EGOTISTIC YET WITH EVOLVING KNOWLEDGE

Let’s examine our claim to possess complete knowledge. Throughout history, civilizations have asserted that their understanding is superior and absolute. From kings to religious leaders, from communism to socialism to democracy—each has claimed that their system of governance is the best for humanity. But where does this claim of complete knowledge originate, especially when we all know that humanity is an evolving entity?

As an atheist, if you deny the existence of God, you may also be denying everything connected to our metaphorical world. These metaphorical elements, which I call our “spiritual jewelry,” include concepts such as God, spirituality, compassion, generosity, bravery, sacrifice, and love. Most of us wear these pieces of human jewelry. If you delve deeper, you can add placebo effects, meditation, hypnotism, and even constructs like government or “big brother” to this list—none of which are physically quantifiable. Denying God, therefore, might mean rejecting this spiritual or metaphorical side of humanity. While these aspects are not completely understood, they are heartfelt realities that resonate deeply within us. Moreover, each day we learn something new to navigate the complexities of our imagination, both good and bad.

One can experience joy and benefit from life’s metaphorical dimensions, even when aware of our mortal nature, or conversely, suffer without harnessing the beneficial aspects of imagination. Denying the metaphorical world’s gifts—to oneself or others—is a loss. If life’s circumstances, human atrocities, world events, or natural disasters have shaken your faith in this metaphorical world, consider that you may be placing God in an unwinnable situation. Instead, stop, think, and become the CEO of your life. Take charge by using your common sense and inherent, God-given abilities. Start with your breath, your birth, and the miraculous fact of being alive—a being composed of trillions of your own cells and countless foreign life forms within you. You did not arrive on this planet by your own will, nor do you control the fact that you are alive. You have no definitive understanding of why you exist or why aging and mortality are your nature. While you may rely on your learned, so-called absolute knowledge, the reality remains that we are evolving entities. Our knowledge cannot be complete until we reach our full potential. And here’s another revelation: as human beings, when we learn something new, we grow new neurons. This fact alone underscores that even our potential is in a state of evolution.

So why have our ancestors—and even we—claimed to possess better and complete knowledge? Holy books have been written to substantiate such claims. Yet, despite these assertions, humanity continues to learn new things daily. It’s akin to traveling on a highway that stretches one hundred miles, being at mile twenty, and claiming to know everything about what lies at mile one hundred. Our ancestors may have understood certain twists, turns, ups, and downs, but their knowledge was far from absolute. Even ancient civilizations like the Incas could not encapsulate the entirety of human experience, as evidenced by the fact that I am here, still writing about it.

Our individual and collective experiences—our ups and downs—are insufficient predictors of the future. Religions have been making predictions for millennia, and now atheists similarly claim that there is no God. What differentiates these claims? Both, in my view, assert complete knowledge despite humanity’s evolving nature. Scientifically or religiously, both claim to comprehend the full “highway” of evolution, yet you cannot assert knowledge of mile one hundred while at mile twenty.

Simply look around and ask yourself: are we still learning and discovering new things every day? If so, check in with your ego and let this realization make you humble. As mortals, it is our personal and individual responsibility to live with a blend of common sense and wisdom, allowing us to benefit from the knowledge of both the physical and metaphorical worlds. As I’ve said, if you don’t believe in God, you cannot selectively reject other aspects of the metaphorical world. Just because you don’t understand something now doesn’t mean your knowledge is complete or that you won’t one day solve life’s puzzling issues. Instead of arrogantly deciding one way or another, place the unknown in your metaphorical basket and approach it with humility.

As evolving entities, we must discern what we can, cannot, should, or should not carry on our mortal shoulders. If you are someone who lives and sacrifices for a cause, do so, but avoid harming others in the name of your perceived complete knowledge. Consider the woman who devoted her life to the cause of liberation but chose to marry late in life. Her journey reflects the balance between dedication and personal fulfillment.

As human beings, knowledge flows to us like rivers and streams feeding into an ocean. To live solely in a stream or river—individually or collectively—is limiting. Our evolving nature is our guiding light, yet many of us are swept away by the powerful forces of political and social belonging. Hormonal influences often exacerbate this, causing us to lose our CEO status over our lives. Losing this authority as mortals is a profound loss. If you find yourself in a similar predicament, snap out of it and assess how much time you have left to experience love and other rich feelings tied to our metaphorical world. While your cause may be noble, as a mortal, you have bigger priorities. You cannot fully live without embracing the profound gifts of the metaphorical world.

Enjoy the feelings of love while you can.

1. Be compassionate instead of being passionate.

2. Since you can’t change your aging and mortal nature by worrying or controlling, simply use bravery—your metaphorical gift to add some life to your mortal existence.

3. Medical science, science, and technology are great, but don’t neglect to tap into the powers of the placebo effect as well.

4. If your imagination can lead you to a calm state of being, then why not use that metaphorical gift as medicine?

5. Humans have been using God for political reasons for thousands of years. Try using God for spiritual and medicinal reasons instead.

6. You can vote for it, work for it, and get paid by it, but you have never met the so-called government. When you feel insecure, you want the "big brother" to be strong, but most of the time, you deny him power for political reasons. Ask yourself, what is wrong with this picture?

Metaphorical realities have been and are around us right from the start of our lives, but interestingly, as humans, we have always believed in and denied them simultaneously. This paradox often arises from our political affiliations and realities tied to ego, pride, and honor.

The concept of reciprocation entails giving back in response to receiving. Often, we petition God for wishes to be fulfilled, then take actions in the name of God. When we label someone as generous, it typically signifies their response to blessings received. They might not hold beliefs in God but are engaged in what could be considered godly deeds.

Even for an atheist doctor or scientist, a lack of understanding of the placebo effect indicates an incomplete knowledge base. In the face of such knowledge gaps, it's unwise to outright dismiss phenomena that surpass current comprehension.

Each individual retains the right to their beliefs. Personally, I interpret God as the provider of the life-sustaining oxygen, which I rely on uncontrollably. This interpretation extends to the care my parents provided during my vulnerable years and actions that benefit humanity, such as charitable donations or efforts to preserve endangered species. Acts of saving lives through medical breakthroughs or preventive measures against natural disasters can also be seen as manifestations of God through human endeavors.

Acknowledging the interdependence between humans and the essential elements for life, like oxygen, underscores the presence of a divine force in our existence. Our educational systems often diminish the significance of humanity within the larger picture, sometimes portraying God as an external entity detached from human involvement. Yet, in reality, the sustenance of any divine concept relies on human existence, similar to how the human body's survival depends on cellular functions.

Reflecting on a piece I wrote in Punjabi, it illustrates the inherent connection between individuals, akin to the positive and negative charges of electric wires. The absence of one negates the existence of the other. Similarly, if light fails to illuminate my nights, darkness envelops not only me but also the other side.