We know we are mortal beings and
that separation from this world
is imminent, and as Muslims, our
religious literature contains the
most coherent narrative about the
meaning of life after death.
and uplifting it is, cannot fit in the
equation of his life. He must move on.
We are growing more acutely
aware of this captivity in our highconnected
and fast-paced societies
and realizing that our connections
do not bring any fulfilment or
satisfaction. Connections naturally
metastasize and breed more
connections, and no one can possibly
keep up. Thereafter, comes burnout,
mental health issues, and depression,
and many victims are unable to
comprehend why. We become like
hamsters running in a wheel. The
faster we go, the faster the wheel
turns, but the hamster remains where
it is. The most famous YouTube
personalities, who cannot keep up
with the demand from subscribers
to perform, often undergo the
biggest breakdowns (Alexander,
Julia. “YouTube’s Top Creators Are
Burning out and Breaking Down
En Masse.” Polygon, Polygon, 6 June
2018, www.polygon.com). Also, we
observe more and more people
begging for release from their social
media connections, smartphones,
contacts, and even physical relations
at home and in the workplace. As the
demand grows, retreats, sanctuaries,
and monasteries have opened up
to provide connection-free stay for
people seeking to be released from
the captivity. Jack and Marcia Kelly,
a husband-and-wife team, wrote
a book, “Sanctuaries: A Guide to
Lodgings in Monasteries, Abbeys,
1Although termed single, it refers to anything not meeting the criterion for mass transmission.
and Retreats of the United States,” to
cater to working class people who are
exhausted by the constant upkeep
of connections. No one can ignore
the Yoga, Zen centers that have
popped up across the country, and
now over nine high-traffic airports
have designated spaces for Yoga
and meditation (Quiriconi, Sara.
“Hit the Mat at New Yoga Airport
Yoga Zones.” Observer, Observer,
17 Apr. 2017, www.observer.com).
Furthermore, a record number
of companies are now promoting
meditation during work hours (Levin,
Marissa. “Why Google, Nike, and
Apple Love Mindfulness Training,
and How You Can Easily Love It
Too.” Inc.com, Inc., 12 June 2017, www.
inc.com). The rise of depression,
www.madania.org 11
/www.polygon.com)
/www.observer.com)
/inc.com
/www.madania.org