move forward.
ReplyDeleteInspired by my current situation which demands movement forward from the surrounding event horizon.
DeleteI completely agree. Once a decision made, never look back that's a resolution I have taken after witnessing one of my dear one regretting for every single decision in life!
ReplyDeleteLooking back and regretting is not only a waste of time but also a killer of mental peace.
DeleteI liked it when you accepted the fact that we live with desires and delusions. I too want Nirvana to come naturally into my life. I cannot force it. I cannot stop myself from beng natural and normal. No one can do it.
ReplyDeleteLiving our life to the best of our capacities will take us to the final grace gracefully.
DeleteI totally belief in the Black Hole Theory. We can never undo the actions we have done or beyond our control. Saying so there is always a Positive outcome fro every situation will come to Light as time passes by.
ReplyDeleteIn the black holes too there is light but it has its limits.
DeleteThis makes me wonder what Ill do if I get an undo button. Life would be so much more easier
ReplyDeleteDon't worry; undo buttons exist only on gadgets and life is not a gadget. Yes, some things in life can be undone with forgiveness, understanding and acceptance. But who wants those things nowadays?
Delete"Undoing errors is only wishful thinking..." So true . It is a mirage that that never meets the thirsty man. The imperfections give the life it's hopes and desires.
ReplyDeletePerfection would leave life with no pursuits!
DeleteA very thoughtful read. But we all wish life had an undo button,and they remain just wishes.
ReplyDeleteWishes can take other forms too, can't they? For the future, for example?
DeleteIt's true we can only move forward and there's no undo button. Even if there were, there's no certainty that fixing an old mistake *will* lead you to a better life... Live and learn...
ReplyDeleteLife a series of challenges and lessons!
DeleteDelightful read. My thoughts and perspective resonated with almost the entire post. Ya totally agree...no need for an undo button. Just move on :)
ReplyDeleteMove on with renewed resolve :)
DeleteAppreciate your perspective but an undo button not to reset the events but for us to contemplate and set right our wrongs may not be bad after all!
ReplyDeleteHow many wrongs will be righted? How many can be? Learning from the past, yes. But anything else may turn out to be futile.
DeleteLiked your analysis!
ReplyDeleteUppal, even my missionary benefactors are yet to decide whether I have an analytic or synthetic mind. :)
Delete