life is such a strange thing. it's very nature is something that cannot be defined. as a person related to academics, subjects have always seemed to be defined to me by the extent of their spread. any subject has only a certain reach in other subjects beyond which it simply cannot go. however life as a subject is strange in the sense that the more we learn about it the more there is to learn. it is simply a subject with limitless study. each moment teaches us new things, new facts about the mystery called life. and each moment leaves behind much unsaid. one moment you could feel that life is so beautiful, perhaps the very next may put to rest that notion. that in some ways is the essence of life- unpredictability. change is the only constant, they say .and change that comes without knowledge is what normally happens in life. each experience teaches each person different things. there is no way of predicting what turn one's life may take, how life will turn out to be. such a strange thing,life! inspite of all this few people ever stop and think about the vagaries of life. philosophy is the refuge of scoundrels, they say, not realising that hypocrites are no bigger scoundrels than philosophers. to turn a blind life to things as these and to `go on with your life' is something they advocate- not realising that understanding of one's life goes a long way in easing the pain that sorrows bring with them.only when one ponders over the meaning of one's life does he manage to put it in proper perspective. and a proper perspective of life is essential to lead a good life-not necessarily by material standards, but by spiritual standards.