What is the precise way to comprehend our existence in this life cycle?
Neytiri: Our great mother does not take sides, Jake; she protects the balance of life.
The above excerpt from the movie "Avatar" hit the spot. According to Chinese philosophy, everything is a combination of yin and yang. The principle of yin-yang dictates: when a quality reaches its zenith, it naturally begins to transform into an opposing quality. Uniting the two brings something. In other words, the elements of yin and yang are shifting, as a current in the ocean, a retreat completes each progression, and each ascension is transformed into a fall. Ultimately, it is all about balancing the dichotomy between yin (decay) and yang (flourish) – the competing and complementary forces - the victor claims the throne.
In a nutshell, there is no particular period of life or time for the dead after a period of life per se. All existences would rise and fall simultaneously and infinitely under the influences of kamma-vipaka. By convention, we live and die at the same time and at every moment. Both life and death are human constructs, that is, they are just different concepts from mental consciousness. What we have used to affirm like me, you, or we are simply expressions of our mind to understand daily communication. It ignores the dichotomy between life and death, and Mother Nature is not taking sides either.
Moreover, life doesn’t have a real purpose. If things are made to be, they shall be, and vice versa. The applicable principle: this arising, that arises; this ceasing, that ceases. Ultimately, we are nothing more than manipulations of our own mental consciousness. It means that the truth doesn’t wait until we figure it out. The truth begins in you because “you are the truth”. Once again, you’re creating truths and no one else. Seeing this truth is hard for individuals because their eyes cannot perceive their own eyes. For example, a duck or a cow is a created truth. Specifically, this type of truth is also known as conventional truth, that is, subjective-cum-relative.
In other words, the orientation of truth depends on the observer, namely the subject’s mind to feed the description, definition, recognition, or valuation on the other side of the object or matter. And the final conclusion varies from one observer or mind to another. For example, if you introduced an iPhone to a caveman, he would describe it as a worthless hard object. And if you had to show it to an ant, it would become a gigantic and heavy item. Likewise, in various situations, you may be called a son, a father, a preacher, a student, a Caucasian, an American, a buyer, or a stranger. Ultimately, the observer will provide the recognition according to his or her respective perceptions.
Meanwhile, for one who believes in the existence of God as the creator of the universe, every life in the cosmos would rise and fall into God’s kingdom. This means that all beings or things are the essential constituents of God and hence, as humans, we may also be known as namesake gods. Likewise:
Had you been born in the Kingdom of Great Britain,
you would be known as a Briton;
Had you been born in the Kingdom of Spain,
you would be known as a Spanish;
Had you been born in the Kingdom of France,
you would be known as a French.
Realising the whole perspective of Mother Nature is what enlightenment is about in Buddhism. It is regarded as the zenith of all phenomena with the attributes of emptiness, that is, the supreme state of all things. For a theist, this phenomenon is also called the Supreme One or God. That is the most profound fact where nothing can be recognised beyond its periphery. After all, it is always true that you are responsible for your own happiness and sorrow. You will always be disappointed if you expect others to bring happiness to you. Remember that you are a god, so don't be afraid to be a god. Do not be depressed, simply impress!