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| Artwork by Neysha Kushagra Jain |
It was a quiet afternoon when my 12 year old niece, Neysha, walked in, a beaming smile on her face, proudly holding up her latest creation - a painting for her school project. At first glance, it seemed simple: three skeletons standing in a box against a backdrop of black and red. She handed it to me eagerly, seeking my opinion, but as I took the painting in my hands, something unexpected happened.
In that moment, I found myself transported - not just into the art, but into the depths of my own mind. The lines, the colors, the starkness of the skeletons stirred something within me, and I felt myself pulled into a reflection that transcended the canvas. These three skeletons, standing side by side, seemed to whisper questions older than time itself. In their stillness, I saw birth, life, and death all packed together within a box, and a profound realization began to take root.
As I stared at the painting, it became more than a simple school project. It became a mirror, reflecting the cycles of existence and the boundaries we all live within. My thoughts began to swirl - Who am I within this box? What remains after all is said and done? And so began a journey, a deep dive into the mystery of life, the self, and the eternal truths that hide within the simplest of forms.
The Three Skeletons: Birth, Life, and Death - Reflections of Self
The smallest skeleton, on the left, represented birth. Fragile, yet standing upright, it felt like the beginning of a long journey. In this skeleton, I saw the emergence of the self - the moment we are born into this world, a blank slate full of potential. But even then, we begin to grapple with the question that haunts us throughout life: Who am I?
The quest to understand the self begins from the moment we take our first breath. We grow, absorbing names, identities, and roles, all while trying to grasp the essence of our being. The first skeleton - the one of birth - reminds us that from the very start, the self is something we are trying to define.
The second skeleton, larger and standing firmly in the middle, represents life itself. This is where most of us spend the majority of our existence, tangled in the complexities of living. We grow, we learn, we love, we fight, and we suffer. We take on roles: child, adult, friend, spouse, parent, worker. But the question lingers: Who am I, really?
As we navigate life, we often get caught up in these external identities, losing sight of the true self. We identify with our achievements, our failures, and the roles we play for others. But life, with all its demands and distractions, makes it hard to see past the mask. This middle skeleton - the embodiment of living - reminds us that the search for the self is often clouded by the noise of the world.
And finally, the third skeleton - the one on the right - represents death, the final stage. Death is often seen as the great unknown, the ultimate end. But is it truly an end, or is it the point where all identities fall away, leaving only the truth? In death, we no longer wear the masks we’ve accumulated over a lifetime. We return to the essence of who we are, freed from the constraints of the physical world and the identities we have worn. It is here that the search for "Who am I?" reaches its most profound clarity. Death strips away the illusions, revealing that the self is something deeper than flesh, bones, and titles.
The Box: Boundaries, Illusions, and the Search for the True Self
The brown box that holds the skeletons is not just a physical container - it represents the boundaries that shape our lives. From birth to death, we live within this box of societal norms, expectations, and material limitations. But within this box, we are constantly searching for our true self, trying to understand who we are beyond the confines of the physical world.
This box could symbolize the illusion of the material world. We are born into it, believing that this is all there is - the boundaries of our existence defined by time, space, and societal constructs. We live our lives within its confines, rarely questioning if there is more beyond these walls. But as we search for the answer to "Who am I?", we begin to see that the box is not the whole truth. The real self lies beyond the physical, beyond the skeleton, beyond the box.
What remains constant when everything else is stripped away? What is left when we let go of the identities we cling to - the birth, life, and death cycles that we think define us? "Let what comes, come; let what goes, go. See what remains." This simple, yet profound statement points to the essence of the self that lies beyond the transient phases of life. It encourages us to accept the flow of life, to not hold on too tightly to what is impermanent, and in doing so, discover the part of ourselves that transcends the cycles of existence.
Red and Black: The Dance of Life, Death, and What Endures
The colour scheme of the painting - red dripping from above onto the black background - also reflects this deeper journey. Red, symbolizing life, energy, and vitality, represents the passion and intensity of living. It is the blood that flows through our veins, the emotional highs and lows that define our existence. But life is temporary, just like the red paint that eventually dries and fades. It reminds us of the transient nature of the world we live in, of everything we hold dear, and of the identities we associate with ourselves.
Black, on the other hand, represents the void - the unknown, the darkness from which we come and to which we return. It is the mystery of death, but it is also the infinite. When the red of life fades away, the black remains. This is the part of existence that transcends birth and death, the essence that continues after the skeletons have returned to the earth. It is the backdrop against which all of life’s drama unfolds, a constant reminder that beyond life’s fleeting moments, something eternal persists.
A Spiritual Journey: Discovering the True Self
The painting’s three skeletons and the box that contains them are a metaphor for the human quest for self-knowledge. At every stage of life - birth, living, and death - we are searching for something deeper, something true. The skeletons, though appearing to represent death, actually symbolize a deeper truth: that the physical self is not the real self. "Who am I?" is the question that echoes throughout life, and the answer lies in what remains when we let go of everything we think defines us. When we stop clinging to the identities we have accumulated - the roles, the achievements, the failures - we are left with the essence of who we truly are. This is the part of us that transcends the box, that is untouched by birth and death. It is the eternal, the divine spark within us all.
As spiritual teachings often remind us, the key to understanding ourselves lies in letting go. "Let what comes, come; let what goes, go. See what remains." This wisdom invites us to stop resisting the natural flow of life and death, to stop fearing the cycles that define our human existence. By letting go of attachments, by accepting both the joys and sorrows, and by not clinging to what is impermanent, we are able to see what is truly eternal. We are able to discover our true self - the self that is beyond the skeleton, beyond the box, beyond life and death.
Beyond the Skeletons, Beyond the Box
In the end, my niece’s painting is not just an image of skeletons confined to a box - it is a profound meditation on the human journey. Birth, life, and death are not separate stages, but part of a greater whole. The skeletons represent the temporary nature of our physical existence, while the box symbolizes the illusion of confinement within the material world.
Yet, beyond the skeletons, beyond the box, lies the answer to the question, "Who am I?" It is not found in the temporary phases of life, but in what remains when we let go of everything else. It is the eternal self, the divine essence, the part of us that transcends the limitations of birth, living, and death.
In accepting this truth - by letting what comes, come, and what goes, go - we free ourselves from the constraints of the box and open our eyes to the infinite. Only then can we see what truly remains: the answer to the deepest question of all.
So, the next time you find yourself pondering the great mysteries of life, remember this: even skeletons need to have a little fun! Let’s embrace the journey, laugh at the absurdity of it all, and remember that while life may throw us some curveballs, we can always find joy in the ride. After all, we’re all just a bunch of lively souls inside our own boxes, trying to figure out who we really are.
And who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll discover that the real secret to life is just to dance like no one’s watching - even if we’re made of bones!
So here’s to the adventure, the curiosity, and the joy of simply being. Keep smiling, keep exploring, and remember: Life is too short not to laugh at the little skeletons along the way!
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