The Mushroom

The perspectives that scientific quarters view existence seemed overly weighted towards the end of things - death through entropy as an inescapable inevitability. That all things are destined for chaos, a deconstruction of all matter into random particles hovering several degrees above Kelvin, and eventually; even that disappears.

Of late, I’m beginning to see things differently, especially in "life's" never ending struggle against the tide of destruction, towards what feels like a continuous evolution of higher order complexity and beauty.

We are blessed to examine the mysteries and miracles of life through the lens of conception and the eventual human product formed from the bountiful multiplication of cells. Cells which coalesced into organs and each of these parts plays a critical nourishing role for the body which ultimately vessels the soul.

And if one should truly observe the world, the mysteries can be found everywhere; even in the meager mushroom.

Externally, the mushroom comes in various colours, mostly brown, gray or black but its simplicity and lowly stature belies hidden wonders. These secrets were unraveled by our ancients through medicinal arts and hallucinogenic purposes. The beauty of the mushroom is not in its dream inducing state, but in how this lowly creature can knit molecules of Carbon, Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen and other trace minerals into complex alkaloids with medicinal values.

Nature’s own pharmaceutical factory. 

And for some strange and wonderful reason it strengthens the view that the universe is not heading towards destruction; but in "life", is driven to a state of continuous perfection; a state where singular, primordial matter seeks out one another. Binding, touching, and embracing each other to form new purposes, creating footholds that can be used by other living beings to rise ever higher.

Makes one wonder what we can achieve as humanity if we harness the strengths of one another.

Now try looking at it differently, are we the mushroom or the primordial atoms that requires the mushroom to knit together? The answer lies not in the beginning or the end, but where the beginning meets the end as a cyclical whole.

Creation begets creation.

Where we are in our life stages determine whether we are the mushroom or the atom. Alas, as we are mostly beneficiaries of such creations; we may fall into the trap of taking this for granted because we are so used to take and demand rather than to create and give.

But delve even deeper and one would ask whether as the knitter, the mushroom; does the mushroom feel pain in making these alkaloids?

Or is the act so seamless that it is within its nature - Its purpose in life.

So what is your purpose in life?

Creating new creations through a painless, seamless and natural experience or one that is fraught with pain and struggling?

Unfortunately, one cannot ask the mushroom for the answer.

But when posed to people, the reply varies between pure creative joy, a worthwhile pain to a downright litany of despair. But truly, the experience is for us to change, we just need to be cognizant about where we are heading and what are we doing about it.

Even more so when we take to heart the story of the mushroom -

people should seek out other people to create wonders that are greater than ourselves; to uncover hidden strengths and to catalyze otherwise latent potential.

The self is not made for one; for nature is not alone, it is all of ‘us’ as one with nature.

So seek out and amaze one another and let what is your destined purpose in life unfold; just like the meager mushroom.

Disclaimer: Nothing to do with MetLife, recent change in environment reminded me to go through old archives of insights, which perhaps may be a good time to share again. Originally wrote this back in 2010 as a private post.