The purpose(s) of our existence in the universe

[travelinbob]

I believe our purpose is the pursuit of knowledge so we can contribute new experiences to the universal consciousness (or God if you will) in order for it/him/her/us to understand itself why it/him/her/us came into existance. In other words a neverending pursuit of knowledge to get back into the balance that was lost through creation/the big bang.

Just an idea.

[Adept_of_Light]

quote:
In other words a neverending pursuit of knowledge to get back into the balance that was lost through creation/the big bang.

You think our purpose is here is the never-ending pursuit of knowledge you say? If you consider our purpose to be never-ending by that very fact you conclude that whatever goal there is in the purpose of existance can not be fulfilled. Also I question what the never ending pursuit of knowledge has anything to do with establishing balance. And don't forget nothing is ever lost. That is a Universal Law even our modern scientists agree with - even if our understanding of this concept is still very limited at the moment.

Also, I can assure you that our purpose is not the pursuit of knowledge or furthering of intellect because that is an impossible goal. Does our intellect not die along side our physical shells? Has anyone ever been able to pass all their intellect to their offspring? Does intellect bring true happiness? Is it even possible to dedicate an entire life to study and know all we could possibly know that has been discovered to date?
The answers to all those questions in my mind is "no".
In vain is to seek after finite knowledge in order to reach the infinite!

quote:I believe our purpose is the pursuit of knowledge so we can contribute new experiences to the universal consciousness (or God if you will) in order for it/him/her/us to understand itself why it/him/her/us came into existence.

God is omniscient - all knowing. He is omnipresent - exists everywhere. Given this, it would be logical to conclude God does not have any need for further knowledge or any need to experience it through us. In fact, God does not think at all! Thinking is only a process used by those that do not yet know. If you know all, what thinking is there possibly left to do? None! And therefore it does not seek to understand itself or why it came into existence. Further, it did not ever come into existence. It always just *was*. Hence the reference to eternal when one speaks of God. Eternal presence refers to not only existing forever in the future but forever in the past as well. Given this, the big bang and all the billions of years of evolution in the Universe are only a mere blink in the eye of God's eternal presence.

I challenge you to challenge your own philosophical understanding of life, the Universe, God and our purpose further. =)

Happy contemplations,
Adept of Light

PS. If my post seems to contradict my signature it is because by knowing "all" I mean exactly that... everything! As God does, not as a human might think he does or possibly could through intellect alone. The only way to know all is to BE God itself, and that experience of "BEing" far transcends anything to do with thought or mere intellectual knowledge. The "calling" to know ALL, is a spiritual one, not a scientific one.

[travelinbob]

Adept_of_Light:

Your challenge is so out of place!!! Challenging my beliefs is AT THE CORE of my philosophy. Remember that I believe in a pursuit of knowledge. By defenition, it requires me to test my beliefs constantly to see if they hold up. That is why I left christianity and its anthropomorphic view of "God" 15 years ago in the first place. It just did not hold water for me. The idea of omniscience is not compatible with my experience. The evil in the world negates it. If God knows all then why does he/she allow bad things to happen. He should know how to avoid them then. Or does she not have the power to stop them? If he knows all and can change them and does not, then he is cruel because he could teach us in another more compassionate way.  You see, it does not add up. My guess is that the evil in the world are mistakes God made while trying to learn.

Judeo Christianity bases its whole core in a book. You have to have faith (i.e. blindly assume) that it is God's word. If you challenge (to use your own word) this, it all kind of crumbles into dogma, mythology and self-fulfilling prophecy (there is going to be war in the middle east, Gee what a surprise!!!!). And since cristianity's weight lies in a blind asumption in one particular book, then all other philosophies have equal validity, if faith is at issue.

With respect to the inherited knowledge, the theory of the Akashic records seems to support it. Of course, I will challenge this theory so I can get the knowledge I look for. If it holds up, fine. If it does not, then I will dispose of it as I have done with others.

Know, I respect christianity, because it fulfills other people's needs. But it just does not work for me. This is my opinion and it works for me until I learn of a better one. That what's it all about.

[Athios]

Well, my answer to your question is in my signature.

The reason I think that is probably because I currently don't buy into any organized religion stuff. If the purpose of my life (and everyone else's) is already in some book or something 'some guy' said, what's the point of living my life??
Anyway, since I can't OBE (yet []), all I have right now are bits and pieces from here and there. But eventually I'll piece it all together.  [|)]

[beavis]

"If the purpose of my life (and everyone else's) is already in some book or something 'some guy' said, what's the point of living my life??"

The point would be in the book. Why do you think nobody can know?

[Adept_of_Light]

quote:
Challenging my beliefs is AT THE CORE of my philosophy.

Excellent, I applaud your philosophy.

quote:
That is why I left christianity and its anthropomorphic view of "God" 15 years ago in the first place. It just did not hold water for me.
The idea of omniscience is not compatible with my experience.
The evil in the world negates it. If God knows all then why does he/she allow bad things to happen. He should know how to avoid them then. Or does she not have the power to stop them? If he knows all and can change them and does not, then he is cruel because he could teach us in another more compassionate way.  You see, it does not add up. My guess is that the evil in the world are mistakes God made while trying to learn.

For one who claims to have left behind an "anthropomorphic view of God", I'm still hearing you attribute it many human qualities, and therein my friend, lies the core of your disappointment with God. Further, to think one may ever understand the concept of God with intellect and rationality alone, is the result of not having asked the right questions, or not having contemplated them sufficiently.
But everything you say tells me you are on the right track. Dissatisfaction with the status quo is the mother of discovery and new realizations.

Please note the words I express here are meant to be conveyed with the severity of love and understanding (because I have been there and I have felt this conflict and mental struggle) and not with judgement nor disapproval. Every step filled with conflict and suffering taken in the pursuit of higher knowledge, happiness and self-improvement are very worthy and very necessary steps. So again, I applaud your expression and I most certainly sympathize with your dissatisfaction.

quote:
Judeo Christianity bases its whole core in a book. You have to have faith (i.e. blindly assume) that it is God's word.

So long as religion is only faith and outward form, and the religious function is not experienced in our own souls, nothing of any importance has taken place. The man who does not know this may be the most learned theologian (whom will have consequently memorized all the thickest and most complex of spiritual books), but he'll still have no idea of religion, and even less of the "mysterium magnum". In addition, to think any one book written by imperfect men may encompass the entirety of God, is only a reflection of one's narrow mindedness and lack of any real spiritual attainment. So yes, question & challenge everything you read, especially the sacred cows of dogma (as our dear friend Robert would say). But at the same time do not equate the holy books to worthless material conflicting with (the limited) modern scientific understanding of reality or that they are filled with only "passé" ancient creeds and myth. When the time is right, you may find yourself returning to some of these very books and stand in awe of the depth of their teachings.

quote:
If you challenge (to use your own word) this, it all kind of crumbles into dogma, mythology and self-fulfilling prophecy (there is going to be war in the middle east, Gee what a surprise!!!!).

The holy books of the various major religions can be interpreted at various levels of understanding. To challenge specific sections with one's limited spiritual attainment and understanding will yield only confusion and much wasted time in dissatisfaction. But the very effort of challenging "the sacred cows of dogma", is a small step toward eventually understanding the deeper more occult truths that will only be revealed and understood when one's eyes are ready to see them and one's ears are ready to hear them.

quote:
Know, I respect christianity, because it fulfills other people's needs. But it just does not work for me. This is my opinion and it works for me until I learn of a better one. That what's it all about.

Precisely. And let me add that it fulfils people's needs at different levels of understanding and attainment. There are in between stages of challenge and questioning (such as the stage you seem to be in) where the best thing to do is if the system and the books aren't working for you, then move on. Let experience be your teacher. The Universe has fixed laws and these will surely teach us the lessons we can't find in books. Time flows like water and never returns. So let us not waste it in dissatisfaction and conflict for then we will only be engaging in pointless battles and die old and bitter men. But know without a doubt that any one with even a small amount of spiritual attainment sees in the various holy books the same God and even the same teachings. It is only the surface level language and lack of attainment that may make it appear otherwise. In the end, there is only ONE truth and none of the true Masters (Christ/Buddha/Krisna,etc) of any major religion will ever disagree with the teachings of another!

If in any religion or spiritual organization there is a "Master" that disagrees with the teachings of another, then take caution, for he is either a false Master, or one's understanding is severely skewed due to lack of sufficient spiritual maturity.

With love and compassion – always!
Adept of Light

[Athios]

quote:Originally posted by beavis

"If the purpose of my life (and everyone else's) is already in some book or something 'some guy' said, what's the point of living my life??"

The point would be in the book. Why do you think nobody can know?

Hmm....well....
It's not like I think nobody can know. But even if that were the truth (in the book), I don't really want to get to that truth by reading it. Umm, I mean, I don't want the same truth as everyone else.
[:O] Umm, okay, I'm not making any sense at all. I guess I should get some sleep. Maybe I'll think of a better reply.

[bomohwkl]

It is noted in the book, Thiaoouba Prophency, every human beings are endowed with resposibilities to cultivate his mind and his love.

[bomohwkl]

I see why misery are widespred on Earth, we couldnt even agree and know the purpose of our existence in the universe by our free will, even people who consider themselves as spiritual.

Adept_of_Light said
God does not have any need for further knowledge or any need to experience it through us. In fact, God does not think at all!

I am just asking, then what is for God creating us?

Adept_of_Light said
Eternal presence refers to not only existing forever in the future but forever in the past as well. Given this, the big bang and all the billions of years of evolution in the Universe are only a mere blink in the eye of God's eternal presence.

I am just asking, what is the purpose of evolution in the eye of God? Do you mean there is no evolution?

[bomohwkl]

beavis,Athios,
To find the purposes and live with that purposes. However, people came to earth has spefic lessons to learn but we all existence for some important purposes. For example, your purpose might be to cultivate your love towards your neigbour but you find your neigbour very annoying. That's my point, even if you know the purpose, we need to live with that purpose.Of course, it is all comes back to the freedom of someone to live that purpose after discovered it.

[bomohwkl]

Development of intellect doesn't necessary come from knowledge in the book.Let's say intellect=mind, imagine a murder kill all your family, your beloved sons/daughters and wife, people will certainly hate the murderer forever. If you use your intellect to understand the murderer, you might find out that he might be came from family who deprieved of love and condition of society might couase to to act someway. Certainly a person is complex and it is not for the less developed intellect to undertstand them. That's why it is important to develop our mind,so that we could be more understandable to people. Without mutual understanding, it is impossible for love to exist!!!

[Jazzarati]

It would depend a little also on what actually happens when the physical body dies. If we continue to live on as a mental body (for lack of the right word) then I don't know what could possible be the meaning.

If everything stops when you take your last physical breath than I can see a lot of pointless activities. If you could die any moment now then there is no point being angry at someone, no point in feeling important or being prowd. In the long term they would mean nothing. So that brings me to say that the goal of the current place we are in would be to acquire as much knowledge as we can instead of going off on mindless folly's. Some following this line of things would argue that knowledge to would be pointless, it's true really, everything is pointless so the best thing to do would be do what your heart most desires. In this pursuit of what we most desire we might find out a greater meaning or that there is life after death, but if we never attempt to get such knowledge we will never have it.

Follow your heart and don't waste time. Offcourse I have very limited experience with all of this, still exploring (probably will till the end of my days but I'm really enjoying it).

[travelinbob]

Jazzarati, You say:

quote:So that brings me to say that the goal of the current place we are in would be to acquire as much knowledge as we can instead of going off on mindless folly's. Some following this line of things would argue that knowledge to would be pointless, it's true really, everything is pointless so the best thing to do would be do what your heart most desires. In this pursuit of what we most desire we might find out a greater meaning or that there is life after death, but if we never attempt to get such knowledge we will never have it.

I agree that from our perspective the pursuit of knowledge for the sake of knowledge seems pointless. I have spent many hours thinking about that. But I belive that that pursuit is the only choice that seems to fulfill me spiritually and intelectually. So in my case, I agree with you. I do what I feel, and that is to learn. When I'm not investigating this spiritual side of mine on a regular basis, I feel unbalanced, like skipping a meal. Giving up this pursuit, no matter if there is an end result to it or not, is NOT AN OPTION FOR ME and my personal experience.

[Tayesin]

Hi People.
WOW, so many great posts on this subject. It's good to see people pushing the envelope in discussion, that's one sure way to a greater understanding.

For me, our purpose here on the Earth is to firstly experience so that the creative awareness of this Universe comes to know itself further. And for us to also come to know our Selves, to remember what we really are, as opposed to simply accepting other peoples varying theories on our true nature.

If the creative force was always existent, by what means could it know itself without manifesting a means to reflect itself? While all things are very obviously possible, would the simplest answer be, for it to diversify itself into more varied portions that could provide the experiences more directly?  

The 'Nag Hammadi' library has an excellent section on the diversification of the Universe by itself.  It is couched in the language of the day and confounded by religious bafflements.  Yet when read without the filters of prior belief, it is very clear on the nature of the creative awareness and to some extent why we are here.

Love always.

[beavis]

Adept_of_light "Does our intellect not die along side our physical shells?"

No. I've done algebra correctly in a dream.

[bomohwkl]

Comment welcome and please do explain WHY what u said is/are the purpose(s) of our existence in the universe. (certainly without dogma..)