 |
| Source: Personal Picture |
In the year of 1950s, the average human died
below 50 years of life. Now the average age of global population reaches the
number of 72 years. Later in 2100s, the average age will touch the number of 83
years (Quick, 2017) . Until this very
moment, from the dawn of civilization, mankind still sought the answer of the
biggest quest yet to fulfill: to rejuvenate life and to conquer death. But
still, how can we conquer the death itself? Should we really conquer death?
From
the ancient Philosopher’s Stone, to recently research about cure of anti-aging
medicine, myths about eternity always blow up our mind. Everyone including farmers,
alchemists, royal families, even the highest kings of Han Dynasty, is curious
about how we can conquer the death. Recent researches have found it for us, at
least a glimpse of it.
Senescent Cells, NAD+, and Stem Cells
Senescent cells, or in a cool way zombie cells basically are normal cells
that grow too old but refuse to die. Normally in our body, when our cells are
too old, they will die and replaced by the new ones. Senescent cells, however
stays in our body, because of lack of some certain protein. The older we get,
the more of senescent cells are inside us. They often linked to many disease
and organs disorders. If we can kill these cells without harming healthy cells,
old bodies will feel like teenage bodies, with less chance of being sick.
NAD+
and Stem cells are the good guys inside our body. They are responsible to
maintain our bodies activities. Without them, we are merely flesh and blood–literally. The older we
get, the less of them are inside us. If we can somehow multiply them inside our
bodies, our spirit, performance, and strength will be as good as a tough young
guy.
The good news from researchers is
they basically could do all the tasks above. The bad news is, the object of the
experiments are merely mice. But who knows in the near future, we can go to
some random hospital and ask for rejuvenation methods same as above? (Kurzgesagt
– In a Nutshell, 2017)
Our basics understanding of DNA,
cells, and brains are rapidly developed. Everyday we are one step closer to
eternity. But then the second question come into surface, “Should we really
conquer death?”
Conquering Death
What is life? What is death? Some
says that the purpose is life is to avoid the death. Some others says that the
purpose of life is to face the death. Life and death is just another
couple of creations that exist within our universe. Let’s take some thought
experiments.
Have you ever wondered why human,
and all living beings comes up with two genders? With the system to reproduce?
For human to get married (in all religions teaching)? Why can’t we just
multiply ourselves
solely? Or live forever just by eating and breathing?
Let’s imagine a world where we, human
somehow become immortal beings. If everything we want to achieve will we
achieve, somehow, sometimes, then what is the purpose of life? There is no more
due in time. Everyone
will just live, and live, and live. Filling the gap in the earth and universe. Become audience of the universe’s
show. Waiting for the death
heat, the big crunch,
the end of the universe.
Now imagine our research about
eternity somehow can’t be completed. Are we as human being stop being living
things? Of course no.
Yes, we must continuously
seek a way to make our life more healthy. Yes, it is a very good thing for us
human to become old and yet healthy, to be with our beloved ones just a little
more time. Maybe our body as strong as teenage body, but there is no guarantee
our mind will not grow old and become tired. That in the end, death is just an
old friend we are missing very much.
Isn’t it becomes obvious that the
purpose of life is to
enjoy the life itself
and passed on the spirit from one generation to the next generation?
Embracing Death
Now we know
that death isn’t that scary, that we will eventually reunite with the death.
However there is another way that sounds like “cheating” death. How we can
continue to live, even if our body had buried long time beneath the ground.
Write.
We don’t have
to be kings or queens to write. We don’t have to be Bill Gates or Steve Jobs to
begin writing. All we have to do, is take a pen and a piece of paper – or a
laptop, then begin writing. We can basically write anything. Diary, novel,
science books, even movie script. Our writings will keep living beyond our life
time. Reaching that come after us, those who will inherit our spirit. That now
our life has a meaning.
For me, I was
uplifted by that feel.
Generations
that linked by a quest not to conquer death, but to appreciate life. To be
fully alive and chasing our dreams. To leave the best of legacy we can do. To
do good as much as we can. To say good bye when the time is come.
Because only
then, when we are facing death, we can see the beauty of life and how precious
it was.
“Do not wish
for death, for the terror of the place whence one looks down is severe. It is
part of a man’s happiness that his life should be long and Allah Who is Great
and Glorious, should supply him with repentance.”
[Prophet Muhammad PBUH, from At-Tirmidhi
– Hadith 1613]
Peace Out,
M Ashobta Azry
(JMMI
Foundation 17/18)
Works Cited
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell. (2017,
November 3). How to Cure Aging – During Your Lifetime? Retrieved
November 6, 2017, from Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjdpR-TY6QU&t=1s
Quick, M. (2017, May 19). 100
tahun ke depan dalam angka. Retrieved November 06, 2017, from BBC
Indonesia: http://www.bbc.com/indonesia/vert-fut-39815855
http://hadithoftheday.com/death/
