Essay (Philosophical) by Manoj K. Jha

Model Answer

Question #1 To live is the rarest thing in the world, most people exist.

“We all end up dead; it’s just a question of how and why. Every man dies, not every man really lives. — William Wallace

This earth is full of people with different preferences and attitudes. People are born and die. In this process of birth and death the question is how many of us live before we die. According to a general view, the real meaning of living is to have vision or aim in life. Those who live life aimlessly or without developing any vision are actually not living, rather they are spending life. For some individuals, the meaning of life is to be content and to be happy in every situation. Different people may derive content or happiness or goal of life from different sources. Some may find happiness in spending time and taking care of their family. For others the real happiness might come from following their passion, which could be doing painting, performing dance, singing, designing dresses, cooking, reading, writing books or novels, doing science, helping others etc. A social activist finds the meaning of life and considers it worth it by sacrificing in the service of others. A soldier considers life meaningful by sacrificing it for the nation. A religious spiritual individual may find meaning in spending time with God. So, different individuals might derive meaning and happiness from different sources.

On one hand where people try to find meaning for life and work to get unconditional happiness. Some do not enjoy their life, existence, do not find the meaning of their life, are not interested in trying new things, not challenging themselves, not taking the pain, not happy with what they do, and do not even think of finding the purpose of their lives. People who do not feel for themselves, who are not compassionate for others, do not care, do not take responsibilities, do not fun, do not do small things which makes them happy, do not get anxious, do not feel stressed, do not break the shields of suppression, and do not come out of their comfort, are not living their life; are actually preparing themselves to die not living rather. Death which is a reflection of idleness, dullness, emotionlessness, lack of senses, absence of joy, and pain makes an individual unresponsive to everything. People who are living life, are actually living for themselves and for others also.

Merely taking oxygen in and releasing carbon dioxide out is not what is meant by living. One of the features of being alive is sensitivity. People who use the five biological senses are living biologically. Everyone does live in this manner, even animals and insects use biological senses for their survival. But can we say that mere living for the sake of living is true living? The inner sensitivity or the sensitivity of moral character is something that makes us alive in the true sense.

When we start feeling others’ pain; and become empathetic, sensible, gentle, loving, considerate, and cooperative; it reflects being alive. Not everyone chooses to be sensitive in all these ways. Those who live by being sensitive can enjoy happiness and feel the pain of others. Such individuals satisfy themselves by being sensitive towards their own needs and for others also.

People find ways to satisfy their needs which may include material needs as well emotional needs. Those who give precedence to material needs are indulged in desiring more and more, that they remain involved in accumulating for their satisfaction. Materialistic life provides only momentary satisfaction after that human starts desiring another thing. Those who live are satisfied with their materialistic needs and work more towards achieving emotional and mental peace.

They may satisfy themselves by creating music, or writing lyrics; or creating an innovative new technology; or by doing anything creative. They find satisfaction in pleasing others with their work and creativity. Such individuals just do not live for themselves rather give purpose to others also to live. Those who live are truly satisfied by the means of their life. They remain peaceful as they do not have contradictions with others and with themselves.

Moreover, people may die before their biological death. They cannot live the true meaning and purpose of life. Death is inevitable but they die in their senses, they die ideologically, their humanness dies, their thoughts die and their emotions die. Such individuals rarely live and find happiness in their self-centricity. The selfishness of individuals attracts them towards materialism, power hunger, conflicts, and opportunism. This kills the sensitivity which in turn causes moral muteness, moral myopia, and in extreme cases the moral death. Sharing and caring is the best form of love. Individuals who are devoid of love are short of any sensitivity for others. A good person can make another person good; it means that goodness will elicit goodness in society; other persons will also be good.

Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the mind and heart. When there is harmony in the heart and mind, there is order inside. When there is order on the inside, there is mental peace. Those who truly live never stop fighting until they arrive at their destined place, that is, to achieve the uniqueness themselves. They carry an aim in life, continuously acquire knowledge, work hard, and have the perseverance to realize a great life. He must have vision and passion and not be afraid of any problem. Instead, he should know how to defeat it. Most importantly, he must work with integrity.

If we’re to be successful in our living, we must be realistic about what makes life work and what doesn’t. We must develop an understanding of our responsibility in setting the basic direction of our lives. In addition, when things get tough and life seems to be working against us, we must somehow find the resolve to meet these difficult times with perseverance and hope for the future.

We are so eager to get ahead of everyone, to be on time, and to get enormous money and success that we forgot how to live. Take some time off from your work. Pack the bags and leave for a place where no hectic schedules and no people are running after time. Observe their life. Keeping aside your mind which is just dead knowledge and enjoying every moment is living life otherwise we always prepare ourselves for death.

Question #2. Peace has to do with our mindsets, not with outside circumstances.

”Be the change you want to see in the world” — M K Gandhi

What we think gets reflected through our actions and behavior, which in turn decides the outside circumstances. If we want to see peace outside it has to come from within. When chaos lies in mind and heart, the whole world looks upside down. To make things still and at the right place, it is important to have peace. Now, the question is what do we mean by peace. Peace is actually absence of conflict. When we talk about peace in terms of mind and heart, it is meant by the absence of conflict. It is a situation of calmness and absence of confusion in mind. While talking about peace in the outer world or circumstances, the meaning of peace is to do with the absence of conflict between individuals or groups. It is meant by having a conducive environment which is based on equity and devoid of any clash that may arise due to any conflict of interest.

Peace comes with clarity, lack of confusion and absence of conflict. To get the peaceful situation, removal of conflict whether it is the removal of any inner conflict or outer conflict is necessary. The inner peace comes with clarity. Clarity comes with the right knowledge. This knowledge could be knowledge of self or the knowledge of situation. Knowledge comes with experience.

Experience can be acquired through different sources such as by doing things or by learning from others, or by living things. So, to get inner peace the most important thing is to get clarity for everything we do or consider to do. In a situation to choose one between two paths, if we are clear about our priorities and intentions, it becomes easier for us to choose the right path. Peace also comes with being content. Those who feel content in any possible situation remain at ease and their heart and mind become peaceful. The lack of unnecessary desires also brings peace. It’s a general human nature to always want for more and in the quest of achieving one target after another human gets restless and devoid of peace as his mind and heart mostly remains wandering and restless. People also seek spiritual knowledge to get peace of mind. Spirituality helps in liberating the soul from everything which is an illusion and brings people closer to reality. Inner peace comes by connecting with nature. People go to the Himalayas to connect with nature and to get reconnected with themselves.

Peace of mind or inner peace is important as it enhances efficiency by removing energy consuming doubts. People with a more clear mindset can make correct decisions more quickly. Those with peaceful mindsets are able to understand things in an easier way. It helps in removing ambiguity and weakness of character. The strong character makes better decisions quickly. People with positive mindsets are able to be peaceful in every situation. The positive attitude impacts the actions, words, behavior, gestures, which help in reducing conflicting situations. Such individuals are able to find ease even in the hardest condition. Inner peace helps in analyzing things in a better way without creating any confusion. For example, while attempting questions in the examination hall, a student can perform well, if he/she has understood the concept with clarity and remains without any confusion. On one hand a positive mindset and attitude brings clarity of thought, on the other hand a negative mindset, brings conflict. People with a negative mindset remain confused and always find errors. Oblivious nature of humans also is associated with the unrest of mind. People who are ignorant tend to remain full of fear and contradictions. This dual nature of mind impacts the performance of these people.

Peace can also be achieved through instilling the right values in people. That will pass on to the next generation through socialization. A society or community will uphold the values that each family constituting it upholds. This is because ethics helps build relationships. A society with a good value system will elect such a government. That government will be accountable to people and make appropriate policies. AmartyaSen argues that in a democracy, people get the government they deserve. This way, we can realize that ultimate values guiding our civilization at a particular time will be average of what the majority of individuals feel strongly about. If people are largely honest, as in in few of the countries , its politics will be in accordance. If people are corrupt, it will also get reflected in all institutions.

To work effectively, both the peace whether it is inner peace or outer peace, are important. But inner peace is something which is more important than any other peace. For making a person progress an individual requires mental abilities and efficiency, whether it is mental or physical strength. Without acquiring these strengths a person cannot do effectively. The stronger character and strength brings mental peace and removes the restlessness of the soul. A leader can make decisions for the people’s benefit in the condition of violence or external conflicts, but cannot do it if he/she does not have clarity of thoughts and is not able in decision making. Peace of mind improves the emotional intelligence of an individual which ultimately helps him to make decisions by considering all the possible factors including the sentiment and desires of others as well.

Inner peace takes precedence over any other form of peace as it impacts the consequence of our actions and the decisions we make. These positive actions of people impact the entire society which in turn influences the individuals again. Inner peace stops people from going to extreme actions and develops the sentiment of cooperation rather than competition.

When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water.

And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time

I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.