Immortality (Αθανασία)

-From the Meletic Scrolls.

The concept of immortality, as traditionally understood in many philosophical and religious traditions has no place within the teachings of Meleticism. Immortality, whether in the physical or metaphysical sense is an illusion or a construct born from the human desire to transcend mortality. In Meletic thought, there is no reincarnation, no eternal return in another form, and no afterlife in the celestial realms. We live but one life in our mortal state, and that life, however grand or fleeting, will inevitably reach its ultimate conclusion which is death.

When we speak of death, we must acknowledge it not as a tragedy or an interruption of existence, for it as an essential component of the universal order. It is not a punishment, nor is it a transition into another realm where consciousness persists indefinitely. Instead, death signifies the dissolution of the self into the integration of the greater whole, which is into (To Ένa) the One, from which all things emanate and to which all things return. The atoms that constitute our physical bodies, the ousia (true essence) that defines our being, and the soul that breathes life into us do not persist in their original forms beyond the threshold of mortality. Rather, they are integrated into the greater cosmic order.

We are mortals, not immortals by nature. To deny this reality is to reject the fundamental truth of our existence. There is something profound in the affirmation of this acceptance. Though our individual consciousness ceases, our return to To Ena signifies a greater unity with the cosmos. Unlike the religious notion of an eternal soul that retains its personal identity beyond death, Meleticism posits that our soul is not something inherently divine or indestructible. It is rather, a dynamic force or an energy that animates us whilst we live, but ultimately disperses into the universal flow upon our passing.

The desire for immortality arises from the fear of ceasing to be, which is losing our identity and vanishing into the unknown void. In truth, immortality is nothing more than an illusion, a comforting mirage crafted by the human mind. Truth, unlike illusion cannot be disguised in assumed forms; it stands resolute, even when we refuse to acknowledge it. To believe that we can live eternally is to impose an anthropic expectation upon a cosmos that operates beyond such manifest desires.

It is essential to distinguish immortality from eternity, as they are often conflated. Some things, such as time, reality and the fundamental laws of existence, can be perceived as eternal. They are not bound by the limitations of individual life spans, nor do they adhere to the general constructs of human mortality. However, these eternal elements do not necessitate personal immortality.

There is no miraculous event or incidence that grants us divine exemption from death. We are not destined for an everlasting existence in a supernatural realm. Why, then, do so many insist on the notion that we are meant for eternal life? Is it not far more reasonable to accept that we are a part of a natural process, one that began with our birth and concludes with our return to To Ena?

This process is known as Epistrophis, the cyclical return to To Ena. It represents the continuous, unabating rhythm of life and death, a cycle that governs all things in the cosmos. To understand Epistrophis is to acknowledge that life and universal existence are not the same in regard to immortality. Life is dynamic, changing and finite. Universal existence, on the other hand is metaphysical, extending beyond the established limits of individual experience.

Reality dictates that we prioritise life in its physical form more than we concern ourselves with speculations about an afterlife. It is the kinetic energy within us, which are our movements, actions and expressions that demonstrate our existence outwardly. At a deeper level is our ousia, the fundamental essence within us that determines the nature of our true being in existence.

A common misconception is that existence can be measured merely by time or by the tangible world that surrounds us. This perspective is limiting, for there exists a certain realm of ideas and consciousness that enriches our understanding of ourselves. Through philosophy, we cultivate wisdom, and through wisdom, we uncover the deeper layers of our being.

The belief in an eternal paradise or an immortal soul contradicts the Meletic principle that there is no preordained fate that awaits us due to faith alone. What awaits us instead is the realisation that our mortality is natural, inevitable and meaningful. When we accept that we are finite, we learn to value life more profoundly.

Many people struggle to accept mortality, because they have not distinguished the meaning of life from the absence of life. In this realisation, however, there is peace. True fulfilment comes not from the false promise of eternal life, but from the awareness of To Ena and the enlightenment it brings. To follow the path to To Ena is to embrace our fate, not with fear, but with understanding.

To desire immortality is to misunderstand the purpose of life itself. If we lived forever, would life still hold meaning? Would we still cherish the moments, the experiences and the emotions that make existence so profound? It is precisely because life is transient that it is valuable.

To live fully does not mean to cling to a grand illusion of permanence. Instead, is to embrace the gradual unfolding of existence. If we would immerse ourselves in the exploration of consciousness, we would realise that we are a part of something greater, the cosmos, nature, reality and the universal order.

When we lose ourselves to material desires and superficial distractions, we risk falling into the grand illusion of permanence. To seek only wealth, power or status is to blind oneself to the deeper truths of existence. A life truly worth living is one dedicated to philosophy, self-awareness and the cultivation of virtues.

The more that we explore life, the more that we comprehend the actual significance of mortality. To Ena is the path, and we are merely travelers upon it. Yet, this path does not lead to an eternal paradise or salvation granted by a creator deity. Instead, it leads to something far greater than any omnipotent god, which is a higher state of being, a unity with the fundamental essence of existence.

This realisation liberates us from the insurmountable fear of death and allows us to live with intention, wisdom and awareness. In accepting mortality, we do not resign ourselves to oblivion; rather, we awaken to the true nature of existence.

If we live with purpose, with understanding, and with a commitment to the pursuit of truth, then we will have lived a life worth remembering, even if we do not persist as individual souls beyond death. The legacy of our thoughts, actions and wisdom will echo in the continuum of existence, contributing to the universal flow of knowledge and being.

Immortality, as a concept is an illusion that derives from human fear and longing. In Meleticism, we do not cling to the false hope of eternal life. Instead, we embrace the truth of our transience. In doing so, we find a deeper sense of fulfilment than any promise of everlasting existence could provide.

To live is to experience, to learn, to grow and ultimately, to return. In that return, we do not vanish into the nothingness, because we become one with the greater whole. That, in itself, is a form of eternity, not of the self, but of meaningful existence itself.

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