Do you know what death feels like? No? Well, I'll tell you. It feels a lot like being suspended in the air. You can't speak, you can't hear, you can't feel or move any part of your body. It feels as if an eternity has passed, yet at the same time, not a single second. How did I get here you ask? Well let me tell you.
In my most recent life, I grew up in a typical South Korean household with two other siblings. Like most, I believed that if I were dedicated and hardworking I could make it to the top, and I did. Well.. sort of. I achieved enough to make my parents proud, and I was always praised during family meetings.
So, how did I die? Well, I was the head of the cardiothoracic surgery department in a famous hospital in Korea, and was constantly called upon to perform complex surgeries and handle critical cases. I routinely worked long shifts, often spending sleepless nights in the operating room.
Despite warnings from my colleagues about the dangers of overworking, I brushed off their concerns, convinced that I could handle the pressure. And during one particularly challenging week, the hospital was inundated with emergency cases, including multiple patients in need of urgent heart surgeries. I felt responsible for saving every life that came under my care, and pushed myself to the brink, working round-the-clock to perform one surgery after another without rest.
Despite my best efforts, my exhaustion caught up with me during a critical procedure. In the midst of performing a high-risk surgery, I collapsed from fatigue and stress, my body unable to endure the strain any longer. Despite the efforts of my colleagues to revive me, I succumbed to cardiac arrest.
Just like a typical character in a K-drama, where the skilled and dedicated surgeon tragically meets his end due to overworking.
This most recent life of mine was probably the 250th one. I've lost count of them all over the years. But one thing I know after living all these lives is: I always return to this space after I lose my vision, hearing, and my physical body.
I suppose the closest thing to my situation would be the egg theory. You know? The story with the protagonist, who has recently died, encountering a being of light who reveals itself to be the creator of the universe. The light explains to the protagonist that they have died, but reassures them that there is no need to fear, as they are about to undergo a process of enlightenment. They then reveal that the protagonist is, in fact, every person who has ever lived or will ever live.
The protagonist learns that they have been reincarnated countless times, living the lives of people from various time periods, cultures, and circumstances. Each life is an opportunity for the soul to learn and grow, gaining knowledge and understanding through diverse experiences. The purpose of this cycle of reincarnation, as explained by the being, is for the soul to attain enlightenment and achieve a state of oneness with the universe. By experiencing every possible perspective and situation, the soul gains wisdom and compassion, ultimately transcending the limitations of individual identity.
The story concludes with the being informing the protagonist that they will continue to be reincarnated until they have experienced the life of every other human being who has ever existed. According to the theory, individual identities are merely temporary manifestations of a single, eternal soul. Each person's life is just one iteration of this soul experiencing different lives throughout history.
How am I still sane, you ask? Well.. I'm not completely sure, but my guess is that it has something to do with this space I'm in now. By the way, who are you? I never got to ask. Hm? What was that? Oh. You're like me? Really? Then tell me how many lives you've lived. Haha its your first? Well good luck to you, then.
Oh. The light has arrived already. I guess I'll see you around.