My good philosopher friend repeatedly asks,

" Why was I born? What is the purpose of my life?"

Having done that, I would like to go a bit farther and ask: "why did I choose to be born when I did, where I did? Did I have any role to play in deciding the kind of life style I wanted to adopt as a living being?

In other words, why did I choose a human form? Was it going to serve any specific purpose? I don't know. But I have no regrets.

I remember Mary, my good friend. I think I have a photograph of her, busy attending to her daily chores.

[ Photo courtesy: Dr. R.J.L. Catérini ]

And then ofcourse there was Paskari, who was there forever. We sang a song in his honor, for all his affection and good humor.

(Sung to the tune of " I'm the happiest Christmas Tree")

In case you are wondering, the words are in Swahili, the language Paskari understood very well.

This is I, my earliest recollection of myself.

I grew up, and went to school. Not surprising.

Yes, I do look rather emaciated, don't I?

When I look at these pictures of myself, I keep wondering what I could have possibly been in my previous life. Having spent a lot of time thinking about my birth and rebirth, there is only one conclusion

I can arrive at.

Take a good look at my features. What do you see? A crabby little baby, ready to snap. Yes, that is what

I see too. So what do you think?

This is a good exercise for all those who seek the purpose of life. Take a good look at yourself. And you

will discover the meaning of it all. This, in my opinion, is the ultimate wisdom of the sages.