Learning About Life

Learning About Life

Prof. Dr. Christopher Thomas PhD

Smashwords Edition, Copyright 2012

License notes: All rights reserved. First Edition published in India by Minerva Press. Cover design by Minerva Press. Illustrations by Ed Mesa - Philippines. The author asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this book. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to the memory of

My Loving Parents

Foreword

I have always been a firm believer that learning is a process that must continue throughout one’s life. Learning new technologies is a must if we want to keep up with the latest innovations, especially in the modern, social and economic environments. Learning a new thing is also a must to extend our knowledge base and keep the learning side of our brain fully exercised. But, what is of life itself? Surely, that is something that must be learned on the job as it were. The world is such a big place. Could we ever expect to learn its intricacies and interactions in a normal lifetime? And while learning by making mistakes, is a common strategy in some cultures, can that be a fair strategy for building one’s own experience database?

My personal belief is that each learning experience is enhanced by a little background knowledge about why people act and react like they do. Scientific and technological developments proliferate to keep us informed of why things act and react as they do, but life is not so. Maybe that is because of the complexity of the subject and the disparate beliefs that abound in this world we call our home. Maybe that is why we have so many conflicts all over the world – we do not understand why other people do not react as we ourselves would. The conclusion being their beliefs must be wrong and ours must prevail.

When given the opportunity to read, comment and then foreword this book – Learning About Life’ – I was thrilled that finally here is an attempt to tie everything together and explain the inexplicable in terms we can all understand. To me it is a book that fills a void and can provide the route to prior learning before experiencing.

I have known the author, Dr. Christopher Thomas, for some years now, both professionally and personally, and have always admired his thoroughness, professionalism and forthrightness. This book reflects those attributes that I have known in him so well. He has looked into our big questions – what, how and why? Why does this happen? Why do we do that? How can we understand it better? What should I do? What reaction could I expect?

From philosophy to aspirations and achievements, Christopher has covered it all in a book that is like a journey of discovery. Like all such journeys there are surprises, clarifications and fog-clearing experiences. It is an in-depth look into why we in the world are what we are, and it is structured in a way that is easy to read, easy to refer and most of all easy to understand. A continuation of the previous work of Christopher’s that I have had the pleasure of seeing and working with.

Christopher starts with a sort of Lexicon of Life and journeys through many ports of call on the way. In fact, the concept of a journey is one that is prevalent throughout the book. The illustrations have also captured the emotions of the book appropriately.

So what did I get from reading this book?

- A better base for making some of life’s many and awkward decisions.

- A means of prioritizing my own actions and aspirations.

- A deeper meaning of life.

I have great pleasure in recommending this book to all who are both curious about life’s ways and about why things in life are as they are. I would love to think that some – if not all – of the world’s leaders would read it and then maybe, just maybe, they may make their decisions differently and in a way that creates a more peaceful, accommodating and understanding global society.

Well done, Christopher. Learning About Life will be a book that accompanies me in my many travels around the world.

Ian Harrison

Management Consultant

Wales, U K

Preface

Life is an indefinite journey where knowledge and preparedness are crucial at every step to overcome the many hurdles and uphill tasks that one may encounter on the way. To ensure success in every sphere at every stage in our journey through life, it becomes necessary for us to be conscious of all the possible difficulties ahead and acquire the skills to overcome them. Unless we are triumphant in life, and let our lives be fine example for future generations, we would not have contributed to the progress of humanity by any measure.

Usually, it is due to either lack of knowledge or for misapprehensions that we end up in failures. Some people are fortunate enough to get timely guidance and support from their parents or guardians or teachers or from such other sources in their early life. But at an average, it is not so for many. Therefore, I considered it a serious challenge and my duty to be sincere in providing some insights into few of the basic and most crucial areas in our daily life, so that my readers are not likely to have left behind at the bottom of the ladder of success for want of this crucial element – guidance.

Being successful in life is everyone’s ambition and a necessity. Our early comprehension of many contributing factors for success, as also factors likely to hinder our smooth course of life pushing us towards failure, will help design our life the way we want it to be. Undoubtedly, this is because of the basic fact that it is our own thoughts and actions determining the course of our life. By identifying and recognizing such factors, positive or negative influencing the course of our lives, one can certainly decide on future strategies and take care to craft a happier world for oneself, than being left out in a world of misery. Therefore, let us go ahead and explore our hearts honestly. Let us look deeper within us for an assessment and by improving it further, enter into a world of greater acumen.

As we all should know, our life is an open book, and this world itself being our best teacher. From day one till the end of our life, we go through the process of learning diverse subjects. Each leaf of the book of life is filled with new experiences, perhaps precious, perhaps useless. It is like getting filled in page after page, chapter after chapter. The truth is that, irrespective of the volume and kind of education we receive in various disciplines, we still find it lacking sense in some areas. Each day one adds something new in his book of life. We are here on earth to stay only for a short period, learn many things, and tell others about our experience, so that others may be guided more effortlessly. We may even rewrite some of our past experiences helping others to bypass those very same difficult situations in their lives, which we had to encounter and overcome in strenuous ways.

We shall not think of only acquiring money, property, or prestige and be obsessed by these material gains, because, when we die some of these possessions will pass on to others who could use them in wrong pursuits for which we will have passive responsibility. In the sands of time, only memories of our good deeds will remain such as our help to others in any form and therefore the pages of our book of life should be filled with cheerful memories and not with pages we would prefer to tear out forever. We should create such opportunities to rewrite every fresh page of the book of life to carry fragrance of our life we lived and left behind.

We may be benefited by experiences of others when we look back as we have seen, heard and believed many things, and our life has actually become reflective or responsive of those happenings. Some of such incidents could have engraved deep impressions within us while others could have made lesser impacts.

Almost every one of us expect only success bestowed upon us as much as possible all through life. It is not to forget that we are human beings, and we cannot always evade or run away from some common problems. The only practical alternative is therefore to gain courage and resolve to face adversities head on, with full preparedness in a wise manner. To dream that anything we want to dream about is the beauty of human mind, and to do anything that we want to do is the strength of human will. But, to have confidence in ourselves and to test our limits is the courage to succeed in life.

Even if we cannot expect to explore and resolve all the mysteries of this universe during our times, we can certainly expect and work towards leaving behind a little more civilized and erudite world for our future generations. This attitude will surely change the world for the better and a desirable place for our successors to live and benefit from.

Quite naturally, we should expect our good earth to remain as it is in shape and features, and in all probability it will, for few more billions of years. It is certain that our stay in this world as visitors is only for a short spell; the day will eventually arrive sooner or later for every one of us to say goodbye to it. Therefore, as long as we are here, we must be able to make the most out of it by living a successful, enjoyable and meritorious life. We better remember that we cannot hope to change the whole world to suit all our requirements, but what is possible for us is, to conduct ourselves in a practical way and live along with other people harmoniously. This outlook should make our lives attractive, comfortable and meaningful. It is also important to keep in mind that we should leave this world in an improved condition than what it was when we arrived, enriched by our valuable contributions; however small we count them to be. This book is an attempt in that direction, exploring several – large and narrow – avenues of life where millions of our ancestors have already walked, leaving behind for us ample knowledge and traditions to learn and follow. That is how every subsequent generation will find it easier to pick up the thread of knowledge from the point their predecessors had left, and improve it further. This is also a humble attempt to scrutinize some valuable topics in life, which should help future generations in a constructive manner, thereby helping them avoid stumbling in their endeavors in leading a fulfilling life.

When we truthfully look at the state of affairs today, we are all the more convinced that our contemporaries are uninterested or unmindful in equipping and augmenting themselves with even very simple but essential knowledge that is crucial for enriching their own lives. We cannot comprehend why? They may say; ‘we will take on the world as it comes’. Everyone should know that well-run information and their proper comprehension are essential contributory factors in achieving the basic philosophy of life. We admit the fact that it is unrealistic to expect everyone to be perfect in all the areas of life, or is eager to lead a great and meaningful life alone even as no single individual can be ‘all knowing’ and capable to deal with the whole world.

Exercising self-confidence and truthful interface – two major qualities that matter much in life – should help us to win the respect and love of others. These virtues are expected to bring along with them most other qualities that are referred to in this book and help enable everyone, who follows it honestly, to lead a successful life. There are some people, who still believe that a life full of sophistication, pomp and glamour, materialistic possessions in perfect combination and a high place in society – specifically better than their neighbors and peers – makes one happy and the life more pleasant. But this is an unrealistic and pointless view.

Human life is a very complex topic – so vast and deep – its subject matters cannot be brought within the scope of one book or several books. This book will just explain some principles the reader can benefit from, which address most important and selected areas of life. It will surely help the reader to be a little more informed, a little more advanced, and prepare them to face the realities of life with firm determination. It is my wish that my readers will greatly benefit from the thoughts discussed herein and set-right their course of actions in right directions, to enable them live a pleasant life to the fullest, care and share with others in mutual respect and understanding for one another and make certain that every one of us belong to the one large universal family that is obliged to contribute to the continuous process of human prosperity by meticulously Learning About Life.

I gratefully acknowledge those who with their positive criticism and suggestions enhanced my creative outlook and encouraged me to come out with a second edition, and those extended their support to me in putting in good order and perfecting this volume. In the forefront of them is Mr. Ian Harrison, Wales - UK, who has very benevolently studied, appreciated and written the foreword for this work of mine; and all my friends who helped me in promoting this edition in one way or the other. Feedbacks from my esteemed readers are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Christopher Thomas PhD

Author

Table Of Contents

Dedication

Foreword

Preface

Table of Contents

Chapter I - A Life Here To Live

Chapter II - Success And Failure In Life - An Overview

Chapter III - A Rich Life

Chapter IV - Achieving Success In Life

Chapter V - Causative Factors For Failure In Life

Chapter VI - Other Major Driving Forces Of Life

Chapter VII - Outcome Of Personal Approaches And Choices

Chapter VIII - A New World Order

About The Author

Chapter - 1

A Life Here to Live

(Beginning of a Journey)

According to dictionary meaning, "Life is a term of animate existence, manifesting growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to the environment, or simply, a state of being alive. The Hebrew word for life is hhay-yah and the Greek word is zo-e. The Hebrew word nephesh and the Greek word psy-khe, both meaning soul are also employed to refer to life.

Biblical references to ‘life’ are not in the abstract sense, but to life in a person or animal. Vegetation also has life, with the principles of life operating in it, but it does not have a soul. For all human beings though, the soul is of paramount importance especially in spiritual sense.

The human form is considered highest of all creatures, according to religious thinking. This existence by itself is unique and is a bequest in the form of life that everyone has to live fully, and be worthy of it. Despite all appearances to the contrary, life is a movement towards joy. All living souls on earth strive to live happily. Ironically, all are not able to find this happiness for different reasons. We shall now try to explore deeper, and see how can, we live a more satisfying, more enjoyable life while we are still alive on the face of this world itself than later after death?

All human beings go through a life full of mysterious lessons that appear to have no end. The book of life goes on to open before us page after page. We keep leaning them and the process repeat endlessly. Those who do not learn from experiences and practice in life are bound to be losers. At some point of our continued learning, the curtain falls, by and large unannounced; we leave this world of ours. We may pass through the hollowness of the dark tunnel right up to the end where, it is said, there is light for some, eternal darkness for others or a rebirth for yet others, whatever the reality maybe.

When we are alive - when we are still able to feel the pain of a pinch – when our body and soul are united, things are noticeable because, that is when we have our hopes and dreams, strengths and weaknesses, love and hate, avarice, ambition and interests, all contributing to lead a spontaneous, pleasurable and comfortable life, even if not luxurious for all, with never-ending fragrance of happiness in it at least occasionally.

Now the most intriguing question before us is how can one lead such a successful and happy life with all the intricacies of the world before him? The answer is simple and clear; obey and stick to crucial principles in life. To make it happen, there are two basic ideologies to be meticulously followed, and they are:

1. Have a Clear Mind (So sweet this life)

It is not money or worldly possessions that give one, primary happiness; it is the mind that is important and responsible for one’s clear perspectives and ability to form exact abilities to turn life successful. To enable holding your mind under perfect control, consider following approaches:

- Always set mind over matters. Think positive no matter what the situation looks like. Remember, on the thoroughfare of life, there are passengers and drivers. Be the driver, yourself.

- Make your life easier by your thoughtful foresights and precise visions; make sure that your life is not made harder, unbearable, bewildering, and ultimately wasteful just because of your own thoughtlessness and foolishness.

- It is necessary for us to become makers of destiny rather than dreamers of destiny. So, build your own destiny than waiting for someone else to deal it on your behalf. Trust in your strength.

- Do not harbour negative emotions like, anger, hatred or sorrow in your heart, and keep the mind clear of all worries. Build an ability to look beyond temporary snags.

- Lead a simple life. Simplicity in life endows most needed peace of mind.

- Do not expect anything from others; same time, do the best one can, unto others.

- Fill one’s life with love for others, and practice it whenever such occasion arises.

- Shine like a bright light placed on a pedestal, wherever one may be and whatever limitations one may run into.

- Remove selfishness from one’s heart. Association of this sprite ruin lives.

- Have compassion for others; lend a hand to people passing through miseries.

- Do unto others, what and how one would expect them to do unto you.

- Accept life as it comes, thankfully and with contentment and joy. Murmuring and complaining will never set right life, but only turn things for the worse.

- He, who is blind to the view of his soul, will not enjoy and see life. Be guided by your conscience.

2. Have the Urge to Win in Life

Face challenges head-on to steadfast one’s urge to win in life. We must know that life’s battles are not always won by the stronger or faster man, but by him, who is confident that he can. Life can be made beautiful and aromatic if only one has the desire to make it so. An optimistic attitude is the greatest asset one can ever have in life. Life however one leads it, will contain moments of both joy and sadness. The blows in life, as accumulation and multiplication of problems, may lead to draining of our energy and leave us exhausted and discouraged. In such situations unfortunately, the true status of our power and potential is often mystified and unemployed and it is up to us to rediscover them and put to excellent use. It is here that our mind needs to be well regulated and our moods kept under control.

The sum total of an average person’s life is considered the consolidation of stages from the innocent but unpredictable childhood, to restless juvenility, teeming twenties, grasping thirties, firing forties, failing fifties, sagging sixties, self-seeking seventies, aching eighties and finally the sort of helpless and frustrating existence thereafter. Each stage has its pleasure and pain; factors continue to accompany until the last stage which offer invariably more pain than pleasure.

During childhood, we are under the care and supervision of our parents or guardians, who know the world and us better. So, when we are children we have nothing much to do. Still, it is during this period that we learn to give and love, learn basic societal disciplines and regulations. Growth and accompanying changes occur very fast in childhood.

Passing through adolescence we enter the age of youth when most feels at the top of the world and nothing seems impossible. This is the time to enjoy the power and beauty of youthfulness.

Here are some simple tips to keep in mind:

- Do not always worry about the future and ruin the present. Live the present well while planning well for the future.

- Set concrete plans for you on long term basis with clear vision though others may say destiny of man is unknown or whatever will be, will be. Therefore, always think of higher goals in personal life, prioritizing on our needs.

- Develop skills especially in areas like athletics, music, dance, and learn to play at least one or two musical instruments. Take part in games and sports even as a spectator. It adds to the vigor and vitality.

- Try not to put up with people who are heedless; avoid their company as far as possible so that their negative energy does no influence you.

- Choose good companions of either sex in the spirit of true friendship.

- Remember compliments; compliment others when you should. Forget and forgive insults. There is always room for forgiveness and understanding that enables everyone to enjoy life. A little effort in that direction pays rich dividends in the form of peace and contentment.

- Be careful not to fall victim to the evil-minded. Such people are there in all societies. Wisdom plays crucial part in identifying them.

- Do not congratulate or belittle yourself too much.

- Remember, our choices are based on chances like everybody else’s.

- Comparing yourself to the most efficient or beautiful may only make you feel dejected. Believe in your own confidence and assets and try to enhance them by hard work.

- Being nice to our parents and learning from them when they are still around is our duty and privilege, as we never know when they will be gone, taking with them all their wisdom.

- We should take good care of our siblings. Guide them when they really need help, because they are our priceless assets and link to our future. They are people most likely to be with us during good times and bad times and truly love us.

- Show love and respect to our elders and give them their due – love, money, protection and whatever they need, unconditionally.

- We are indebted to perform our duties to our parents, brothers, sisters and those who work with us, as well as to society and the entire humanity.

- Do not expect anyone else to support you when you are weak, in pain or going through bad times. Consider it a boon, if support comes from any source, during your needs.

- When we have a clear and sound mind, we should figure our priorities in life, whether it is the job, the family, politics, or anything else; and say ‘no’ to everything else so that we may be perfect in what we do. When we have to make significant decisions, it is important to ascertain what is essential in life, what is to be pursued, and what is to be shunned.

Undoubtedly, life is a process of eternal learning. When we master one thing, yet another is ready for learning, and it continues so throughout life. Such continuous training is what is responsible for the creation of experts or those whom we call winners. This precision is applicable to both body and mind. Learn to have the will to overcome sorrows, with dedication and genuine understanding, treating it also as part of life. We may have to fight against many odds to end our life as a