Volume
Vol. 9, The Unity of Religious Ideals
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Five Desires Answered by Religion
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2. Love of Life
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Vol. 9, The Unity of Religious Ideals
Five Desires Answered by Religion
2. Love of Life
Every living being on earth loves life above all else. The smallest insect, whose life lasts only an instant, tries to escape from any danger in order to live a moment longer. And the desire to live is most awakened in man. As intelligence wakens in man, he begins to wonder whether life is merely transitory, and if, after this life, all is ended. To him the thought that after his short life the world will end is more terrible than death. And if life had not an intoxicating effect, this thought would kill many people. The man who thinks that after this life there is nothing more, cannot dwell very long on that thought. Dwelling on this thought and contemplating upon it is like what a man feels who is standing on a great height and looks down -- it terrifies him.
The belief that life will continue after we have gone through death is a most comforting idea for every soul. The man who has not received the reward of his efforts, of his goodness; who has not, in his life, met with an answer to the sense of justice in him; who has not found in life a complete satisfaction; the man who has not been able to attain his desire in life, his hope is in what will come after, and this religion promises him.
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