Today we have technology that brings us closer to immortality. Both spiritual and physical immortality may exist in a different form than those in the past have ever intended or dreamed of. The technology we have today may seem like magic to the societies of the past. Cybernetics, gene manipulation, nanomachines, and computers. All these in conjunction with advanced modern medicines have allowed humans to live almost two to three times longer than they have a century ago. Aided by modern science and knowledge about healthier living, such as the elimination of lead in pipes and hazardous chemicals that we use to use daily without proper knowledge, there continues to be little in the way of further extending the life span of humans. With prosthetic limbs and organs that continue to last longer and function as well or greater than before, the only thing that stands in our way are our own genes.
These genes that allow us to replicate our cells, with limitations, may one day be able to infinitely replicated and replaced with proper gene manipulation/therapy at birth. Cancer would become a thing of the past with proper education and control of inherent genetic disorders. Scientists have recently discovered that the secret to replicating nerves and damage to our genes may lie inside of a worm. Worms have the ability to regenerate their bodies when split properly in half and if we could utilize this data to further stem cell research and cellular reconstruction then immortality may be one step closer. But is this something worth placing so much hope in? Currently ethics agree that those severely injured in accidents or birth deserve the right to improve their condition and live a more normal life within society. Money being invested in treating disability and furthering research has no ethical challengers, but extending the life of the healthy may face criticism.
The ability to use computers and share medical information and outbreaks of viruses amongst professionals have also greatly improved the development of cures and life enhancing medicines. This has also accelerated our ability to reach the limits of science and push it further, but we may already be at our limits in terms of researching a universal ideal of immortality. Everything must pass on and die, so that the cycles of the world may continue and new things are able to flourish amongst our Earth. These cycles are something treasured by the Daoist who first tried to find immortality for their Kings and Emperors. Immortality is not beyond reach if one chooses never to change, but the world is changing, and we must too. We must accept that we are no longer the same person as when we were born, and we may be different when we die. That is a part of life that gives us something to look forward to, to surpass immortality by remaining human and accepting that when we change, and when we fail that we get back on our feet and become better people.
Humans learned that stars themselves do not last forever, and many stars we look upon in the heavens have already passed on. All that remains is a bright image of how they use to live, and shouldn’t we live the same way? To be able to help people and shine in the sky, and the the memories of others after we have passed on. With that strength…have could we not transcended mortality? If there is an omnipotent being…I feel sorry for it. Death is not an illness is not a misfortune…maybe an inconvenience, but what it truly is…is freedom after a lifetime worth of doing everything you can do serve your worth. But even in death we still learn, isn’t that what’s great about life?