Nothing new under the sun… Peter Fernandes Cosmic events often catch our attention, and we marvel, but there is nothing new under the sun. Time maintains the rhythm, time changes the season and we wonder at every sequence. Who can blame the childlike mind fascinated with every little change in nature? The ancient minds tried to decipher the dynamic of the cosmos. What is the ultimate cause of the universe? How is it possible for the world to remain permanent, when change is constant? The pre-Socrates philosophers, who were materialistic, attributed the ultimate cause to matter, like fire, water, air, and so on, to explain nature – the one and many (to explain how many aspect of the world change, and yet it remains unified). They sought wisdom, but understanding eluded them. Wisdom does not reside in matter, but in immaterial reality. Vanity of vanity all is vanity says Qoheleth. Similarly, Heraclites presents in his philosophical thought, “All is flux, and nothing stays still.” “You cannot even step in the same river twice.” Buddha also perceived reality as perpetually changing. He advised not to hold on to anything, since everything is passing away. Although, Buddha provided a guide for purposeful living, he could not explain reality. “A man who has labored wisely, skillfully and successfully, must leave what is his own to someone who has not toiled for it at all.” What a tragedy! Another ancient philosopher, Parmenides conceived reality differently, but unfortunately, he could not explain nature’s permanence. The author of the book of Ecclesiastes nevertheless affirms that love is permanent and God is permanent. “But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hate man does not know.” (Eccl 9:1) The classical philosophers made a leap from a materialistic view of the cosmos into the metaphysical realm. The cause of the universe could not be matter, but an immaterial, uncaused cause – permanent and eternal. Matter is vanity, hence, live not with matter, but enter into the metaphysical realm and hold on to the immaterial. Love is immaterial, God is immaterial, human rational soul is immaterial. This is not vanity of vanities, but sublime reality. Why oh men do you dwell in the vanity of vanity of this passing world, since there is nothing new under the sun. The wealth and beauty of creation is just to enhance our love for God and neighbor, and not for us to hold onto, as our permanent possession. Wisdom should guide us to relinquish matter, which is nothing, but vanity of vanities. Indeed, the life of the just is in the hand of God. Therefore, love of God and love of neighbor is the true vocation of man. “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”(I Cor 13:13) The call to love is enduring. Therefore, seek nothing else, since there is nothing new under the sun.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 01:39:24 +0000