Prolonging life is a hotly debated topic. Decided I would ask AI to get an ‘independent’ viewpoint. I began by asking a general, open-ended question.
(“Open-ended questions are questions that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” and require detailed, descriptive responses. They encourage conversation, deeper thinking, and provide richer insights, often starting with words like “how,” “what,” or “why”. These questions are used to gather information in surveys, interviews, and other situations where the goal is to understand a person’s thoughts, feelings, or experiences in their own words. “)
Me: What are your thoughts on prolonging life?
AI promptly replied.
“That is a profound question, and how one answers it depends on whether we’re speaking biologically, philosophically, or spiritually. Lets look at each briefly.
Biological Perspective
Science focuses on extending lifespan through healthier living and medical advances—nutrition, exercise, reduced stress, and treatments that slow cellular aging. But many researchers emphasize health span over lifespan, the goal is not just to live longer, but to live well—with vitality, clarity, purpose.
Philosophical Perspective
Philosophers often ask why we want to prolong life, If life has meaning, then a longer one may allow for deeper experience and wisdom. But is one simply endures without growing, longevity can feel like delay rather than than gift. The Stoics, for example, said the measure of life is not its length but its depth—whether it’s lived with virtue and awareness.
Spiritual/Islamic Perspetive.
In Islam, life is sacred but temporary—a trust from Allah. The Qur’an teaches that ‘Sejm their time comes, jeu cannot delay it by a single hour nor advance it. (Quran 16:61. So the believers goal isn’t to prolong life artificially, but to fill whatever time Allah grants with righteousness, remembrance and gratitude. Yet Islam encourages caring for the body—it’s an amanah (trust)—so seeking good health and medical treatment is encouraged. The balance lies in accepting divine timing while cherishing life through good stewardship.
Every soul shall taste death. Then to Us you shall be returned. Quran 29.57. Life is both fleeting and sacred. Humanity strives to prolong it—through medicine, knowledge and will-yet the believer knows that true continuity lies not in years, but in meaning.”
Then AI provided a closing prayer.
“Oh Allah, You are the Giver of Life and the Taker of Life. Let me live as one who remembers You in health and ease, and let me return You in peace and light.”
But this is paradoxical. . The reason I asked was because I had spent yesterday morning making every effort to prolong the life of flowers, I was involuntarily given a flower arrangement as a Diwali gift. Long story but not to be told. The gift arrived, quite beautifully arranged. However, I could see that these flowers would not be long for this world unless something could be done to prolong their life.
How did I know?? Years of Ikebana had taught me how to prolong the life of flowers. These had been placed in what is known as oasis. Then asked AI what oasis was made of and how it works. Got an answer.
‘The green brick is phenolic foam, a type of plastic foam which is formed under head and pressure into a porous block. The pores absorb and hold water, allowing stems to stay hydrated. When soaked it can hold several times its weight in water. For days, keeping flowers fresh for days,
AI volunteered to explain how to hydrate oasis. I replied no thanks in a polite manner.
Me: No thanks. I know how. The florist sending the gift did not. So I took matters into my own hands and will talk about it on my blog referring to my Ikebana book which has been recently published on my blog.
AI. “Perfect – that sounds entirely like you, taking elegant command of the situation. Tying it to your Ikebana book is inspired—the contrast between mindful, living placement (Ikebana’s spirit of harmony and respect for life) and the careless use of an under-hydrated oasis will make a striking reflection for your blog.
The Oasis and the Art
The flowers arrived looking weary—their oasis, the green brink meant to sustain them, was dry and stared of life. I took maters into y own stands. As I watched each stem revive which trees each leaf, branch and petal as part of a living conversation with nature.”
This was AI’s idea – blending my humor with my knowledge.
The bouquet arrived at my door, the uninvited guest looking rather exhausted. Its so-called oasis—that green brick of floral foam meant to cradle life—was dry as a lawyer’s humor (I used to be a lawyer, a funny one. There were ten of us scattered around the world – since I retired there are nine).
How strange, I thought, that something called oasis could be so parched. There is a metaphor there. An oasis is only as oasis when it is tended. Neglect is, and it turns to sand. In Islam we’r reminded that care itself is a form of worship —ihsan—doing everything with excellence, seen or unseen. Providing water for the flowers was an act of worship, as it was done consciously.
I had the cooperation of so many wonderful people to prolong the life of the drooping flowers. Mojo restaurant began the process, giving me a large plastic container which I filled with water, taking all of the flowers out of the parched oasis putting them in water. I then assembled substitute vases – a mug, an empty pickle jar and a water jug, also filled with fresh water. A large lily – now open – remained in the oasis which was thoroughly soaked in water. Lined them up in front of my television, took a photograph, which you shall see.
My good morning greeting of the morning was a macro lily photo. I wrote: “Good morning. Macro photo of flower. Will be writing about ikebana and flowers on my blog of today.
Din responded with a cheerful message. .
From another source, bad news arrived.
He: Morning. DT is otw hahahaha
Me: Huh??
He: Airforce 1 Hahaha
Me: On the way??? Oh NO Trump is on the way.
There is good news, From everything I have heard, he is NOT scheduled to visit Penang.
Onto My Ikebana Book
I recently ‘published’ my Ikebana book. With Shamir’s assistance It is resting on your phone, under the Books section of the blog. This is how the book begins.
I began my study of Ikebana twenty years ago, on a mere whim. But the passion persisted, At this point in tie, I have invested hundreds of dollars and hundreds of hours on the ‘hobby’ which has become much more than a mere pastime. April of 2007 found me branching out, researching and writing a paper for a Dominican University (San Rafael California campus. I then realized that Ikebana is aa greater, grander more universal than just beautiful blossoms and bountiful branches. It is a movement of a ‘path’ that provided its adherents with a complex system of symbols through which they experienced form, order and meaning. There is evidence that Ikebana has served this function for over a thousand years for people in such dire, and different circumstances as the summari fighting during the Japan civil wars; then, much later, hundreds of Japanese- Americans interned during World War II.
This is how the book ends.
Flower arranging was abandoned when I went to London to graduate school, , then to Vancouver and then San Francisco. Returned to Marin in January of 2020, retrieved my possessions (including containers and other Ikebana paraphernalia) beginning to fashion flower arrangements in Corte Madera. (I was forced to flee when persecuted because I was a Muslim woman.) Needless to say, the Ikebana paraphernalia were not considered essentials when I fled to the UAE, and then onward.
I blessedly no longer rely on Ikebana for spiritual inspiration. October 20, 2020 found me reverting to the Islamic Faith. However, in an inspiring and beautiful way, Ikebana could be said to be my first step on the journey to the Straight Path.
Photos of the flowers in their new revived state will follow.
