Abstract

The surrounding world, which is often taken to be fixed or permanent, is of course ephemeral; in time it will fade away and disappear. Even within the span of one's lifetime, much, if not all, that can be located “in the present” will have to be located “in the past,” where it will likely become increasingly remote and unavailable. In light of the fact that life is fleeting, it is important to ask this simple, but critical question: how should one deal with that which is slipping away? Many answers have been given on the personal level, but relatively few…