An Unreal Life Story

To be or not to be? Is it better to live and endure suffering? Or is it foolhardy to consider suicide, not knowing where I’ll be after I die? What is the better option? Tell me!

It all began with a search to find heaven. A traveller landed here, switched off the engine, briefly peered through the windows to scan outside, and then stepped out of the ship for a closer observation of the surrounding environment.

From the sky, it appeared so pristine and enticing that anyone would fall for it! Now on the ground, he finds exciting possibilities everywhere, luring him from every corner. Feeling lucky, he shapeshifted into a human form to stay here for a while.

Wonderstruck by the beauty of creation in plants, animals, and rocks, his imagination ran wild. A week later, he conceived a partner to share his joyous experiences. Drew stem cells from his bones, and phew! In no time, Eve was smiling. She looked as exquisite as Adam could imagine!

But no one was there to witness the unfolding of their gleeful romance in the days and months that followed, set against the backdrop of perpendicularly erect mountains and immaculate virgin valleys. They experienced immense pleasure and unbridled joy in the abundance of the place they found themselves in. They socialized with various forms of life as they continued to explore the lands and seas.

Once, while prancing along a sea beach holding hands, they stopped to see, from a distance, a mysterious-looking serpent performing a bewitching dance and cleverly catching fish that came closer to watch. Taken aback, both Adam and Eve exclaimed, “Is this real? Is he an indigenous inhabitant or an immigrant?” Their curiosity drew them nearer to watch the magic.

They exchanged greetings and excitedly inquired, “That’s interesting! How do you do it?”

“Oh, that’s easy! We evolved this mechanism; it’s fitted in my brain. Do you want it?” replied the serpent.

Adam pondered for a while, but Eve immediately jumped up and down, screaming, “Yes, please!”

The serpent obliged, “Okay, I'll give you the hardware, software, and an always-on Wi-Fi, so you can be remotely guided when you need it. This will not only help you catch fish but also help you avoid dangers and risks. You’ll need some time to experiment and learn how to use it. Here it is—let me install it for the benefit of your future generations to come.”

That’s how the reptilian brain was implanted. Afterward, Adam and Eve conducted small experiments, even succeeded in capturing tigers, lions and dinosaurs and making them pets. In a short time, they made huge progress! Enjoying the newfound source of tricks, they became hysterically active, running around like monkeys, jumping from branch to branch, tree to tree, catching fish, hunting bees, and roasting animal meat in the night fire. There wasn’t a day of boredom!

Each and every creature followed their command; they relished the power in their brains and produced children to take over once they retired. But that was only for the first 15-20 years when they were on a high. Soon, they started experiencing withdrawal symptoms, burnout, and exhaustion, unable to rest or rejuvenate. By this time, they had completely forgotten their origin and the serpent's advice.

Incessant thoughts, unsatisfying acts of desire, and self-sabotage made them restless and neurotic. They didn’t even know to stop and ask where it was all coming from. Out of this dire situation, the question arises: to be or not to be, to live or to die? What is the better option?

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According to world history, many epochs later, some of their descendants got enlightened, successfully identified the root of suffering, switched from head to heart, and crossed over. For the remaining population at large, it continues to be a challenge. Caught in a situation, where the fence is grazing the crop, how can one solve the puzzle? How does one believe in an unreal story and book ticket for the return journey towards home!