In this world of ours

In this world of ours,
We eat only to cast out,
Sleep only to wake,
And what comes after all that
Is simply to die at last.

— Matsuo Basho

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Out of all Matsuo Basho's poems that I've came across, I found this one the most fascinating.

His view of life is interesting: eat, sleep, and finally die and this cycle of life and death continues on, much like Buddha's view.

There are two ways to perceive Basho's thoughts:

1. We came to this world only to die, then what is the point of trying hard, knowing that once we die, we can bring no money, no fame, nothing with us.

2. We came to this world and must be prepared for our deaths. Therefore, we must live such a life full of meanings and righteousness, so that when we go, we shall not leave any regrets behind.
It is true that we can bring no power nor money to the afterlife. Yet our footprints can linger for generations and generations after our death.

It is up to us to view life, either a long, winding, and tiresome road in which death is the final destination, or an unending journey we seek for knowledge and love in which death is a reward.

Da Vinci, Picasso, Van Gogh, Michelangelo and many other great artists might be dead, but their works are still alive today
We can still see what they saw, and feel what they felt through their works of art.

Socrates, Aristotle, Rosseau, John Locke, Whitman, Emerson, Basho and many other great thinkers were no longer here, yet their thoughts and ideals are still appreciated and studied until now.

These men have pursued their passions during their lifetime
And hence they shall live on for centuries and centuries after.



All things are deemed to die eventually: the grass, the ant, the zebras, the lions, and the humans.

Even the sun doesn't last forever.

Death is unexpected. Some of us may be living today. Some of us may be dying tomorrow.

The important is that whether our lives are fulfilled or not when we have to go.

Experience things. Be englighted.
Only then can we say that we have no regrets and no fear upon our deaths.

Taste what you can
Feel what you want to feel
Forgive as many people in your life as you can
Accept love
And don't forget to Give as much as you can

Feel the wind brushes gently over you face as you stand on top of a green hill.
Taste the salt mingled in the ocean's breath
Receive the warmth as you hug another loved ones
Or just feel a little tenderness inside your heart as you smile to a stranger walking down the streets and see her smiles back at you.

And then when you are no longer here, you still live:

As some may remember you for your forgiveness
Some may miss your giving and accepting love

Others may find you in the wind as it brushes through their faces
Someone may seek for you in the ocean's salty scent
Perhaps people feel your warmth as they hug one another
Or a stranger just remember your smile as she walks down the streets




If you die tomorrow, would you have any regrets?

It's not to late to change today.

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I just realized I wrote too much. At first I thought I would only share the poem. I often have more thoughts at night~very early morning, when everything is asleep. It's 3am now, and I think I should hop to bed. The last part of the entry is to remind myself all over again...as I reflect the life that I've been living till now. All I can say is, if I were to die tomorrow, I would have lots lots and lots of regrets! (you see, there are many delicious foods I have yet to try, heehee.. xD)