Is being born a gift or a curse?

1. 92

   honghanhvt1182posted 9 years ago

   Is being born a gift or a curse?
   
   Lately I have found myself asking this question frequently when I witnessed one of my loved ones suffering from sickness and passing away. I think about her whole life and how it was such a long and hard struggle with so little joy although she was a very nice person. I also have some girl friends who claimed that they would not have children because they believed that this life is too harsh to live in. I know this is a very broad question and it relates to so many aspects from religion, politics to culture. Although there is no easy answer for it, I still want to know your opinions.

   replyreport
2. 66

   Tusitala Tomposted 9 years ago

   Perhaps it is neither a gift or a curse.   If we can believe the writings of a number of people who've delived into such matters, it could be a CHOICE.  That is, we choose to be born so that we can experience life on the physical plane.   Read the story of The Little Flame and the Sun story in Neale Donald Walsch's Conversation with God, Book One, for example.
   
   We cannot experience anything unless we are born into some sort of relativity where there is good and bad, long and short, up and down, dull and sharp, hot and cold etc.   If there was no bad, how would we know good?    This Realm of Relativity has a beginning so it has to have an end: born into, and die out of - if you comprehend what I mean.
   
   All of this supposes that we are immortal souls with a body rather than the usual concept of a body with a soul.   But I'll leave the rest to your own investigations.  And good luck with it for, if you take it on, it's a life-long task.

   replyreport
   1. 71

      lone77starposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Very nicely put, Tom.

      replyreport
   2. 67

      ptosisposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes that would depend if having an immortal soul with free will.

      replyreport
   3. 59

      fpherj48posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      lone star....I thought of you immediately yesterday when I heard the news of the fierce storm expected in the Philipines.....once again after the devastation of just a year ago.  Please be safe!  Peace, Paula

      replyreport
3. 71

   lone77starposted 9 years ago

   So long as we remain spiritually separate (blinded by ignorance), being born is a gift. It creates new opportunities for the spirit to awaken and to join in love.
   
   These Homo sapiens bodies are merely means to an end. To those who have no sense of spirituality, they may seem vitally important. To those who have been outside of their bodies and have realized that they are not a body with spirit, but a spirit with a body, these temporary vessels can be useful in providing us continuity of consciousness while we move toward awakening.
   
   No one wants to suffer, so it would only be compassionate to wish that others do not suffer. That is the loving thing to do. But we should not place great importance on it. Any self-concern only distracts from the love we need to give others.
   
   Love is our guiding light. Being born gives us this opportunity to learn True Love.

   replyreport
4. 82

   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   Neither. It's how one lives their life that determines whether or not they feel it is a gift or a curse. Life is a (personal) journey.
   Our lives are for the most part the end result of the (choices) we've made along the way. Each of us chooses our own friends, lovers, and spouse. You are responsible for your own happiness!
   We decide to stay where we are or relocate. Our outlook on life also is a major factor. Some people would rather immerse themselves in the nightly news as opposed to looking at all the good around them.
   Bear in mind if it's on the news it's because it's the "exception" and not the "norm".  The norm doesn't raise viewership ratings, sell newspapers & magazines, or generate several Internet clicks.
   Right now someone is laying on a white sandy beach in Cancun or some other tropical island sipping on a Mango daiquiri looking through a pair of sunglasses at the  turquoise water, listening to music on their iPod and they're thinking; "Life is good!"
   Note: They're living on the same planet as everyone else!
   Some people make the most of the cards they're dealt in life and others continue to do things that make their life harder than it had to be. These same people often indulge themselves playing the "blame game". They'd have you think that they never made any (choices) in their life. Everything "just happened" to them.
   You'd be amazed how having a positive attitude, making wise decisions, ambition, and determination can improve one's lot in life.
   The world may not owe you anything but you owe yourself the world!

   replyreport
   1. 85

      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      SUCCINCT!  SUCCINCT!

      replyreport
5. 67

   ptosisposted 9 years ago

   
   
   Cathars thought human spirits were the genderless spirits of angels trapped within the physical creation of Satan, cursed to be reincarnated until the Cathar faithful achieved salvation through a ritual called the consolamentum. - Schaus (2006), p. 114.
   
   Which is why some religions practice celibacy. So I'll answer this question with more questions.
   
   "Does every human being have an eternal soul? Do clones have souls? Must a soul possess free will in order to exist? Is consciousness the Great Illusion? If one does not have a body, but exists as a digital consciousness, is one still human? - http://hub.me/a63En
   
   If you had a chance of cloning a souless 'spare parts' body for medical reasons with no brain - would you?

   replyreport
6. 82

   peachpurpleposted 9 years ago

   everyone if born with a hidden gift that you might not known until you hit the "MARK". Some people are gifted for their talents while some are not realized by their parents until they grow up and found they are gifted.
   
   I am born gifted with drawing and baking but never get to use them until now. Too late

   replyreport
   1. 85

      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      It's NEVER too late.  USE YOUR GIFTS!

      replyreport
7. 56

   Snøwmanposted 9 years ago

   Life in an opportunity and an opportunity is always a blessing. An opportunity means you have a choice.
   
   In the Bible those that chose to follow Satan were denied lives on earth as a punishment. Those that followed God were sent to earth to learn and grow.
   
   Now you may be thinking "I know someone that was born to abusive parents" or "I know someone that was severely handicapped since birth. How is that a blessing?"
   
   That person with abusive parents now has the chance to teach us a powerful message about forgiveness if they forgive their parents. The handicapped person can teach us that you can be happy in any circumstances.
   
   This is why we have amazing influential people like Victor Frankl, Anne Frank, and George Takei. All victims of the tragedies of WWII. These people may have at one point thought that life was a curse, but then realized that it wasn't a curse, but an opportunity to give hope to others.
   
   Those that were never born will never have those opportunities.

   replyreport
   1. 85

      gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Beautifully and eloquently put.

      replyreport
8. 61

   cjhunsingerposted 9 years ago

   Life is neither a gift nor a curse, but rather a biological process. A process that the one being born has absolutely no control over. There is no free choice as to parents or the environment into which one is born, how one is to be raised or the character, attributes or failings that will be  inherent within the child.
   With regard to children, I have four sons and there is an old Chinese proverb that deals with this. "If it is pain, agony and fear that you desire, have children. If it is great joy, pride, happiness and love that you want, have children.
   Is there an overriding purpose for life? Yes and that is for the individual to decide, providing you are strong enough. Is life worth living? Life is everything as there is nothing else. After 70+ years and many problems, many joys and living life, life is the best there is, don't abuse it.

   replyreport
9. 50

   bradmasterOCcalposted 9 years ago

   The practical answer depends on where you were born, were you normal, handicapped or gifted. Rich or Poor or somewhere in between. Is your country at war, or is it hostile to live there when you were born.
   
   And a whole slew of questions are needed for this simple question to be properly answered.

   replyreport
10. 59

    C.V.Rajanposted 9 years ago

    For some, it is gift; for some, it is a curse.
    
    Some throw away the gift (without knowing its value)  into gutter and suffer later in life.
    
    Some work hard against curse and if they get divine grace, they convert life to a gift.
    
    Some are neither this way or that way. Their life goes with the tide.

    replyreport
    1. 85

       gmwilliamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       COULDN'T have said it better.

       replyreport
11. 87

    Joel Diffendarferposted 9 years ago

    I believe that every person, plant, animal, or "thing" was born or created for a purpose and a time.  What causes pain or suffering to one may bring joy to a multitude.  The act of caring for a challenged child, for example, may cause a whole family or communitiy to reach out and give from their hearts and blessings.  I believe the whole balance of life is dependant upon the compassion we express and show...just as you have stated..."a loved one, she was a very nice person".  Obiviously, the touch she has had on your heart, was and is, a gift.

    replyreport
12. 60

    waqas816posted 9 years ago

    I agreed with lone77star, but now here come religious views. I don't want to impose mine. My view is that your are born to obey the one who created you in the first place. You can enjoy traveling this world and avoid the things that the creator define in his revelations. My creator is Allah Almighty as I believe. My soul and body is created to worship and obey his command. You may have different believe. I being born is not a curse. All it depends is what you believe. Hope you get the answer

    replyreport
13. 65

    wingedcentaurposted 9 years ago

    Hi honghanhvt1182! How's it going?
    
    I wrote this essay in response to your question. But I guessed I pushed a wrong button or something, and it didn't show up on this Q&A board. But here it is, if you're interested.
    
    http://wingedcentaur.hubpages.com/hub/W … e-An-Essay

    replyreport
14. 68

    Robin Mackenzieposted 9 years ago

    Wise King Solomon of Old wrote that better is the one who is dying,cause he is leaving the affliction of this world.But then yet he wrote that best is the one who is not born at all,cause he or she never experience the harshness of this world.But Solomon continued to say that a person's birthday isn't that important than his deathday.Because that's when we appreciate the name and what that person did when he was alive.So being born is a gift only if when you are on your deathbed people can't help but speak about how an outstanding nice person you were.Hope i helped..Cheers..

    replyreport