Dealing with Impermanence

Contrary to what most people believe, it's not just ancient epic heroes who attempt to find eternal life. Modern humans, too, are afraid of death. One of the main themes in the Epic of Gilgamesh is the idea that death is a natural part of life, and that the life that is given should be enjoyed while it lasts. Humanity has used this and other methods to justify its continued existence on earth.

As Siduri, the wine-maker, says to Gilgamesh, "Dance and be merry, feast and rejoice. Let your clothes be fresh, bathe yourself in water, cherish the little child that holds your hand, and make your wife happy in your embrace, for this too is the lot of man" (p.102). She insists that the best thing man can do with his life is enjoy it, along with everything that nature provides. Since death is inevitable, life should be relished, the fruits of the earth utilized to their fullest, and material pleasures enjoyed without guilt. Gilgamesh refuses to listen to these words of wisdom, and ends up losing the plant of eternal life and returning to Uruk with only "a tale of the days before the flood." Modern followers of this philosophy of life tend to believe that one's time on earth should be spent enjoying the fruits of labor, leaving a legacy for one's children, doing good things, regardless of whether they will be remembered by future generations.

Humans have devised two other methods of dealing with he prospect of leaving this world and never returning. Followers of one method spend their lives attempting to do great deeds. They invent new things, make great art, construct tall buildings or monuments, and otherwise draw attention to themselves in such a way that ensures that they will not be forgotten when they die. This method places a great deal of trust in the length of the human memory. Some people have attained a form of eternal life in this manner, in the minds of those who admire, study, or worship them. Most of these attention-seekers, however, are victims of the habit of humanity to jump from one great thing to the next, continually seeking new idols and new experiences, following that which gives them a sense of importance and permanence of their own. They are forgotten in favor of the next great celebrity, the next tall building, or the next popular song or work of art.

Another type of person is the one who has adhered to the idea that there exists a form of life after death, in a place much better than that in which he lives. Actual life seems insignificant compared to this other life, so much so that it is often neglected in the pursuit of eternal happiness. The only catch involved in attaining this eternal life is that passage into it is regulated by large organizations and other earthly forces, by which I mean religion. Attaining this eternal life usually requires that sacrifices of some sort be made during mortality, usually something along the lines of fasting, prayer, or regular donations to specific causes. The organization in charge can accept or deny any person admittance to their chosen place of rest. Adherents to this method of attaining immortality have chosen to accept that it works without concrete proof, lending those in charge a great deal of power over their followers' behavior.

Belief in any of these three methods is what gives many of the world's people a reason to continue living. For those with the means and motive to make a difference in the world of the living, the great-deeds method is usually preferable. For those who feel as though they are unable or are prevented in some way from leaving some sort of mark in the mortal realms, there's always the hope-for-eternal-life method. In some ways, the first way of life- enjoying it, whether another one is offered afterwards or not- is the hardest to live. It requires that death be accepted as natural, not dreaded or fought against. Those who are able to enjoy their lives are ones who accept the possibility of death peacefully and without guilt or fear.

How modern mortals deal with the impermanence of the world is not a subject that they generally like to discuss. Many people get up and go about their business only because they have conveniently forgotten that they are living the only life that is given to them. Reminding a person that, biologically, their only reason for living is to ensure the continuation of the human race usually causes feelings of insignificance and depression. We go to work and school because it gives us something more stimulating to do than lie in bed and wait for the end of the world. We've also been encouraged to believe that whatever profession we choose, from secretary to brain surgeon, construction worker to military leader, will have a beneficial impact on someone's life. While it may improve someone's life temporarily, that person will eventually die, taking all memories of the person responsible for his happiness with him. From the time of Gilgamesh until today, humans have been seeking eternal life, whether through deeds or through continued belief in the existence of life after death. These methods can seem silly when simply stated, but they are powerful enough that they've gotten the world out of bed every morning for thousands of years.