Curiosity

God made the world round so we would never be able to see too far down the road. Isak Dinesen

From Biblical times we know that man had an insatiable curiosity which resulted in Eve succumbing to the lure of eating the apple that would make them God like, when her curiosity was tickled by the serpent. Christian tenants proclaim that we are still suffering from that original sin of curiosity. Every generation continues its flirtation with curiosity and the mushrooming business of horoscopes, numerology, feng shui etc. have their doctrines rooted in man’s craving to be told that he will have an even better future.

At the same time, when we look forward and if all we are able to see is negativity, gloom, despair and hopelessness, that is when we lose the will to live and give up without a fight. Perhaps that accounts for the numerous suicides and mounting cases of depression. Similarly, others will be sorely tempted to adopt illegal, corrupt and unethical means to ensure that they can obtain what they crave for, if they visualize a bleak future for themselves on the path of fairness and righteousness. The real issue is avariciousness and the longing for happiness which quite often we mistake to be materialistic possessions.

Perhaps it is therefore a divine intervention that the future is hidden, unfathomable and mysterious; for then the surprises they bring and the sorrows that come ones way, would be seen in the right perspective and better understood. When the world looks forward to tomorrow, it is a sign of hope, growth and happiness and an indirect praise for Gods plans and wisdom. Metaphorically speaking perhaps that is why the world is round and so when we look ahead our range is limited. In that quick peek of the future, more often than not, we see things from an optimists lens and even the few blips on the horizon seem to be trivial. No wonder we are privileged to have a sound sleep and sweet dreams. Perhaps that also explains how the poor and disadvantaged can still smile, cling on to hope and visualize a better day for themselves.

Yet curiosity by itself is not the problem. In fact curiosity is the root of all progress and discovery. It is a vital trait that needs to be nurtured and honed in children. However, it is stretching the limits of curiosity for selfish crystal ball gazing, proclaiming non scientific irrational trends and  the manipulation of individuals by exploiting their emotions particularly fear and greed that lends itself to the necessary scrutiny of the rationalists and scientists.

Remember: The first and simplest emotion which we discover in the human mind, is curiosity. Edmund Burke

Try these:

1. How frequently do you read your horoscope? Do you meticulous track the outcome of the predictions? IS there a correlation between the predictions and the final outcome? Do you think the predictions re vague and too general to be given much credence?
2. If you were to be born again, who or what will you like to be reborn as? List 3 boons you do not have in this birth that you would be keen to have in the next birth. List out 3 boons or gifts that you cherish the most in this life. Which one of the three can you sacrifice in the next life?

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