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Diary of a Ruler

by Lamia

Chapter 6: Entry 72 - Afterlife

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I find myself thinking about spirituality again, so soon after putting down my thoughts on religion. It certainly is an interesting topic to give speculation towards. Unfortunate that with my mind I shall never be able to participate in such things. Again, I feel disconcerted and envious over that fact.

I have been giving some thought towards the idea of a 'heaven'. That is, in the context of the afterlife, the place one goes with faith in a deity or deities and their teachings. It is said that one may find eternal bliss there, if it exists. A blissful, immortal existence as a gleeful soul in a place beyond comprehension... It is what most everypony strives for, is it not? Having everything that I could ever want certainly sounds wonderful... At first.

These souls, in that afterlife. They would simply end up all the same. Follow your lords without question, acknowledge them and share their ideals to any who would listen. No doing this or that, or you will suffer; perhaps eternally. Threatening, is it not? No, not at all.

A major issue arises as I think on it. Is ultimate bliss truly what I desire most in life? Everything in the afterlife is said to be perfect, even the souls whom reside within. They have no flaws, no errors. There are no misconceptions, no wrong. I could have anything I wanted, no questions asked, as a reward for following the deity or deities' law on the mortal plane.

However, what can be gained when I have everything I ever wanted, when there is no challenge? There would be no strife, no journeys, no growth; as there is no place to go after I get there. What happens is that I become empty. I eat the fruit from the forbidden tree, as it were. It is of my opinion that there is no greater force in the universe than the curse of the pursuit of knowledge and self-growth.

Additionally, what gives the right to those who maintain the plane of the afterlife to judge those who do not affect them in any way? One could live their entire life knowing only what they were taught, and such teachings could be wrong in the eyes of the judges, condemning the soul to suffer. Is it still right for them to pass judgement on an individual for ignorance? I am sure some zealous types would say that they should have been taught anyway.

As much as I feel guilty to admit the act, I have looked closely upon my subjects and judged them on a personal level. Rather than watch the perfect pony in grace, skill, and speech whittle their days with an empty shell... I observe the ones who are notably, visibly flawed. With the right spell and concentration, I can see anything and anypony through the window of my study, even into their minds.

The nature of ponies... I look at them as they commit heinous acts. I can feel their emotions of hate, of passion, of want. I observe them as they bring out all of their feelings freely without being binded to a deity's will. They walk about day by day, not shackled by promises of wonder and perfection; sometimes they are even aware of the possibility, but choose otherwise. They eat, drink, and be merry. They are truly what it means to be alive.

Next Chapter: Entry 114 - Connection Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 41 Minutes
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