Aparthib's response : LIFE - DEATH - AFTERLIFE

The answer to the first question (difference b/w Einstein, you, me etc) is VERY simple and 100% accurate, so it may not impress you. The diff. is simply in our:
(1) genome sequence and (2) neuronal wiring of the brain ( 2 is determined by the combined effect of 1 and environment. Environment includes mother's womb to death. ) Why is the genome sequence diff between each of us? Because of evolution. Why evolution? Because of the Laws of Physics . Why laws of Physics? We don't know. Knowledge has its limit at any point in time. This is our limit at this time. We don't know of any reality above the fundamental laws of nature. Not that there cannot be. Even if there is we don't have any means to gain any knowledge about it. Verbose claims by individuals and mystical schools of being privy to this knowledge is simply beating about the bush., playing with words, which led Wittgenstein to the famous quote "Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent"

 Biologist Richard Dawkins hits the nail right on when he says:

"They think science is too arrogant and that there are certain questions that science has no business to ask, that traditionally have been of interest to religious people. As though *they* had any answers. It's one thing to say it's very difficult to know how the universe began, what initiated the big bang, what consciousness is. But if science has difficulty explaining something, there sure as hell is no one else who is going to explain it". (End Of Science - John Horgan p-119).

Second question. Is their a soul? Is there a precise definition of Soul? Without a precise definition asking a question with a Yes/No value is meaningless. It is a question that only reflects a desire for immortality (who doesn't have that?), nothing else. As simple as that. It is possible that all reports of haunting, apparitions etc, (which reinforces the idea of soul to many) may be due to pure physical (natural) cause & effects, within the purview of Physics. (though not documented or explainable
yet).

Re third question, what is the meaning of life? Very simple answer as well. There is none if you can't find one! If you know what it is then thats what it is. In one sentence, it is what you make it to be. "meaning of life" and "free will" are both rooted in perception. Even if we are programmed to act in predictable way (By laws of physics), as long as we are not the programmer, we have free will, same for meaning of life. If you PERCEIVE there is one for you, then it is there, if not, its not there. And its not important what that perception of meaning of life should be. It is a variable, like fingerprints. To each his/her own. No one can suggest one that fits for all . If you ask me, I can emphatically state what it is. But I am
sure it is not for many others. For me the meaning of life is to try to understand the mystery of life and universe. (Through studying/thinking, not through active research, as I missed the boat on that (sigh) ). I will let philosopher extraordinaire Richard Taylor explain in a poignant way the meaning of life. Please read it at:
http://www.geocities.com/aparthib/taylor.txt

Aparthib

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Published in Mukto-mona : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/459

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