The irony of life is that for most, we do neither know about our past life nor our next life. As such, most of us only plan for this life and model our life based on experiences and events in this life.
Some of the events were consequences of our actions in past lives but we are not aware of them. In fact, many of us are not even aware of the consequences of our actions in this life. We just want to move on and get what we can.
It is just inherent on the need for self preservation and we struggled against the odds. Sometimes, we get what we want and sometimes we don't.
When things don't come out the way we want, we are ruffled unless we have the peace of mind of the saints who are not affected by the ups and downs of life- the yin and yang.
For most of us, we just don't get it as to why at times we cannot get what we want. We call this suffering and not a single day pass by when we are not really happy with the day.
We go for life as if it is a rat race and in a rat race, if we are ahead we are better off than those behind. In a way, we gain more by ensuring others lag behind. Isn't this a bit unkind in our thoughts and actions as well? Why must we gain at others expense?
But at the same time, we cannot be standing still and let others get by, unless we have arrived. The issue is have we arrived, when we will arrive and what we mean by arriving? What are we getting at in our life? What do we want? We want to be happy and to live as well as yesterday if not even better. Is this reasonable?
Is it all because we are myopic and cannot see beyond this life either of our past or future life? Is there past and future lives? Why are we denied any knowledge or inclination of the past and present lives? Of what purpose is knowing them or not knowing?
Perhaps there is the divine purpose in that there will be a level playing field that all do not know the past and future lives except for the rare rare few.
But then in life, some are more fortunate and some less. So where is the level playing field?
But to the sages, the ones who are fortunate or suffer less are the ones who are less fortunate. For the sufferings in life in a way are good teachers to toughen us though many will break down and despair.
But the sufferer learns more and comes out tougher and more resilient if he has the right mind set. He does not need a religion but will be better off with one.
Life is the best religion for him. The sufferings in life are the lessons and if he can weather them with fortitude, he is that much better off. The sufferings don't seem to bite him as hard and don't seem to matter.
Even without a religion, he is more calm and not given to roller coaster emotions. He accepts his lot and treasures every moment when life is a bit easier and less harsh. Isn't he better off in a sense?
But who want to suffer? We all don't but by being in the world of ups and downs, we all are subject to imperfections. Even the richest of men are never at peace unless he can learn from life more so from the lives of others seemingly less fortunate than them.
In fact, if they don't learn, the day will come when there is the precipitous drop in life before life comes to an end. Then it will be too much to learn in too short a time. Do not wait for that day and this applies to all.
