Lessons from the life of Alexander the Great
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (26770)
Singapore
April 16, 2016 10:48am CST
The legendary Greek king of yonder Alexander the Great had everything going for him. And he was also industrious to extend his empire by leaps and bounds. He was young and led a great army with panache. But his tenure in this world was quite short. He left all too suddenly, but not before philosophizing about his life and what he had achieved and what he could not. His parting words have much meaning, and more so in a busier world now! He could not bid goodbye to his family as he died while along the way, far away from his home. However, his final three wishes have profound meaning to us though we need not be emperors, kings, rich or even poor. It is also timeless in their impact though he left us over two thousand years ago.
Emperor Alexander’s last wishes with enduring meaning to the world:
1. Personal physicians alone to carry his coffin: He wanted to drive home the stark reality that death will never make a distinction to the status of the person. None will be spared and extension of time can only mean misery to the person and to family. Even the best doctors can do only so much.
2. Scatter the gold, silver and precious stones that he had accumulated during his conquests along the path leading to his graveyard. This is to drive home the point that he had wasted most time pursuing a path that proved of no real value or meaning to him in the end. He could not carry the fruits of his immense efforts beyond this life. In sum, there are better paths to pursue than go after the lucre and glitter.
3. The final wish was to leave his hands dangling out of the coffin to make it clear to all that he left with nothing, the same way he came to this world!
We need not be great emperors to understand the deep meaning of the last three wishes of Alexander the Great. We all get carried away with deeds and words that can cause much misery to others. No society can survive in an island of exclusivity. And the rich needs the poor more than the latter needs them. Let them take the initiative to make our world better for everyone. Only another human will be able to reciprocate our true feelings. We can survive on little when we are surrounded by much love. At the end of the day human vultures should be kept at bay through the way we live our lives with a spirit of sacrifice. Basics of life will never change!
Is it not wise to reflect on his life and the import of his last wishes?
18 people like this
16 responses
@arundhatiwriter (276)
• India
16 Apr 16
I read these facts somewhere before; but it was nice reading again and thanks for sharing this. These are the deepest truths of life which we can't realize.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26770)
• Singapore
17 Apr 16
Thanks, I like to share what touch me and leave an impression.
I have moved with some very rich and what motivates them is quite depressing to people like me.
Einstein said about Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
But we tend to do the same also hoping to reap what we don't sow - big powers make the biggest weapons and lament later when they are finally used against them! siva
3 people like this
@arundhatiwriter (276)
• India
17 Apr 16
@Shiva49 Yes, Einstein also said, Two things are infinite, the world and the human stupidity and I'm not sure about the former!
Hope I have quoted him correctly
I love to read quotes of great men because it inspires a lot.
I love to read quotes of great men because it inspires a lot.3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26770)
• Singapore
17 Apr 16
@arundhatiwriter einstein said "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe"
He also said about Gandhi :"Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth.” siva
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
18 Apr 16
Very interesting article however, there is no proof that he ever said any of those things so I can't comment on how important they are.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
18 Apr 16
@Shiva49 There are wonderful sentiments on their own but seem a bit off when one thinks about the man.
2 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
16 Apr 16
It is so true that most people spend their lives acquiring riches that they cannot take with them. Being a servant to others and living for God is the way to happiness here and treasures later.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26770)
• Singapore
17 Apr 16
Helping others in need gives us the greatest fulfillment and our final moments should be soothing recalling the many lives we touched. That should ensure a "safe and secure passage" beyond too.
Depriving others by hoarding beyond our needs should be eschewed and it is plain bad karma too or not the right thing to do - siva
2 people like this
@JudyEv (341999)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Apr 16
@Shiva49 Because I really like horses my favourite story about him is how he gained the trust of a spirited horse by turning it away from seeing its shadow. Bucephalus was the horse and there is a lovely statue of them both in Edinburgh. I'm not sure if there is any significance to it being in Edinburgh.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (22084)
• Australia
18 Apr 16
Interesting read siva!
“I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.”
Alexander the Great.
I guess that meant that meek/weak men do not lead strong men, and that strong men are not meek or weak. The sheep likes to follow. The lion is not a follower.
Like Alexander, the lion is more a beast within itself. It lords it over its wife’s, and really does very little itself, but the lion’s heart is depicted to be a courageous one, not because of the lion itself, but because it acts like a king, but recessively, it remains a lion.
Alexander lived his life like a lion on the surface, but inside he never perhaps knew who he was, whether he was just the body, or something else besides.
A lion’s appearance is majestic, and Alexander thought of himself in the same way I expect. I believe he really was good looking though too, so this indeed might have been true of himself also.
@innertalks (22084)
• Australia
18 Apr 16
@Shiva49 Yes, once you are at the top, others tend to keep supporting/lifting you upwards to maintain that position and momentum. They gain something from your leadership too.
At least, this was true of Alexander I suspect, perhaps he was no despot, but really lead from the front.
Or it might be as you implied, something in motion keeps in motion, as another great man, (apart from you that is) once said.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26770)
• Singapore
18 Apr 16
@innertalks I have said more than few times how wealth attracts the wrong attention. If one is a multi-millionaire he/she is treated as deserving more a billionaire status! Then all sorts of people approach with gold from ex dictators, million dollar notes, at hefty discounts. And also other outrageous proposals that make no sense and if asked why peddle such the answer is - that is how few became billionaires!
Once you are treated as a hero one has that tag attached all though life and I still wonder how people can become billionaires from communist countries where the state is supposed to own all.
The rich are also restless prompting banks to give ideas how to become richer - their own families give up on them but hold on to supplementary credit cards!
I am in good company with Newton though I am not good in science, but revel in online sites ! siva
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26770)
• Singapore
18 Apr 16
Alexander might have been carried away by his own good looks and so also others who followed him. I remember one Indian actor recalling a scene being shot and, as it happens in India, there were many watching the action of him jumping from a high rise building chasing a villain. He said with so many watching he had no option but to jump despite his apprehensions! He could not chicken-out with so many watching with admiration.
Alexander might have felt the futility of wars and conquests but had to go ahead with them - he could well have been pushed than jumping into action. When there was some misgiving about whether he did really express his last wishes that I had stated, I checked again and found those stated in greater detail capturing the background and mood too of those times - siva
1 person likes this
@saurabhrmp (2283)
• Hyderabad, India
17 Apr 16
Actually I don't like history much. But good info about Alexander the Great.
1 person likes this
@saurabhrmp (2283)
• Hyderabad, India
17 Apr 16
@Shiva49 ; I agreed with you. We can take good things from the History and correct wrong things.
2 people like this
@WilmaHenry54 (355)
• Stanton, Kentucky
19 Apr 16
You are so right, the basics of life will never change. It's sad that many of us, like Alexander the Great, only get our priorities straight late in life. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of us lived each day of our lives helping each other and letting our Creator work through us?!
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26770)
• Singapore
19 Apr 16
Well said and noble sentiments. We seem to blow our chances despite the many blessings that we take for granted. Let us pause and ponder individually and collectively, but our leaders want to get elected by blaming each other and that shows their immaturity - siva
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26770)
• Singapore
19 Apr 16
@WilmaHenry54 The so called leaders everywhere seem to be a divisive lot and driving a wedge than unifying people to tackle hot button issues - siva
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@WilmaHenry54 (355)
• Stanton, Kentucky
19 Apr 16
@Shiva49 In this election year in the US, immaturity is running rampant.
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@lovebeingmummy2 (806)
• Aberdeen, Scotland
17 Apr 16
I enjoyed reading the facts about Alexander the great
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