I think the meaning of life is to learn, but what so you all think?
The meaning of life is what you will choose it to be. If it would be just "to learn" then what would this knownledge be used for?
And the answer is: what is the meaning of life?
To be aware because if we are not then that defines real death!?
no meaning
42
To conquer and make the most of imperfection and suffering.
Just wondering, but what would it be according to frank?
Hey all!
Here is my $.02 worth:
Because we live in a relative universe, there is an infinite amount of 'meaning' available. In other words, there may not be 'one' meaning at all. Add to this the fact that we are all limited by 'language', which is the primary tool with which we are able to set the necessary parameters of our experience (even in our own thoughts,) and we, as humans, probably only have access to a very small piece of the 'universal meaning' pie. Even if there is such a thing as the 'ultimate meaning of life', we may not even have the necessary level of consciousness to perceive it (even with the abilities that we all share here,) let alone 'to know what IT is'.
Now, 'relative to earth' and, moreover, 'relative to earth in the 21st century' there may be a wide range of different meanings to choose from: but once again, it will have to be narrowed down again and again, each time the parameters of experience are narrowed to be 'relative to' each individual person.
Long story short!-----"The Meaning of Life, according to Beth" has changed many times in my forty-some-odd years. One thing has always led to another, and then another, and so on, that I have finally realized that "learning" is not an end unto itself, but rather, a means through which I have been able to be conscious of who I am becoming and then to know who I am. This is actually in agreement with one of the most ancient answers to this question, which is, to: KNOW THYSELF.
Peace,
Beth
I think the meaning of life is so totally obvious it hurts. To live.... DUH!!!!
:lol: 8)
Or it is to die since that is the thing shared by all living beings.
I see the meaning of life as not about doing, but about being.
I follow the viewpoint that we are here to experience.
Experience what?
Everything!
Experience life in all the myriad of ways it can be experienced.
For me, learning is not the goal, it's the side-effect. In experiencing life, you learn by default.
At least... most people do.
I'm not sure about rednecks and Fundamentalists
:)
James.
Hello James,
Even rednecks and Fundamentalists learn ... But perhaps not what WE want them to learn ? ;-) ....
If life were a Play, and we the actors - and the meaning of life is to be able to Direct the play with nothing but LOVE, then we NEED to know everything that goes on up on that stage - including the roles of Rednecks and Fundamentalists?
It is my experience, that we REACT upon the feelings and thoughts, that Fundamentalists and Rednecks "trigger" in us - and NOT to the fundamentalists and rednecks them self? ...
So - if we HATE what they trigger in us (i.e. Fear), then we actually HATE something INSIDE of ourselfs, or ? ...
If I HATE something inside of my self, I would think, that I have actually alianated some part of myself? (and thereby created conflict) inside of my self as well?
Ohh - and the last question .... What is the actual meaning of the word HEALING by the way ? :-)
I personally wouldn't be interested in a "Happy Happy Joy Joy" play, there would need to be conflict or else it's an endless monotonous bore.
Nicely put Kenneth. :)
Mindless,
the less "new-agey spiritual" more human side of me agrees with you. Every now and then you need to just break something!
reminds me of a saying I came across recently:
Some people are like Slinkies.
Generally useless, but bring a smile to your face when you push them down stairs.
:twisted:
James.
I agree with you, James, on the meaning of life. Secondary to that is what you decide the meaning of your life is going to be in a less broad sense (basically, what you're going to do with your life). Lessons are indeed a side effect.
The idea that I'm here to learn some life lesson, or sent here to pass some test, annoys me to no end. Beyond to have the experience, I decide what I'm here for.
at the moment..I believe we are to learn and experience the physical/human life
two cents more....
To remember what we already know... Love conquers all!
I doubt there is a meaning to life. Ther may be a purpose which in my experience is to express your personal point of perception to the best fof your capability. Fulfill your destiny to use a worn out phrase.
When you look at any given lifetime (understood as a number of solar revolutions during which a given person is pysically functional) it is entirely meaningless. Take one life as an individual and it has a slight effect on a number of lives that already are biased in an agreeable way. Give or take a few exceptional instances.
What counts is what one does with a life, ie. the purpose. What one seeks and tries to achieve. Taken objectively most if not all we do is just happenstance. It's not the ride but the reason. Not the goal but the trip.
2cents & L&L
Jouni
Life has no meaning apart from the "meaning" you give it and that's "THE TRUTH"
Beliefs and The Truth have nothing in common.
(p.S First posting just want to see if my avatars loaded, oh yer High!!)
its having no conflict on any level of your being, when you fully surrender and stop wanting, you dissolve into that void. think of dropping a cup of water into the sea, the water from the cup suddenly becomes 1000,000 times more conscious of itself.
I wonder though if you realise enough in life you'll have to wait until you die until you can ascend, or if you can realise enough in life and just ascend without having to wait to die, like just tuning into the heavens from here.
and how far developed is a soul if its incarnated as a human?.. are we as souls the equivalent of a 6 year old in human life? its frustrating feeling like you know what and why but not knowing how...
Not that I've much time to dream, but the quest for me is to make my life more meaningful. Like making myself ready for better life choices, experiences and destinies...up skilling my thinking and refining my techniques in using energy so that I become a more attractive personality...HA!
There is no meaning to life. And searching for meaning will only confuse the mind and lead you further away from the truth.
Quote from: MindFreakThere is no meaning to life. And searching for meaning will only confuse the mind and lead you further away from the truth.
Don't you mean that it will lead you to more truth options?
No. Only the illusion of truth options.
I think individually its whatever you can make of it
but collectively natures motive is much more than that for it sprouts food we need, something wants us to survive.In today's age we are analytical tools of nature, for all of us to be communicating on the meaning of our existence is testament to that.
When will earthly humans be content with the knowledge they have, never?
future advances in technology on the small and large levels will give us more content filling the void in our mind that nature abhors.
super-seeds from our mind like making something by contemplating nothing (0)
content with the content?.
Mankind seems more interested in physical knowledge. Knowledge of everything that is temporary.
The meaning of life is to live.
Then what does it mean to live?
Quote from: MindFreakThen what does it mean to live?
To experience.
The meaning of life is to be happy. It is what everyone works towards in life.
But if you were totally 100% happy then wouldn't it get boring? What would you do next? We need a spectra of different emotions and moods to have a reason to go on and try new things. If it were possible to find a way to be happy all the time then we would stop doing other things in fear that we would lose that happiness.
I think the meaning (if there is one) is to get over our fears and explore all there is to experiance. That includes helping others experiance it too :)
According to many sources that I have read, the purpose of life is the evolution and perfection of the soul. We must balance or pay back our Karmic debts that we have created and accumulated by committing wrong doing against others. We balance our Karma by experiencing the same emotions or similar emotions that we caused others to feel. We need to get rid of our fears, worries, and negative characteristics (greed, selfishness, control, materialism, etc.). We learn this through experiencing life and by being placed in situations that will best help us achieve whatever virtues we want to work on. Once our soul has reached the state of peace, harmony, unconditional love, etc. without committing wrong doing against others, it will no longer have a need to incarnate into the physical realm.
You cant have happiness without its opposite. so it is impossible to be happy all the time. Happiness is a state of mind, it doesnt exist on its own and it isnt brought on by external things, but rather our reaction to them or our own personal prefrences regarding those external phenomena.
Rather than try and "work karma out" we should try to break free from the bonds of karma, which comes with enlightenment, awakening, nirvana, bodhi, and so on.
enlightenment is a funny thing you see,
as i take it, its breaking the hold that all egos have on a person, thus enabling them to simply be free to exist. No suffering, but no pleasure...just utter serenity.
but any agenda is a product of an ego, even the ones essential to survival. All a "need" is, is an essential something required for a desired result. (Surely you don't need to eat if you don't intend on living.) Yet, any desire or agenda is a product of an ego, and thus, any voluntary action would be a product of an ego, or perhaps many egos. A truly enlightened person would cease act voluntarily. Though they would hunger and thirst, they wouldn't drink or eat because such actions are reactions in an attempt to pursue and agenda i.e. living. So what does true enlightenment get you? dead. But you could care less because the hardest ego to get over is the desire to exist, or perhaps the desire to desire.
Biologically, our purpose in live is to pass on our genes to the next generation. Beyond that, I dont know. From my experience so far, the meaning of life is what you assign to it, but who knows. There may be some kind of spiritual meaning in life, but I've seen no evidence of this thus far.
Opinion on level 1:
We need a meaning for life because we cant acept truely that we are going to die. We invent all sorts of theories to make feel our egos safe. There is no meaning but the one each construct to give ourselfs direction, order and purpose in an inherently nonsense and accidental universe.
Well it is enlightenment I think, cleaning ourselves of anything "bad", which is all that's not light that we have in our energy field.
If we look at human energy field theory it becomes sort of "easier" to answer this question. Then, it looks like the purpose of our lives is to clear our field or aura which also means to live through experiences set for us in this and future lives in order to achieve full self realisation and final enlightenment which would eventually set us free from karma and reincarnation.
I'd say: to experience restriction, to understand the value of patience, to learn to take care of everything around and to admit the wholeness of the universe.
i think there is no certain meaning to life.
the only meaning to life there is, is one that you make yourself.
Some people may think the meaning of life is to be the wealthiest person in the world, yet some may think that the meaning of life is to be the best, without using money.
I personally think everybody has their own meaning, not just mankind has 1 meaning but billions.
u guys i hate to tell you this.... but your going to die :-o
we are all going to die.... you see we have all somehow been infected with this lethal affliction called life, and whats worse...we could die any day. as to why we've been infected, no one knows, because a side effect of the disease is temporary and possibly permanent memory loss of everything that happened prior to infection.
LOL :wink:
-Thoughts
I like that first thought of that guy that said to live.
It's true, we live to stay alive, but that's only the instinctive side, if we are talking about the actual meaning of life, it's very easy to tell. Humans have to live up to the values, then they can be "happy".
Happiness IS the meaning of life. We search for happiness subconsciously, why do you wanna live in the first place? Why would you live when you cant feel alive? Why do the gangsters in the ghetto's wanna be gangsters? Cuz that's their value, if you keep seeing that being a gangster is cool. You'll be happy if you are one. That's their value, that's their culture. When you grow up , you start to build an image to how you can be happy. When you achive this image, you're happy.
To me, the meaning of life is being yourself. Nothing more. I think I simply live, not live for.
"Happiness is a synonym of well-being." - Bruce Lee.
-AM
I do agree with the tenet that the purpose of life is what people are able to ultimately realize. My purpose is to be content. I say this because I believe society en masse is toxic. From the moment we are born, we are indoctrinated with materialistic ideals and are bombarded by excessive sexual content courtesy of the corporate world and media. As a result, the conceptual understanding of love, happiness, success, spirituality, etc has been co-opted. Governments and (some) religions, lest we forgot, are equally as responsible for contributing to this "mess" and have been responsible for much of the violence and deception that exists in the world today. This negative atmosphere can contribute greatly to the mental states of all people, whether they choose to acknowledge it or not. I feel, therefore, to be able to find oneself and to know oneself and to be content with oneself amidst this chaos is paramount to life. In retrospect, in viewing my life thus far, I realize I took myself too seriously - and for what? In the end, I got angry, I was self-conscious to the extreme, etc.
But is their TRULY meaning to it all? I believe ultimately the answer is no, there is no meaning, their is only "is-ness." I observed above, someone referring to the universe and life as an accident. How can that be so, I ask, if that IS the reality?
Quote from: Awakened_Mind on December 03, 2006, 05:07:02
To me, the meaning of life is being yourself. Nothing more. I think I simply live, not live for.
"Happiness is a synonym of well-being." - Bruce Lee.
-AM
Am, you should try something, do you know that when you were just a little kid, you started asking old guys funny questions like: WHYYYYYYYY lol. After every answer you continue asking WHYYYYYY, well i tried this many times, and eventually, THE answer i get with every "why are you doing this" question is: To be Happy. I can't find another eventual answer, the questions just stop there, you can't ask: why do you want to be happy? Because the answer to that is another question: Why wouldn't you want to be happy?
So AM, why do you want to be yourself? Answer (just a guess) = Because that makes me feel better/Happy/good?
Sharpe,
Why would I want to be anyone else but myself?
How can I be someone else if I can never truly escape myself?
What is the benefits in being someone else?
Where can I find solace in being another person?
To say "the meaning of life is to be happy" is too general, because the question then follows "How does one attain happiness?" My answer to this question "to be yourself." IMO, Hitler attained his meaning of life and he was not happy.
-AM
No, listen, i'm not asking about a how question, just the why question, don't bring up anything else then why, so no what, who, where, how.
You want to be yourself, that's wonderfull. Do know that you already are yourself, and if this is what you want as the meaning of life, you should already be happy. Though let me add: When you've tasted happiness, you know that it isn't enough, happiness can always be more, unlike other feelings. And it isn't an instant feeling like ecstasy it's a long term feeling, you can lose it any moment, you can gain it any moment. Because of my culture here in Holland and the people around me, the only way to achieve happiness is by having a beatifull and smart wife, that's #1, and having a above-average job #2, having a nice car and a nice house #3. I can't fully say that I really want this but, it's not my decision to make, this is the way happiness is printed on my head, I can't change it because this has been tought to me since i was a little baby. When I achieve this, my brain is going to signal the presym... something, which is gonna release the neurotransmitters: Serotonin and norepinephrine in to my neuroreceivers, that will make me feel like I took an overdosis XTC. Actually, I don't care, if this is the way to achieve happiness, i'm willing to go for it. I don't even have the choise to say if I want it or don't want it, cuz i have been tought to want it. Like I said before, we are just another piece of biological dump and we really have no meaning, just a road given to us suggesting we should release serotonin and norepinephrine in our brains, because that's the best feeling you can have. If you want to get out of this scene and go for a road yourself doing new-agy things like: channeling, talking to ghosts and doing telepathy, go right ahead, just let me suggest you that these things are all in your brain, the brain makes anything real, the only thing you need is to believe it. But my opinion is to choose the way that everyone does, just with "knowing" better then them, gives you an advantage, study neuroscience and psychology, then you'll know everything, and you wouldn't be blind and believe everything you see, just a suggestion...
Ask yourself this question: Do I want to live
Quote from: Sharpe on December 05, 2006, 07:40:47
the only way to achieve happiness is by having a beatifull and smart wife, that's #1, and having a above-average job #2, having a nice car and a nice house #3. I can't fully say that I really want this but, it's not my decision to make, this is the way happiness is printed on my head, I can't change it because this has been tought to me since i was a little baby.
I disagree.
Quote from: Sharpe on December 05, 2006, 07:40:47
study neuroscience and psychology, then you'll know everything, and you wouldn't be blind and believe everything you see, just a suggestion...
Ask yourself this question: Do I want to live
I'm studying Psychology at University and I took an elective in neuroscience. So since you have such a vast amount of knowledge in the areas, tell me exactly what part of either proves that this is all in our head.
-AM
I never said i had a vast ammount of knowledge in these areas, heck, i never said i even studied them, just suggesting it. And since im 17 don't expect me to have university knowledge about these things.
And I just saw a few video's about neuroscience... and... wow, the brain is SUCH a fantastic object, it's like nature's masterpiece. I understand that the frontal lobe of humans are a bit bigger then animals like chimpansee's, this part stops us from doing things that are against our culture (inhibits things). I don't know why you disagree with my idea of "happiness is achieved by reaching the things that are most of value in the culture you grew up in". Though, if you are really studying psychology, please correct me on how to achieve happiness. This is just the way i analyzed it.
And again about the "I'm studying Psychology at University and I took an elective in neuroscience. So since you have such a vast amount of knowledge in the areas, tell me exactly what part of either proves that this is all in our head."
Don't get me wrong or anything, but it sounds like you really want to test me here, since you have read psychology, you know you do this because u want to be the "superior" (the dominance thing), am I right or wrong, just correct me if I'm wrong. Anyways, there's no specific part that shows you this is all in our heads, but I did seem to realize that I started THINKING more after I read one of those NLP books (the joseph o'connor one). Maybe you can do this too by reading philosophy books, i dunno.
I just know that when you get into the whole psychology or philosophy subject, it takes over your life and you think way more different then you did before you read them. Changes your life.
Sharpe,
You can have a wife, house/car, money everything materialistic and still not be happy. So saying these are imperative to happiness is completely void. Psychology is individual, social and cross-cultural. Saying that "happiness is achieved by reaching the things that are most of value in the culture you grew up in" is also wrong, it's the same as saying with 100% certainty that some people in some cultures will never be happy conforming to their societies culture.
Quote from: Sharpe on December 05, 2006, 07:40:47
study neuroscience and psychology, then you'll know everything, and you wouldn't be blind and believe everything you see, just a suggestion...
That is not honest. You are implying that you have knowledge in the area.
This is in no way about me trying to be more superior. This to me, is everyone's right to hear the truth because that is my right as well. IMO, what you are saying is no where near it.
-AM
"That is not honest. You are implying that you have knowledge in the area."
I never said anything about me studying about it, but if i have to be honest, these are the subjects that just opened my eyes about life and the simplicity of our thoughts.
And about the superiority part, are you sure that you want to just hear the truth, or is that a cover up for you actually WANT to be superior? Because to be honest, i DO want to be a superior in this part and i'm not gonna cover it up. Because you can have a wife, house/car, loadsa money and not be happy, but why wouldn't you be happy? You have everything which would make an average person in your culture happy. I think it's quite rare if you're not happy if you have all the materialistic things. Money doesn't make you happy, but it sure as hell helps a lot, don't you agree?
I disagree. There was a study or more like a poll when they asked people who became millionares if they are happier now than before and noone said they are. I would like to post a link but i cannot find it. Happiness is a state of being not something that's dependant on outer circumstances.
Please post the link, I don't trust you on that.
"are you sure that you want to just hear the truth, or is that a cover up for you actually WANT to be superior?" Nothing about superiority. You're going around in circles.
I don't think saying whether money or anything materialistic helps or not is completely helpful. To me it may answer one question but it simply leads on to another: "If not all people are happy when they have ideal possessions, then what is it that invites happiness?" Why stop at material possessions when it doesn't answer the question posed in the first place?
Do you understand what I'm getting at?
-AM
I have found some other articles. The first one is about a link between income and happiness and in the second there are interesting articles on happiness.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060724110130.htm
http://www.dimaggio.org/Eye-Openers/happiness.htm
Sri Atmananda pointed out that the pleasure one experiences on achieving a goal or acquiring an object of desire is wrongly ascribed to such an achievement or acquisition. The joy does not come from fulfilling the desire, but causeless joy, which is our true nature, shines unobstructed when we are momentarily without desire.
Here is a good article on why people suffer.
http://www.centerpointe.com/newsletter/mindchatter_06_10.pdf
Cheers malganis. THAT to me is closer to the truth.
-AM
QuoteBecause you can have a wife, house/car, loadsa money and not be happy, but why wouldn't you be happy? You have everything which would make an average person in your culture happy. I think it's quite rare if you're not happy if you have all the materialistic things. Money doesn't make you happy, but it sure as hell helps a lot, don't you agree?
Lot's of people have these things and think they need them to be happy. But why is the divorce rate so high? Why are more people in bigger debt than ever before? Probably because they feel they need these things to be happy, when all it really does in the end is create problems. Physical "things" & money don't last and neither do the feelings associated with them.
To truly be happy you have to find something philosophical or spiritual that you can actually apply to your life. Having a lot of stuff & money isn't necessarily bad, but finding your main source of happiness in them is empty.
& Read "Walden"
I dont get it? "respondents who earned less than $20,000 a year reported spending only 12 percent more of their time in a bad mood than those who earned more than $100,000.", there you have it black and white. Poor people may have more free time, but what does that matter if they are in a bad mood. Having more money, nice car/house and a beatifull wife is always better then the opposite. This to me, is the truth.
Edit: I read the other article too, here I found: "Scientists reviewed 225 studies involving 275,000 people and found that chronically happy people are in general more successful in their personal and professional lives."- That pretty much makes sense to me... I mean this is some funny way to look at it: if you're rich, you're happy. But it could also be the opposite: If you're happy, you become rich!
Quote from: Stookie on December 08, 2006, 12:32:47
Lot's of people have these things and think they need them to be happy. But why is the divorce rate so high? Why are more people in bigger debt than ever before? Probably because they feel they need these things to be happy, when all it really does in the end is create problems. Physical "things" & money don't last and neither do the feelings associated with them.
To truly be happy you have to find something philosophical or spiritual that you can actually apply to your life. Having a lot of stuff & money isn't necessarily bad, but finding your main source of happiness in them is empty.
& Read "Walden"
Ok ok lemme tell this in a different matter, and just take it to the extreme ok?
We have a guy that found something philosophical or spiritual that he can actually apply to his life, and he's a bum.
And we have another guy that has a beautifull wife, a nice car/house and earns up to 500k a year.
But lets see, could the bum be happy? HE COULD, but only if he grew up somewhere in a place where noone has anything, where everyone is a bum. But if he grew up in, lets say: Holland. He couldn't be happy, because he saw the things that make him secure. And when you miss that secure feeling... when you miss that, you can't be happy... that's impossible.
this is from the last link in my previous post
In the first method, your internal feeling state, your
happiness, your inner peace, are dependent on the
outcome turning out a certain way. When you let
whatever happens be okay, however, your internal state,
your happiness and inner peace, are independent of the
outcome, even though you may be taking action in order
to create the outcome you want.
One key to letting whatever happens be okay, then, is
the decision that your state be inner-directed versus outerdirected,
that you be in charge of whether or not your
happiness and inner peace are tied to outer circumstances,
or you decide to remain solidly peaceful and happy,
regardless of what happens.
Quote from: Sharpe on December 05, 2006, 07:40:47
No, listen, i'm not asking about a how question, just the why question, don't bring up anything else then why, so no what, who, where, how.
You want to be yourself, that's wonderfull. Do know that you already are yourself, and if this is what you want as the meaning of life, you should already be happy. Though let me add: When you've tasted happiness, you know that it isn't enough, happiness can always be more, unlike other feelings. And it isn't an instant feeling like ecstasy it's a long term feeling, you can lose it any moment, you can gain it any moment. Because of my culture here in Holland and the people around me, the only way to achieve happiness is by having a beatifull and smart wife, that's #1, and having a above-average job #2, having a nice car and a nice house #3. I can't fully say that I really want this but, it's not my decision to make, this is the way happiness is printed on my head, I can't change it because this has been tought to me since i was a little baby. When I achieve this, my brain is going to signal the presym... something, which is gonna release the neurotransmitters: Serotonin and norepinephrine in to my neuroreceivers, that will make me feel like I took an overdosis XTC. Actually, I don't care, if this is the way to achieve happiness, i'm willing to go for it. I don't even have the choise to say if I want it or don't want it, cuz i have been tought to want it. Like I said before, we are just another piece of biological dump and we really have no meaning, just a road given to us suggesting we should release serotonin and norepinephrine in our brains, because that's the best feeling you can have. If you want to get out of this scene and go for a road yourself doing new-agy things like: channeling, talking to ghosts and doing telepathy, go right ahead, just let me suggest you that these things are all in your brain, the brain makes anything real, the only thing you need is to believe it. But my opinion is to choose the way that everyone does, just with "knowing" better then them, gives you an advantage, study neuroscience and psychology, then you'll know everything, and you wouldn't be blind and believe everything you see, just a suggestion...
Ask yourself this question: Do I want to live
You and this 'dreamland' person would have an interesting conversation.
http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/index.php?topic=25210.0
:roll:
... this might be a little off topic
right now i aint doin too good.yes, at this moment i am depressed. but this is a differnt kind of depression. its not the kind of depression where you you overreact to something that happened to you and later on end up getting over it and dealing/livng with it. its the kind that hides inside of you, trying to be forgotten. and you're okay... until something you see or hear drags you back into it. like an anchor. just a few words, that may have the force of a puddle to other people, but because of your problem, the power of those words feels like a tidal wave crashing you down into instant hell bringing with it endless negetive emotions and sadness. and you can go on feeling like this for many hours, or even, multiple days on end, until, you forget. and thats because the depression got so bad that you're body and mind just couldn't emotionally take it any more. and then you go carefree mood, keeping yourself busy and ignorant. (thats my happiness) . now some people might call that denial, but where else am i to go? going back to hell isn't helping me any and i know i wouldn't make it through no matter how hard i try. But anyway, that's the mood i am in for awhile until eventually another anchor comes and drags me away.
to put it lightly, that's the way my life has been rolling along for the past 8 months.
does anybody know of/think it's possible to quick n' dirty happiness? i mean, it'd be nice if there was some kind of drive-thru i can go to, and you know, order up... it'd make things a whole lot easier :lol: . all jokes aside, i need help in finding happiness. i can't go on living with this bipolar like disease eating at my life. my only life may i remind you.
help? anybody?
Quote from: Sharpe on December 08, 2006, 12:38:32
I dont get it? "respondents who earned less than $20,000 a year reported spending only 12 percent more of their time in a bad mood than those who earned more than $100,000.", there you have it black and white. Poor people may have more free time, but what does that matter if they are in a bad mood. Having more money, nice car/house and a beatifull wife is always better then the opposite. This to me, is the truth.
I'm not talking about what's 'better' or more ideal. I'm simply saying that those things you are listing are NOT imperative to happiness. They influence but ultimately do not determine.
Your environmental factors such as where you are raised and in what style, influence but don't determine.
I am discussing what determines happiness, you seem to be listing things that are associated with it.
-AM
-AM
riddled_skies, I dont know how is it in your case but depression was also linked to lack of sunlight, exercise and omega 3 fats. So starting to exercise and taking fish oil could help. You also cannot just jump from depression to hapiness. It's better to climb that ladder gradually. The entire proces is written in The Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Or you may want to watch The Secret. (www.thesecret.tv)
A scale of your emotions would look something like this:
1. Joy/Knowledge/Empowerment/Freedom/Love/Appreciation
2. Passion
3. Enthusiasm/Eagerness/Happiness
4. Positive Expectation/Belief
5. Optimism
6. Hopefulness
7. Contentment
8. Boredom
9. Pessimism
10. Frustration/Irritation/Impatience
11. "Overwhelment"
12. Disappointment
13. Doubt
14. Worry
15. Blame
16. Discouragement
17. Anger
18. Revenge
19. Hatred/Rage
20. Jealousy
21. Insecurity/Guilt/Unworthiness
22. Fear/Grief/Depression/Despair/Powerlessness
Riddled Skies, I strongly suggest watching "the secret", reading books like Chicken Soup for the Soul, etc etc... Unfortunately theres no instant cure for depression (that I know of).
If I could encapsulate the things that I've learned over the last 5 or 6 years; You are strong and capable, full of infinite potential. To realise the potential you need to let go of the past and stop trying to control the future. Live in the Now. You can't change the past, or control the future, NOW is the only time you ever exist in this lifetime, so get in touch with the now and just do what feels right.
Have a dream, its ok to dream, dreams give us something to live for. People who don't dream seem content to cycle through the daily routine - something I can't personally do - but; whatever blows your hair back. Spend every living and breathing moment of now visualising and speaking about and working towards your dream.
It keeps me out of trouble, and the visualisation stuff is very, very effective. If I could explain it quickly, your thoughts attract whatever you're thinking about towards you. You think you're depressed, you feel depressed. You think you're happy, you feel happy. Its a basic system, and with a bit of practice its easy to control how you feel by changing the way you think.
I hope that helps.
step-by-step frequency raising system
A strategy for coming back into alignment when you're feeling disconnected
http://www.recreating-eden.com/weblog/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=233&blogId=1
Quote from: malganis on December 08, 2006, 14:41:12
this is from the last link in my previous post
In the first method, your internal feeling state, your
happiness, your inner peace, are dependent on the
outcome turning out a certain way. When you let
whatever happens be okay, however, your internal state,
your happiness and inner peace, are independent of the
outcome, even though you may be taking action in order
to create the outcome you want.
One key to letting whatever happens be okay, then, is
the decision that your state be inner-directed versus outerdirected,
that you be in charge of whether or not your
happiness and inner peace are tied to outer circumstances,
or you decide to remain solidly peaceful and happy,
regardless of what happens.
That's some hardcore text man lol, but perhaps it could be possible if you are "inner-directed" that you would be easily happier then the opposite. But I don't think it's that easy, first of all, we adapt to where we were first born, you can't change your way of thinking easily after the age of 12. When you're a baby you pick things up and your mind builds up this thing.. this this personality, or a way of thinking according to your experiences 1-12 years. So if I was born in tibet ammongst those monks, I would be inner-directed
like you say, because that would be my reality, i would LEARN that beeing happy needs, this and this and this (the things that monks tell you how you could be happy). Now I know that wouldn't make me happy because i'm already 17 years and I have a differend "map" a different reality then those monks. My happiness is something else then theirs. But I don't think it's as easy as "inner-directed or outer-directed) there are far more different cultures and ways of life. So I still think that for me, beeing happy is with the experiences I have picked up, so I'm not saying that you all would be happy too if you had a beatifull wife, nice house/car etc. But I also don't think so you guys are inside searchers for happiness either, why? Because if that was true, you wouldn't waste your time on forums like these :P.
thanks for all the help.
sam: yeah, it's like sometimes i realize the things you said(living in the here and now), and i feel good and seem to be better off... but only for awhile until like i said before, something reminds and anchors me back and bad thought patterns form in my head, like demons. to me, it's confusing. i think my brain is just messed up, i'm so hard-wired into my own life, setting standards for myself to live to based on what i've learned so far in living. idk, makes sense
i'll watch The Secret as soon as i can find the time.
I find internal rewards in helping people.
-AM
So scientificly speaking looking at reaserch the richer are happier??
It will never be 'scientifically' spoken that richer are happier than poorer. To be scientific, something must be repeatable an infinite number of times, meaning every rich man or woman would in no doubt be happy and every poor man, unhappy.
Perhaps one is happier than the other, but where does that leave us?
I'm still more concerned with what determines happiness, not correlations of social status and happiness. The answer to this question has more explanatory power than "rich are more happy than poor". Which is ultimatey our goal.
-AM
Happiness is in the persuit of happiness, because it promotes goal-reaching and action for a positive outcome. Read Samuel Johnsons "Rasselas".
And anyway, surely the meaning of life is to make meaning?
why, 50 000 years, did our ancestors draw cave paintings of hunts and things like that? As humans, it is a natural drive to try and make sense of the world, to find out of all this chaos of the universe a purpose, a purpose given, and its our imperative to follow it.
Why did Prometheus steal the fire from the Gods? To bring back a new level of understanding and bring it to humans.
We boldly go with our minds, telescopes and religions to the farthest reaches of space, to the big bang itself, and to the inmost peace that
resides inside.
Psychology helps, but let me assure you it is not the ego which carries our desires and thoughts for happiness, it just translates them from our subconscious or indeed Self, on an individual and a collective level.
If you ask me, we're all searching for something, we're looking for the reasons to live, whether they are in the context of the grand plan,
family, success, love, the will to live it permeates through all things. To bring illumination to the darkness of unknowing. Is it possible to know everything? Of course. One day.
That's a great way to put it, gzaod. The meaning of life is the search for meaning.
Quote from: gzaod on December 13, 2006, 12:33:41
If you ask me, we're all searching for something, we're looking for the reasons to live,...
It's sad that the reason to live for some people is found in houses, vehicles, etc...
As above, so below.
If our physical bodies have evolved in this planet, so our minds and our other bodies must evolve accordingly.
The meaning of life is evolution so when can unite heaven and earth in one, and happiness is not always the best mean to achieve so.
The meaning of life is change. Plain and simple.
-AM
The meaning of life is life itself.
life is simple -
people make it difficult
The meaning of life is dynamic, constantly changing.
-AM
So many different opinions on this. It points to the truth that life is what we make it and we all have our own meaning for it.
Quote from: Awakened_Mind on December 03, 2006, 05:07:02
To me, the meaning of life is being yourself. Nothing more. I think I simply live, not live for.
"Happiness is a synonym of well-being." - Bruce Lee.
-AM
Which is what I said in the first place.
Fun thread to be involved in :-)
-AM
To experience...we are the eyes and ears of God!
Quote from: andonitxo on December 14, 2006, 11:49:05
As above, so below.
If our physical bodies have evolved in this planet, so our minds and our other bodies must evolve accordingly.
The meaning of life is evolution so when can unite heaven and earth in one, and happiness is not always the best mean to achieve so.
Aw man, this is like the best idea i've heard... aside from the "heaven-part".
The meaning of life, I don't think we have one, we are nothing important. Just like you said, we may be just a small part of evolution. By-products of a planet called earth? We exist just to keep the nature balanced? We are not special, we are just mammals with better brains... I mean... isn't that it? We're just a part of the evolution, maybe theres a pattern of evolution, like on every planet, there's like this law of evolution. It starts with water, then the first lifeforms come etc. then there's us, maybe it'll keep going and going and going untill the sun blows up. Like... we gotta finish the evolution before the sun blows up. We are given a few billion years for that. It could be as simple as that? But yet, if we DO have a life, if we DO have consciousness, if we DO have serotonin as chemical in our brains to make us happy, why not use it and BE happy instead of letting life pass like it's nothing?
Again AM, your quote: "Happiness is a synonym of well-being" , which is exactly, what i've been trying to tell you. Well-being or quality of life, is how comfortable you live. This includes money. Money is something which is essential. Because of social-controll, if you don't have money, your status gets lowered. Which makes it harder to find a nice girlfriend, which could lead to depression or isolation, and that makes people very unhappy.
"To me, the meaning of life is being yourself. Nothing more. I think I simply live, not live for."
I really can't understand this if I just look at it, but if I think through: you just let life pass, and you see what happens. Well, i just wanna say that you're not the only one who thinks this, this IS what normal people think... i mean, why would you live FOR something when you can just let life pass and don't live for anything right?
So about what i wrote earlier, releasing some chemicals in your brain to make you happy, first of all: you need something to stimulate it by, you cant just "on and off" it. It's not something you can consciously activate, if it was, everyone would be at home playing with their brain chemicals and not worry about anything. Since we don't have this "luxory" we have to do it with experiences, our "instincts", being in love could be the best thing in the world, maybe thats SOME form of happiness? If you add love with well-being (a lot of money) and a nissan Z350, prada shoes, 2 triplex houses to just "THINK" you get RESPECT from people, all these experiences combined should give you joy, happiness, or whatever you'd like to call it.
BTW, i get the idea you think that I think all this is correct, but I'm against this form of consumerism, just saying that this would be the things a normal guy chases, however (quote: remember the leprechaun from the lucky charms, always going over the rainbow searching for the pot of gold, but in the end, it's just cornflakes.) This is some form of reality, you get a job and you want to work work work, and earn more money, what are you chasing? The same rainbow the leprechaun is chasing, but you won't find a pot of gold when you're retired, you'll probably realize, just like my mom is starting to realize: You wasted 40 years of your one time given life. That you can't ever get back. If you really, deeply thing about life, you start asking yourself: "is this it"? Anyways, i just wanted to get that off my chest.
hmmm not sure i can agree with the "we aren't important" part, but the rest is understandable enough.
Quote from: Sharpe on December 18, 2006, 17:03:46
Again AM, your quote: "Happiness is a synonym of wellbeing" , which is exactly, what I've been trying to tell you. Wellbeing or quality of life, is how comfortable you live. This includes money. Money is something which is essential. Because of social-controll, if you don't have money, your status gets lowered. Which makes it harder to find a nice girlfriend, which could lead to depression or isolation, and that makes people very unhappy.
"To me, the meaning of life is being yourself. Nothing more. I think I simply live, not live for."
I really can't understand this if I just look at it, but if I think through: you just let life pass, and you see what happens. Well, i just wanna say that you're not the only one who thinks this, this IS what normal people think... i mean, why would you live FOR something when you can just let life pass and don't live for anything right?
You're still attributing happiness to solely external forces.
I'm saying if you live your life searching for the meaning of life, then your meaning of life becomes the search for the meaning of life. So If you live your life living your life, then your meaning of life becomes to live your life. When I say to be myself, I am saying that my self is the most balanced part of all wholes and then some. The state that requires different particulars for all of us, but ultimately ourselves is where we are most comfortable and productive. Optimal. Hence the reason I am most happy. Materialism has something to do with it of course, what I'm saying is that it's not everything.
-AM
Quote from: Awakened_Mind on December 19, 2006, 17:51:23
You're still attributing happiness to solely external forces.
I'm saying if you live your life searching for the meaning of life, then your meaning of life becomes the search for the meaning of life. So If you live your life living your life, then your meaning of life becomes to live your life. When I say to be myself, I am saying that my self is the most balanced part of all wholes and then some. The state that requires different particulars for all of us, but ultimately ourselves is where we are most comfortable and productive. Optimal. Hence the reason I am most happy. Materialism has something to do with it of course, what I'm saying is that it's not everything.
-AM
Of course it's not everything, but yet most people (i know) got that idea. Everyone I meet always asks me about my school, it's always the school first, then they ask me about personal things... That's just wrong.
Doesn't anyone feel sorry for people that study for 10 years to become someone important and earn more money so they buy things they don't even need? What's more important, 10 years of your life or to consume more excrement just to show other people that you're better then them. Any job except civil service (maybe even them sometimes...) I see, it's all the same, even doctors: Buy our excrement so you can feel better. I'm sick of it...
Some people don't study for 10 years to get all the materialistic things they desire. On the contrary, the majority actually spend 10 years of their lives for intrinsic reasons.
-AM
no.
Quote from: Awakened_Mind on December 24, 2006, 08:24:32
Some people don't study for 10 years to get all the materialistic things they desire. On the contrary, the majority actually spend 10 years of their lives for intrinsic reasons.
-AM
I for one spent 12 years of my life studying because I loved it so. In college I kept switching majors because I enjoyed the process of learning, and would have continued it for the rest of my life if life didn't demand that I get a job and make money to survive. But if I won the lotto I'd probably go back to college and study everything that I didn't the first time, even the stuff I'm not good at like calculus and such. So I can resonate with what you're saying there.
Quote from: CFTraveler on December 26, 2006, 18:47:43
I for one spent 12 years of my life studying because I loved it so. In college I kept switching majors because I enjoyed the process of learning, and would have continued it for the rest of my life if life didn't demand that I get a job and make money to survive. But if I won the lotto I'd probably go back to college and study everything that I didn't the first time, even the stuff I'm not good at like calculus and such. So I can resonate with what you're saying there.
I constantly learn, I study because I love learning. I am seriously looking at getting another degree (in a subject I wish to know more) and I luckily recently got a new job where they will fund a Masters and possibly a PhD, so these are avenues I'm looking into.
RE the original question. I don't think life has any meaning, direction or desire. These are human created concepts. We could say we are here to learn, but reality as we know it is changing, so life as we know it might only be possible in a very small window of certain quantum particles having certain energy values. There are potentially countless universes, many without the hope of ever producing consciousness of any kind. So what we are experiencing here and now is simply another blip in an unimaginable static of change and entropy. It is knowledge which only has meaning within its own sphere of understanding (an understanding generated over millions of years of direct experience within a very narrow range of experience parameters).
I don't think this distracts in anyway from life as we know it, it just highlights the awe-inspiring beauty of even the most mundane objects around us in our short stay here.
MJ wrote:
QuoteI don't think this distracts in anyway from life as we know it, it just highlights the awe-inspiring beauty of even the most mundane objects around us in our short stay here.
Ecco.
If I knew what the meaning of Life was, it wouldn't be very fun.
What if the meaning of life is to have fun?
-AM
Quote from: Awakened_Mind on January 09, 2007, 05:11:40
What if the meaning of life is to have fun?
-AM
Then I'd be the next prophet.
Lol, that was pretty cheesy.
An anthropomorphic anthropoid once wrote:
QuoteOn an early morning in Japan, a novice Zen monk approached his master to share a most intense dream he had the last night.
"Master?" He inquired, "what would be the meaning of this dream?"
"Young one," answered the master, "it is meaning that is the dream."
When these words where uttered, the novice one attained understanding beyond knowledge.
- nothingless
Quote from: Awakened_Mind on January 09, 2007, 05:11:40
What if the meaning of life is to have fun?
-AM
I agree...that is a 'part of life' is to enjoy or have fun.
How I look at it...
Now is: To
Remember Who We Are. To get back to the 'Source'. ( I do not use the term GOD anymore...just The Source)
Once we finally get back to The Source then we are full BE-ings! Because we are BE-ing!
After a few documentaries and readings recetnly I'd have to put forward the idea that life is a preparation for death.
-AM
I agree with AM
However isnt it possible there are many reasons for life?
Existence precedes Essence
Done... :-)
Yes. I suppose the reason it so difficult to establish a conrete definition of what the 'meaning of life' actually is, arises because there is no set meaning in the first place. We all really find our own definition, then it continues to change and
evolve within the individual.
In that view, we should really examine the nature of the meaning of life rather than the meaning of life itself.
-AM
Agreed~! :-)
To get your arse kicked,
Then report back to God on how much fun that was? :-D
Or, strive to be mindful and simply be an objective observer.
The search for meaning is a natural urge to return the mind to it's source. Yet, when realized the inseparability of source and mind, meaning has never existed, merely as an impulse to guide its return through realization. Meaning, value, can only be given to what is created, for that is what is observable. Yet, the nothingness or void that is essence, there for has no meaning.
Once a story was written:
QuoteZero Dimensional
Four people met near a Buddhist monastery. Three people spoke about a building where one would climb each flour higher, one would attain a higher dimensional existance. "Show me this place" suggested the fourth man. This man looked humble, and was known to rarely speak.
Thus they went to this building, that would raise their awareness and level of life as they would climd the floors. They entered the building at ground zero, and noticed an elevator. "That's easy" said one of them, and they approached the elevator. As they entered they realized the elevator did not move. Not up nor down. "That's a pity" three of them agreed. "Let us take the stairs instead." "Not me," said the fourth man. "I shall stay in this elevator" he said as he sat down peacefully. "It won't work you know" the three commented him. The fourth did not reply.
The three approached the stairs, and through much effort they reached the first floor. To their suprise the fourth man was already sitting there, and he had made ready tea. Silently he suggested them to sit with him and to enjoy the tea. "How did you move here?" asked one of the three. The fourth replied silently with a smile, and sipped his tea. "Whatever." replied one of the three in arrogance, "let us move on." Through great effort they reached the second floor. Once more the fourth man would already be there. Sitting, with tea ready to be shared with whomever may pass by. "Again you are here!" noted the three. "We can not drink tea with you, we have floors to climb." The fourth silently nodded his head to symbolize understanding.
As the three climbed floor after floor with great effort, they continuously met the fourth man already sitting there, ready with tea to share with whomever may pass. As the three reached the seventh floor, one of them cried out in agitation "how does he do it?! I don't get it! I'm so frustrated, I'm leaving!" As this one would descend floor after floor, he met the fourth man each time as he did. Humbly being offered tea. As the agitated one reached ground zero, he noted the fourth man sitting still in the elevator. "What?!" The agitated one yelled out. "All this time I've met you on the levels of this building, yet now I even find you on ground-zero?!" The fourth man looked up and opened his eyes, which radiated a tremendous love. "I have never left this no-level" he calmly said. "Would the base of a tree not be present in all it's twigs, leafs and fruit?" The Agitated one raised his eyebrows in frustrated misunderstanding. He walked outside, and yelled to his friends on the seventh floor "Hey! The fourth one is still here on ground-zero!" One of the three stuck his head out of a window, and replied "What are you talking about?! We're drinking tea with him right here!"
The search for meaning and reason merely reflect a certain state of awareness, but is not of the fundamental mind. As do knowledge and intuition merely reflect the human affair, but not the grand affair. All is gained by losing all. The veiled mind looking for meaning, shall not find to fill the gap through the elements by which it navigates life as it currently does. It is your intellect that questions, but the answer is non-intellectual. Your essence is before knowledge, before intuition. It is before before, it is beyond beyond.
Love,
Nothingless
-
Quote from: iNNERvOYAGER on November 16, 2007, 06:55:19
To get your arse kicked,
Then report back to God on how much fun that was? :-D
Or, strive to be mindful and simply be an objective observer.
I agree with that. I've come to that.
For the last year of trying to find answers, digging, and crawling... its bad. bad news.
recently, i did a positive binge on myself and i feel great. i found this site. <http://www.lollie.com/blue/compare.html>
the key is commitment. pure comitment, and it makes me content. its what i wanted. it might be what some of you want too.
...
Sometimes it is dangerous to dig for more and more questions, what happens when you just, RUN OUT?.. :wink: :-)
----------------------------------
Quote from: LightningMunk on November 21, 2007, 18:26:56
i think the answer is in the question
what is the meaning of life?
take away the question mark
WHAT is the meaning of life
and let your mind be silent...
I like that. That's tight...
.
.
-
Everyone has their own meaning for living. Different people need to learn different things by being alive. Only when you've learned everything you can possibly learn by living in this state of existence can you move on to the next level of existence.
Possibly. Or it could be something completely different. But it is what I choose to believe.
I've come to the conclusion that the meaning of life is to reach one's potential. Whether it be as simple as a seed growing into a tree, or each individual's unique path.
How do you know when you've reached your potential? Is it even possible?
Quote from: Awakened_Mind on January 09, 2007, 05:11:40
What if the meaning of life is to have fun?
-AM
"The life we live is just for fun"
--
Fun Factory -
Close To YouQuoth one of the greatest Eurodance groups of all time...
Quote from: Stookie on December 06, 2007, 11:11:38
How do you know when you've reached your potential? Is it even possible?
I don't see it as a final destination, but if I had to...I suppose when our physical life is complete. I think it's hardwired into each living organism to not only survive, but to reach it's potential. To use the seedling/tree analogy again; trees can survive with a minimum amount of light caused by shade, but they do not just settle for a little bit of sun. You can see them mutate their own form just get more sunlight, to grow and be as healthy as it can. From a seedling it has this potential; to become a great tree, and through the process of life, it attempts to reach it until death.
Humans are much more complex than trees, and the individual human is even more, but I still think the strive for a living create to reach it's potential is still fundamentally present.
I believe that Life is balance incarnate. Life is one of an infinite amount of ways that the Universe balances itself.
The problem with this question is that we don't really know what the question is. We seek meaning but what do we really want to know? In some way we want to justify our existence. And the way we want to do it, using rational judgment and words to describe it, we are only digging a hole and the question remains. If you're asking for purpose of life, yes I agree fully the purpose is to learn and experience. But if you're talking about meaning in a "why we exist" sort of way, then I cannot answer you. The nature of existence is something I don't think we will ever fully understand. It is unexplainable, lacks logic and is a paradox for any scientist out there. The mere fact that we exist is fantastic, and should be treated with up most respect. In fact every moment spent without appreciation and clarity is a moment lost. The world is a mysterious place, and what makes it even more mysterious is that we have absolutely no idea where we are from or what are we supposed to do here. We have to figure it out on our own, that's the tricky part, and the fun part as well. Some things you just don't know. You don't get to know, and it is supposed to be like that, don't ask me why. :)
Life is a fantasy, a river of emotions, an ocean of thoughts and actions and reactions. There's only two ways to go about it really, you can either make yourself happy or you can make yourself miserable, the amount of work is the same.
It just is. There's no meaning apart from what we give it. It's a paradox, there is no logical answer. The end is the beginning, the highest is the lowest when it is reached, and all enlightenment is a process. In oneness, there is no seperation between you and all that is, which means you see absolutely nothing, "empty with such fullness" - something impossible to describe. What you see is either a paradox or the answer to all paradoxes. Which one it is is another paradox, yet it's simply nothing as long as you don't think about it. I can't describe to you what oneness is, and I can't tell you what your life's meaning is. It is ineffable. The ultimate reason for existence is that you cannot not exist. The forms are always changing, and yet the observer can never change. Look inside to know yourself. This is not the meaning of life, but merely how to return to knowledge. Everything and nothing vibrate against each other to create the world of perception, and yet what exists is the same as what doesn't if all is one. What is nothing? It must be the meaning of everything. Look not to what you can see to give meaning to your life. You are formless, you are indescribable, you are unique and yet you are the same. You are not a body and you are not an ego. You are infinite love for as long as you are aware of everything all at once. The paradox has no answer, and yet it has many. That is another paradox. Like an infinite fractal, the paradox keeps zooming in or out of itself until you stop and see it for what it truly is, which is nothing. The meaning you give to life you give to yourself. In reality, there is no answer, and yet what have you read? Nothing? If you would but look to yourself, you will find that the answer has been you all along because you see nothing there. You have awareness, yet what does it look like? Have you ever not had it, or have you just not had awareness of things? There is no answer in form, therefor the answer is formless. It is either everything all at once, or nothing at all. Paradox after paradox, there is no logical answer. Why do we live? If we did not live we would be nothingness, and not even nothingness can exist without an observer. Therefor, the observer is all that is. The point is a field. We are all one, and the truth cannot be divided. Illusions have their levels and degrees, but yet the truth does not. See this for what it's worth, and the meaning will elude you. Life is paradox. The answer is nothing and yet everything. I told you the answer is not a logical one, but does that "mean" it cannot exist? It just is.
Quote from: Starvingpercussionist on June 10, 2008, 22:54:41
It just is. There's no meaning apart from what we give it. It's a paradox, there is no logical answer. The end is the beginning, the highest is the lowest when it is reached, and all enlightenment is a process. In oneness, there is no seperation between you and all that is, which means you see absolutely nothing, "empty with such fullness" - something impossible to describe. What you see is either a paradox or the answer to all paradoxes. Which one it is is another paradox, yet it's simply nothing as long as you don't think about it. I can't describe to you what oneness is, and I can't tell you what your life's meaning is. It is ineffable. The ultimate reason for existence is that you cannot not exist. The forms are always changing, and yet the observer can never change. Look inside to know yourself. This is not the meaning of life, but merely how to return to knowledge. Everything and nothing vibrate against each other to create the world of perception, and yet what exists is the same as what doesn't if all is one. What is nothing? It must be the meaning of everything. Look not to what you can see to give meaning to your life. You are formless, you are indescribable, you are unique and yet you are the same. You are not a body and you are not an ego. You are infinite love for as long as you are aware of everything all at once. The paradox has no answer, and yet it has many. That is another paradox. Like an infinite fractal, the paradox keeps zooming in or out of itself until you stop and see it for what it truly is, which is nothing. The meaning you give to life you give to yourself. In reality, there is no answer, and yet what have you read? Nothing? If you would but look to yourself, you will find that the answer has been you all along because you see nothing there. You have awareness, yet what does it look like? Have you ever not had it, or have you just not had awareness of things? There is no answer in form, therefor the answer is formless. It is either everything all at once, or nothing at all. Paradox after paradox, there is no logical answer. Why do we live? If we did not live we would be nothingness, and not even nothingness can exist without an observer. Therefor, the observer is all that is. The point is a field. We are all one, and the truth cannot be divided. Illusions have their levels and degrees, but yet the truth does not. See this for what it's worth, and the meaning will elude you. Life is paradox. The answer is nothing and yet everything. I told you the answer is not a logical one, but does that "mean" it cannot exist? It just is.
Me likey.
Thanks. :lol: