Are we all, in one way or another, caught up in our own version of the Immortality Project?
For as long as humans have understood mortality, we have raged against it. From ancient alchemists searching for the elixir of life to Silicon Valley billionaires funding longevity research, the human species has been keen to escape death.
Whether it’s Hiranyakashipu, a powerful demon king from Hindu mythology, or the Epic of Gilgamesh, numerous age-old stories highlight our quest for immortality.
Immortality Project – Mythology Edition
In this famous tale in the Bhagavatham, Hiranyakashipu, driven by revenge and an insatiable thirst for power, performs severe penances in pursuit of eternal life. Since immortality cannot be forced from the cosmos, as it defies the natural order, Lord Brahma grants the demon king a boon that makes it nearly impossible for anyone to kill him.
Lord Brahma blesses Hiranyakashipu with the assurance that he cannot be killed by any weapon, by neither man nor beast, neither inside nor outside, neither during the day nor at night, and neither by divine nor demonic beings.
Hiranyakashipu’s newfound powers and perceived immortality make him even more arrogant and evil.
Eventually, Lord Vishnu intervenes, appearing as Narasimha, a fierce half-man, half-lion incarnation, to kill Hiranyakashipu at twilight, in the threshold of a doorway. Vishnu rips him apart with his claws—keeping the terms of the boon intact, vanquishing evil, and, most importantly, proving that no one escapes death.
The Legend of Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh doesn’t fare much better. When he seeks out Utnapishtim for the secret to eternal life, the wise man puts him to the test—asking him to stay awake for six days and seven nights. Unsurprisingly, Gilgamesh fails miserably.
Utnapishtim then reveals a hard truth: immortality is beyond human reach, and even the gods are not exempt from death.
Modern-day Immortality Projects
Not much has changed in our desire to outrun mortality since Gilgamesh’s time. The quest has simply shifted—from fabled waters to biotechnology labs. Whether through genetic modifications, cryonics, or digital consciousness uploads, the race to extend life indefinitely is very much alive.
And here’s the thing—even those of us who, at least in theory, accept our mortality still engage in acts of legacy-building, ensuring our names and memories live on long after our physical bodies are gone.
Immortality Project through activity
One of the most profound reflections on this subject comes from Ernest Becker in his book The Denial of Death.
The idea of death, the fear of it, haunts the human animal like nothing else; it is a mainspring of human activity—activity designed largely to avoid the fatality of death, to overcome it by denying in some way that it is the final destiny for man.
Becker argues that much of human culture, achievement, and even the mundane aspects of daily life are fueled by an unconscious drive to deny our mortality—a desperate attempt at cultural or even digital immortality. According to him, everything we do—from building civilizations to creating art or chasing fame—stems from a deep, often unacknowledged desire to escape death’s finality.
If everything is ultimately impermanent, isn’t leaving a legacy just another way to resist mortality?
It depends on why we seek to leave a legacy. If we do it out of ego—a desire to be remembered, admired, or to "live on" through our work—then yes, it might be just another futile attempt at immortality. Eventually, everything fades: civilizations collapse, books turn to dust, and even the stars burn out.
But here’s the paradox: instead of leading to fulfillment, this pursuit often breeds existential dread, trapping us in a life of fear.
But first, the deeper issue is that immortality, even if it ever were possible, might not be the utopia we imagine.
The Curse of Forever
Millions long for immortality who don’t know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Susan Ertz
Borges, the Argentine writer, tackled the subject of immortality in his short story The Immortal.
The protagonist, Marcus Flaminius Rufus, embarks on a journey to drink from a river that grants immortality. But instead of becoming an invincible hero, he’s confronted with eternity’s unbearable monotony. The immortals he meets are apathetic, detached, and lacking purpose.
Soon, Rufus confronts the obvious fact: Life without death is a life without value, urgency, and real meaning.
Embracing Mortality = Living Fully
Mortality gives life meaning—it forces us to make choices, prioritize relationships, and find purpose. Without the ticking clock, motivation erodes.
An infinite lifespan would make everything seem less significant, leading to boredom, stagnation, and existential dread.
Final Thoughts
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. Pablo Picasso (attributed)
Legacy-building can have real value when it is not for ourselves but for others.
True fulfillment doesn’t come from trying to be immortal—biologically or through remembrance—but from making a meaningful impact in the present. It’s not about how long our name survives but how deeply our actions affect others.
The knowledge, art, and wisdom passed down through generations may not make us immortal, but they enrich humanity. We enjoy the philosophy of Socrates, the music of Beethoven, and the technology of innovators—none of whom personally benefit from being remembered, but their contributions still shape the world.
Legacy. What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see. Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton)