Examining and Understanding the Concept of Taking Lessons from the World and Its Events
- What does taking lessons from the world mean?
- What is the difference between taking lessons from experiences and learning from them?
- Do all events and occurrences in the world carry a message for us?
- How can we take lessons from what happens to others?
- Is there still room in today’s world to take lessons from history and past experiences?
- What factors cause some individuals to take lessons from events while others are oblivious to these events?
- Is only reviewing past events sufficient for taking lessons from them or should we also consider the spiritual and philosophical aspects of these events?
We have always been told to take lessons from the phenomena around us; in every era and place the life of the human being is filled with lessons that awaken the heart, remove veils, and reveal the nature of worldly life.
If we pay attention, everything we see in the world carries a message for us, like breathing and blinking, or like a vibrant green leaf that turns yellow and then dies. However, many people pass by the world’s events with indifference, while they can take lessons from them. They think that failures, defeats, and the decline of powers belongs to others, believing they will stay young, physically healthy, and strong forever and nothing bad will ever happen to them. However, history remembers many individuals and groups who were once victorious. They became arrogant after they become successful, but they were humiliated in the end.
In general, in the face of events, people fall into three categories:
- One group is superficial regarding the events. It does not seek to understand the causes or consequences of events.
- The second group knows the causes, consequences, and effects of events but does not take lessons from them.
- The third group knows the causes of events very well, examines their consequences, and ultimately take lessons from them.
Certainly, the more we take lessons from the world and its past events, the fewer mistakes we will make. Which group do you belong to? In this lesson, we are going to discuss taking lessons from the world and its events and understand how we can take lessons from every event.
The World Is Full of Events
By taking a general look at the world and its characteristics and prevailing customs we realize that the world is full of events and changes. Throughout our lives, we are exposed to changes; we receive blessings and powers, and we lose them quickly.
Neither individuals nor the condition of the world is permanent. Just when someone is pleased with something, they lose it, and just when a person becomes fond of someone, they notice their absence. For example, the blessings of beauty and health can quickly vanish due to air pollution, illness, or accidents. We have often seen someone at the pinnacle of honor who has gotten humiliated due to certain events, and vice versa. A wealthy person may suddenly lose all their wealth due to a mistake and become poor, and the opposite can also happen. These events that each of them has a lesson are not limited to human beings; they occur to the world of creation too. For instance, the vibrant green leaves of trees that cling firmly to their branches in spring, are scattered in autumn by a gentle breeze.
The Necessity of Taking Lessons from the World and Its Events
We said that the world is full of events; we are all born into the midst of events and changes. However, what matters is our ability to extract lessons from these events. Accidents, illnesses, and death are occurrences from which we must take lessons and navigate our way through life so that we are born healthy into eternity. We must come to believe that everyone born into the world, eventually will die. We all must leave this world because we were not created to live in it forever. In fact, our ultimate destination lies elsewhere.
No matter what we do in this world or what position we have reached; we will eventually return to where we have come from. Where are the powerful people now, who once ruled the world? Many of them have died and been forgotten, with not even a name left behind. Deaths, the loss of loved ones, and the separation from friends and relatives signify that no one is permanent in this world, and sooner or later, we all have to leave this world. The ruins of kings’ palaces, silent cemeteries, and the wealth of the rich that has passed to their unworthy heirs all serve as lessons for us.
Although there are many tools and methods that help us in taking lessons from the world, only few people take heed to them. Most people do not take lessons from the world. They are trapped in their material desires and negligence!
There were many tyrants in history who sought to dominate the world but they left the world and were forgotten forever. All the prophets, Imams, and people of the past, have departed this world; we must take lessons from their departures and shape our lives according to the questions we will be asked in the hereafter [1]. A notable point about the essence of the world is that it is characterized by change and transformation. It is through these changes and going through ups and downs that we are tested and achieve the purpose of our creation. The changes and transformations of the world, the hardships and comforts, the comings and goings, the ups and downs—all provide opportunities for taking lessons from everything. Certainly, anyone with a discerning eye can find messages hidden within phenomena.
In this lesson, we discussed taking lessons from the world and its events. We said that the world is full of change and transformation. We must take lessons from these occurrences and choose our path to eternity in a way that we will be born healthy into the hereafter and be in alignment with the living conditions in heaven.
References
[1]. Imam Sajjad. Sahifeh Sajjadieh: Dua 20. “Employ me in that about which Thou wilt ask me tomorrow.”