There's Always Something More To Be Seen

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam

27 February 2023

“The history of the living world can be summarized as the elaboration of ever more perfect eyes within a cosmos in which there's always something more to be seen."

Pierre Teilhard De Chardin (1881-1955), France

This is indeed a very profound statement! An Urdu poet enigmatically said the same thing, “Nazar Mein Vusa'at Paida Kar/ Na Thahar Ek Hi Manzar Par" (Broaden your vision/ don’t stop at one place).

There's so much to be seen, learnt and acquired in a relatively short time. The problem with all humans is that we tend to become complacent and absolute in our approach to life, truth and circumstances.

There's nothing absolute. To say or claim that something is absolute is akin to thinking that there's nothing more to learn or know. People with a blinkered vision and limited understanding will claim that my country is the best, my religion is the only true religion and my scripture is a book of absolute truth.

This is idiocy and known as Washerman's Donkey Syndrome (from Sheikh Saadi's ' Washerman's Donkey' in ' Bostan '). Just the way washer man’s life revolved around his humble and loyal donkey, people with limited thinking remain confined to their own set of relative truths. They're reluctant as well as adamant not to think beyond their periphery. Absolutism is their undoing. Einstein, who wasn't a believer but an agnostic, once said, " I may reject all theories about the cosmos, god and beliefs, but will continue to believe that there's something that will forever remain unexplained." To stop at one place and call it the end of the world is self-deception, nay lunacy. 

Once we accept our limitations, it becomes easier to zero in on them and root them out finally. There's an enchanting expression In the Finnish language. It's known as En de chian (Getting new eyes). It's a metaphorical expression, equal to Nai Drishti in Hindi and Nai Nazar in Urdu. This En de chian is necessary to know the world and explore new possibilities. The journey of life is the journey of exploration. Truths become mere findings with a definite life-span when you see the world sans prejudices and with ever-evolving new vision.

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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.

 

URL:   https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/bostan-teilhard-life-truth/d/129203

 

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