life, death and beyond

life, death and beyond

this was the topic of the day. but the talk mostly concentrated on life. how it can be prolonged. reference to death was only to find ways and means to postpone it. replacement of cells, replacement of organs, preparing organs for implantation from the cells themselves were all there. how the life is being preserved was another theme. time was when communicable diseases claimed most of deaths. its proportion has come down considerably. of course, the statistics were from the west but it is because they are researching and publishing, we just copy their reports and highlight them if they show india in a bad light. it was surmised that time will come when cancer cells can be destroyed and the disease ousted. so also with diseases like dementia and al ziemer.

the increasing of longevity of life, or postponing the death, was given considerable thought. life expectancy is increasing and at least one scientist has claimed that a person alive now may be the first to have an age of one thousand years.

of ‘beyond’ there was no mention. it does not fit scientific research. the nearest the talk came to it was when it was considered what is life. if cells replace themselves and organs - natural or manufactured - can be replaced, where does life come in. it brought consciousness to the mind and with it, two words buddhism and vedant appeared on the screen. reference to buddhism was made in the name of philosophy of shunyavaad (though in my view, it should have been kshanikvaad not shunyavaad - the two are different concepts, both of buddhism). it also brought into focus the seventeenth century philosopher with his saying, “ i am because i think”.

at the vey end, i brought up a question what would be effect on life (and death) of climate change. by then, fatigue had set in and there was no more talk about it.

(note - in my view, human life will be extinguished and world will be inherited by cockroaches – the real ones,  not the july 20 ones)