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Death is an inevitable part of life. While we may understand it
as the cessation of biological functions, it is also a loss of everything that
is connected to life. The tragedy of life, as Dr. Schweitzer suggests, is not
only physical death but also the death of the goodness inside of us. The heart,
in this sense, refers to the seat of goodness in man, the source of love,
compassion, charity, and kindness.
Without these qualities, man ceases to be human. While other
animals may display love instinctively, only humans have the capacity to
cultivate and put into practice these divine qualities. The family unit is the
first and foremost factor that helps develop these human elements. It is where
we learn to love, live for others, sacrifice for the sake of others, and
practice charity.
Literature also plays a crucial role in cultivating these
values. Through poetry, drama, epics, and folk tales, we learn the value of good
qualities of life and can imbibe those qualities vicariously. For children,
these tales and stories are particularly important as they are at an
impressionable age.
For Dr. Schweitzer, reverence for life is the greatest thing,
and one cannot have reverence unless one has love at heart. Love is the
fountainhead of all good activities towards our fellow beings. If a person is
incapable of showing love, they are not better than being dead. While they may
be breathing, eating, and procreating, they lose all the good values of life.
Dr. Schweitzer lived his life in service to suffering humanity,
particularly in the field of medicine, and he sacrificed all for their sake. His
life was a testament to the importance of love, compassion, charity, and
kindness. As we see in the poem, "Abou Ben Adhem," to live is to love others.
Otherwise, we may be living, but we are dead inside.
In conclusion, the tragedy of life is the death of goodness
inside of us. Without love, compassion, charity, and kindness, we cease to be
human. It is important to cultivate these qualities through the family unit,
literature, and our actions. Only then can we truly live a life that is worth
living. |
