Whats the point and meaning of life and living?

[The Entropic Mind]

I'm not a very depressing person and I am usually very happy, positive and content, but lately, just as what came over me a few years ago, I've been feeling very empty, dispirited and generally depressed. I am asking myself such impossible and redundant (to some degree) questions as whats the meaning of life, whats the point to going on, why can't people get along, and why can't i be happy...when you wonder these questions, just as philosophers and writes for thousands of years have been asking at certain points in their lives, it causes a shut down of casual life activities, not wanting to associate, unable to find happiness and hugely irritating despairingness. Additionally, these mindsets aren't neccesarily bad, in some cases lead to spiritual growth and understanding, but can lead to negativity, and thats definately what I don't want to happen for myself. I have no personal issues going on in my life, losses or other otherwise detrimental issue plaguing me, and yet, therein I am still feeling this sad depression (sometimes its brought on by seeing people acting negatively to others, the news, contradictions to the 'right' path, and doubts of love, because quite frankly, its aweful hard to be loving in certain situations when you are 17).

But I didn't really come on here to have any of my personal delimas discussed, but to have the one question thats bugged me the most...whats the meaning of life(if perchance meaning can be given) and moreover whats the point?

I am not ignorant of the multiverse we live in, or of individual and group paths in the spiritual world, love, forgiveness and positivity; I meditate when I can, and I avidly write down my dreams and walk my own dreamlands lucidly. I've launched an astral projection from a lucid dream before, and I have pretty good intuitive skills (I'm telling this because I just want to display that I'm not ignorant, again).

The real source of all this, I know, is from my own self doubt, and any wisdom any of you might have on displaying to me the meaning or point of living life, either here or as an astral being or in any other form...whats the point? I'm so sick of manic depression its making me sicker, if indeed that is possible.

[ubiquitous]

You're just gunna have to switch off a little bit, it just don't come to you all at once, so many developments in the coming years will answer so many questions we all have so i guess you should embrace life a little bit get some more experience to fill the void,nature abhors a vacuum so does the human mind.
If you start getting so synical now it will develop into a part of your own character and stunt your mental growth, i found chatting to older people who gave me my skin and others that gave me my freedom a wholesome experience that switched off a depressive mode my mind was in some years ago.

[Stookie]

The Entropic Mind-

I'm a believer in the fact that all unhappiness and depression is not a part of ourselves, but a part of our perception. Looking for the answers outside of yourself is and endless task, but changing your perception can make a world of difference. Trying to find an absolute answer to something that eludes us on a physical level is like a dog chasing it's own tail.

Maybe instead of trying to find a general meaning of life, try to find out a meaning for your life NOW, in the present moment. (Which it sounds like philosophical contemplation probably plays a major role).

For me, becoming satisfied with life isn't about changing things in my outside life, but changing my perception, and life generally changes on it's own to fit it. I'm not sure where I first read it but, 'a person's outside life is a mirror of their inner life'.

Keep your chin up!

[El-Bortukali]

everybody FEELS,evolves,experience the same thing as others.so what's the point of so many souls?


what's the purpose of Immortality?

[El-Bortukali]

what diferent things?

i see everybody make the same things everyone elses makes everyday.

[El-Bortukali]

even astral projection which I'm sure you do is done by many other people,so what you are going trough  is not something rare or unique..so...how boring for you?..

so my theory is:

we are made by the source to act as it's 'Farmer's' we experience,gain knowledge,evolute,etc etc and then we return to the source and the source assimilates all the knowledge becoming more and more powerful...

thus,the purpose of life is to gain power for another entity...
so, i have to go trough thousands of life of suffering,death,and pain,while the source does nothing?
mean,who likes or wants to experience aids,cancer,murder,suicide,etc etc? unless we are talking about hardcore souls...
a bit of fascism heh?
i feel bad  for the individuals who commit suicide only to find out that they are cursed to live forever..unless,there's an option to end our immortal existence.

[Stookie]

so, i have to go trough thousands of life of suffering,death,and pain,while the source does nothing?

That's assuming that you are separate from the source. Maybe you made the choice to experience this life and don't remember, and when you do, you'll be like "Oh yeah, THAT'S why chose a physical incarnation".

I agree with runlola in the fact that everyone's life is different. There may be a lot of similarities and lot of copying going on, but my experiences are my experiences.

[El-Bortukali]

still,i don't see the source go trough all of us go trough

runola told me we are all connected to each other including the source(')
i'm not sure if i want to be connected to mass murderers,thief's,rapers,serial killers,etc

[CFTraveler]

But El Bortukali, let's just say, for the sake of argument, that you all of a sudden knew without a shadow of a doubt that you were connected to all that you despise, wouldn't that bring you a bit closer to forgiveness, and perhaps the desire to help, or repair,  instead of condemn?  Just a thought.

[The Entropic Mind]

I've considered most of what has been stated. I used to be satisfied with the "you live to live" definition for some time, but it really just hasn't made sense lately. What beyond the question being the answer is there?

The belief that depression and sadness don't exist of the self makes sense to an extent, and I understand that perception defines a huge amount of the human mind, but again, this for me rises above that; Creating a reality is denying the one you truly see, and the one I truly see is a mismatch of people and objects intermeshing with one another in a world that doesn't make sense, of people who don't know sense, and who need guidance but are mostly deaf to hearing it. I can search for more than that, but I won't deny it, and I won't change my opinion blatantly of what my eyes are telling me. Sometimes I wonder if its possible for humans to understand the point and meaning of life on this plane of existence; and sometimes I wonder if this plane was meant to make sense, or perhaps if  this is indeed the pergatory that catholics consider as definition.

I've always scorned cynicism, being its so presumptuous. I don't nessecarily see myself as being cynical at this point but becoming a realist with no clear picture of what to be real about. It's becoming an endless loop for me...at some point I'm either going to crack or I'm going to get better, and it really doesnt matter which, because there is never a low to far down to where one can't go back up again, but this entire proccess makes me impatient and irritated.

[The Entropic Mind]

I'm utterly convinced that we are all here for one another and that every experience that everyone is having is relevant. It all counts. The Universe is so extraordinarily well designed that it needs all those experiences.
-- R. Buckminster Fuller

I respect this.

[El-Bortukali]

we are all here for one another

funny how nobody seems to care about each other.
oh yes,we 'are here to learn how to develop 'emotions' and stuff.
couldn't we do it on the 'astral planes?'

and why would i even care about anyone if we are all 'immortal' and this is all but a learning experience..

i've always hated school..

[El-Bortukali]

I'm here because my parents couldn't prevent themselves from having sex,no?

and that's all very nice"'attempt great things'"but if you don't have the right genetic code let's say,IQ there's nothing much you can do.

if that German dude wasn't a genius he wouldn't say such things.

[Stookie]

Creating a reality is denying the one you truly see, and the one I truly see is a mismatch of people and objects intermeshing with one another in a world that doesn't make sense, of people who don't know sense, and who need guidance but are mostly deaf to hearing it. I can search for more than that, but I won't deny it, and I won't change my opinion blatantly of what my eyes are telling me.

You're assuming that you already experience reality, but it's defined by your assumptions that the "world that doesn't make sense, of people who don't know sense, and who need guidance", etc. That's what I mean by changing perception. Getting rid of those mental filters that hinder us from seeing what's "real".

Sometimes I wonder if its possible for humans to understand the point and meaning of life on this plane of existence; and sometimes I wonder if this plane was meant to make sense, or perhaps if  this is indeed the pergatory that catholics consider as definition.

All the wise people before us who have found their meaning of life have told us over and over again, you're not gonna find the answer here in the physical world.

funny how nobody seems to care about each other.
oh yes,we 'are here to learn how to develop 'emotions' and stuff.
couldn't we do it on the 'astral planes?'

and why would i even care about anyone if we are all 'immortal' and this is all but a learning experience..

i've always hated school..

Maybe all of that is what you're here to figure out? (I hated school too... with a passion.)

----------------------

Has anyone seen "I Heart Huckabees"? It's all about this topic. The 2 main characters hire "existential detectives" to help them answer these same questions in relation to their lives. It's thought provoking and hilarious.

[El-Bortukali]

Creating a reality is denying the one you truly see, and the one I truly see is a mismatch of people and objects intermeshing with one another in a world that doesn't make sense, of people who don't know sense, and who need guidance but are mostly deaf to hearing it. I can search for more than that, but I won't All the wise people before us who have found their meaning of life have told us over and over again, you're not gonna find the answer here in the physical world. deny it, and I won't change my opinion blatantly of what my eyes are telling me.

You're assuming that you already experience reality, but it's defined by your assumptions that the "world that doesn't make sense, of people who don't know sense, and who need guidance", etc. That's what I mean by changing perception. Getting rid of those mental filters that hinder us from seeing what's "real".

Sometimes I wonder if its possible for humans to understand the point and meaning of life on this plane of existence; and sometimes I wonder if this plane was meant to make sense, or perhaps if  this is indeed the pergatory that catholics consider as definition.

All the wise people before us who have found their meaning of life have told us over and over again, you're not gonna find the answer here in the physical world.

funny how nobody seems to care about each other.
oh yes,we 'are here to learn how to develop 'emotions' and stuff.
couldn't we do it on the 'astral planes?'

and why would i even care about anyone if we are all 'immortal' and this is all but a learning experience..

Whats always hated school..

Maybe all of that is what you're here to figure out? (I hated school too... with a passion.)

----------------------

Has anyone seen "I Heart Hackable"? It's all about this topic. The 2 main characters hire "existential detectives" to help them answer these same questions in relation to their lives. It's thought provoking and hilarious.

why can't i figure it out on the astral  planes?

what's so great about physical life?

heh,now if existence is a school,I'm pretty much screwed

All the wise people before us who have found their meaning of life have told us over and over again, you're not gonna find the answer here in the physical world.

so what's the point of coming to the physical world? wouldn't  it be wiser to evolve on the astral planes where there is no death,no aging,no diseases,no rapers,no crazy mofos who kill you for a dollar

[The Entropic Mind]

The astral plane isn't without its own negative characteristics; perhaps you've never had a bad encounter, but in having one, you'll understand what I mean. All of the negativity you have on your back doesn't disappear whence leaving this plane, you'll take it with you, and you are carrying with you right now the negativity of times past. Carpe Diem my friend, the time is now, and not later or would be aspirations (basing just on your last few comments, I really don't no you, and its just me casting judgement).

There are "crazy mofos" in the astral realm that would rob you not for "a dollar", but for a bit of your energy. I actually find it ironically funny. But what can you do? What you can do at any time and any place, just rise above it.

[Stookie]

The astral is a part of the physical world. They are dependent on each other. What we know as "physical" wouldn't exist without it. We already work at the astral level, just normally not conscious of it.

wouldn't it be wiser to evolve on the astral planes where there is no death,no aging,no diseases,no rapers,no crazy mofos who kill you for a dollar

They'd probably just be there in a different form. Those types of people do exist, but so do their polar opposites. Being conscious of the astral planes from here, that's evolution. It's hard work, but can be fun and exciting along the way.

School sucks, but life is fun. That's where the real, meaningful learning is.

[El-Bortukali]

for certain people it might be.
but I'm not seeing mentally retarded individuals,HIV patients and the rest enjoying and thinking life fun.
when i was 8 i got hit by a car and was left paralyzed from the waist down for around 9 months or so.i didn't enjoyed the experience or thought it  was 'fun'
the only experienced I've ever found to be 'fun' was playing computer/consoles games..now i hardly believe i was born to experience this

and what happens at the end of the 'learning'?
i become an individual  source,or do i  merge with  the  source or i just roam around the planes forever?  merging with the source would be ironic,passing trough thousands of life's of suffering and death for in the end join the source again

[Novice]

Entropic Mind:

I can search for more than that, but I won't deny it, and I won't change my opinion blatantly of what my eyes are telling me.

I agree with much of what Stookie and Runlola have posted. But I would like to add one recommendation that you may or may not have tried, and that would be meditation or deep contemplation.

Several years ago I went through a phase where I wondered why I was doing what I was doing. The job I had didn't seem very important compared to helping others. I was having some serious issues with feeling like I wasn't really doing things I should be doing (like volunteer work) because I didn't have the time between job and family. I spent several months sitting every night and medtitating on this issue as it was really beginning to bother me. But then answers began to appear to me not only from within meditation but from others as well. Basically I began seeing my life in a different point of view. It was really interesting. My question was very clearly answered for me and I'm a much more content individual because of it.

I think the questions you are asking are valid, but I think you are looking for answers in the wrong place.  No one here can give you a definitive answer. The only place I believe you will get the answers you need are from within. Try meditating on this every night for several weeks and see what comes to you. And you don't need to spend hours in meditation -- just 15-20 minutes is plenty. The point is to be able to relax enough that your inner guidance can come through to your consciousness.

El-Bortukali

but I'm not seeing mentally retarded individuals,HIV patients and the rest enjoying and thinking life fun.
when i was 8 i got hit by a car and was left paralyzed from the waist down for around 9 months or so.i didn't enjoyed the experience or thought it was 'fun'

Just out of curiousity, how many mentally retarded individuals do you know? I've known several over the years, and I must say that they are usually VERY happy. And, like those with normal IQ's, they are all individual and have their own personalities. However, as a whole they always seem so full of love and innocence that I really have to stand back and simply admire them. I find them inspiring.

Have you spoken to any terminally ill people about their perception of life? Everyone deals with death differently, whether due to illness, accident or old age. I think people who are terminal tend to focus on the quality of life over the quantity -- which is a concept I think all people should strive for daily. I've seen cancer patients exude patience, understanding and appreciation on scales that shame the average citizen.

While I understand that you didn't enjoy being paralyzed temporarily, perhaps joy being paralyzed wasn't the point? Perhaps the 'lesson' in that experience (if there was one) was to slow down and appreciate what is around you? What I'm proposing is pure speculation. But my point is to explain that there are many ways to view something. You focused on the paralysis solely -- being confined to a wheelchair and dependent on others was not joyful for you. I'm sure there were other things that you experienced during that time that you wouldn't have had the opportunity had you not been confined to a wheelchair. The question is were you so focused on the paralysis that you ignored everything else? I personally believe its all a matter of knowing how to make lemonaide from lemons.

just my 2 cents!

[Stookie]

OK, life isn't all good and all fun, there's also a lot of crap involved. You can't avoid it. No one can. People suffer.

But if you're not in that position, why be miserable?

I spent several years of my life miserable and depressed, and didn't care if life went on or not. I blamed it on everything around me - it wasn't my fault. I see now that it was my fault for not accepting the reality I lived in, dreaming of a reality that would never exist. But I wouldn't be where I'm at now without those awful years. I wouldn't have the fun and enjoyment I have now and be able to appreciate it. And when bad things happen, I know things will turn around. Hey, the worst that could happen is I could die. Why not enjoy and appreciate what I've got?

For all the negativity and negative people out there, there are just as many good and positive people and situations. It's what you choose to focus on.

---------------

I don't know where I read this, but I'm pretty sure it's not in the bible (I'm not christian, it's a good story):

Jesus and his disciples were walking down a road and came across a dead dog. The disciples said "that's disgusting, let's get by as quick as we can". Jesus walked to the dog and pointed at it's teeth saying, "Look at how beautiful its teeth are. They're perfect."

[Kriztenzen]

I would like to add, that comming to terms with physical life and death, the unfair advantages, the careless people, and the seemingly endless parade of death and destruction, has for me, never been a matter of spirituality.

For me it was more a matter, maturity and age. As I grew older it became apparent, that trying diggest the world with my mind, was as good as impossible, there is definately a limit to how many concepts one can pile up in ones mind, and the number of questions one can juggle around at the same time.

as runlola writes "

"I think it would help if you focus more on "now"
The end is a bit far off to worry about right now.
Is there anything that would make you happy now?"

I think that is very good advise ideed.

[CFTraveler]

For whatever this is worth, from "Dark Nights of the Soul", which is what you are having, have come great thinkers.

And no, a high IQ doesn't make you a genius- I know a couple of people with genius IQ's that have pathetic and meaningless lives.  

I hope you can ride it out.

[El-Bortukali]

i would still stick with the HIGH IQ.

it's better to be the wasted potencial than no potencial at all.

[The Entropic Mind]

i would still stick with the HIGH IQ.

it's better to be the wasted potencial than no potencial at all.

Oh your not letting anything up, no no.

[El-Bortukali]

what should i let up?