What's The Purpose Of Life

[suzdoyle]

What a yummy thread this is! (And pardon my jumping in late). Many powerful ideas to ponder here. I would add that, in my view, life is about living the question. When we're in the question/ unknown, we pay closer attention to and regard those around us with more open hearts and curiosity. When we think we have the answers, it becomes easier to feel separate from those who appear to have different answers. And, if you're in a major Zen mood, living the question while talking to someone living their answer invites you to explore whether you're living your own answer-less question in a way that is really more an answer than a question. HUH? Ahem.I like Eckhart Tolle's idea that being in the present moment is all that we can ever know for certain. Anything else (past or future) is a story about something that has already happened or has not yet occurred. And in that present moment, we get to choose deepening or distraction. That's my simple view of life. At least in this present moment. Maybe next moment I'll change my view completely. That's the fun things about living moment by moment. Anyhoo, I appreciate the open-hearted, deep-thinking, Monty-Python loving groovyness of you amazing Taxi Cohorts! Let's keep the conversations going!Suz. . . Have patience with everythingunresolved in your heart,and try to love the questions themselvesas if they were locked rooms, or bookswritten in a very foreign language.Don't search for the answers,which could not be given to you now,because you would not be able to live them.and the point is, to live everything.Live the question now.Perhaps then, someday day inthe future,you will gradually,without even noticing it,live your way into the answer. - R. M. Rilkethe most visible creators i know of arethose artists whose medium is life itself.the ones who express the inexpressible --without brush, hammer, clay or guitar.they neither paint nor sculpt -- their medium is being. whatever their presence touches has increased life.they see & don't have to draw.they are the artists of being alive . . . - J. Stone, Silverton, OR

[squids]

I believe I'll have a margarita. Great thread!

[stephen]

Feb 11, 2009, 2:35pm, jmeraz wrote:Hey, Stephen. I agree with your idea of basing our faith (and we all believe in something, as indicated by the responses in this thread) on reason. But before this thread turns into something we're all ashamed of, let's agree not to call each other stupid or other such things. Maybe I'm reading your post wrong, but just in case...It's ok to ask why we may believe in things, or to challenge the reasons why we believe in them. It's even ok to say that those reasons seem illogical. That's part of the nature of this discussion.However, we run a great danger when we disrespect each other, write each other off, or insult one another in the conversation.Everyone back to their corners, then meet in the center of the ring and touch gloves, and let the ideological sparring begin...with a great deal of respect for the other players. Hey, my intention is not to offend anyone, but, let's face the facts... If something is wrong, it's wrong. Isn't rape wrong?, isn't the actions of a pedophile is wrong? or is this one of those if it's right for you that's okay because that's your personal choice. When faced with the truth we will get offended happens to me when I face the truth about myself and concepts that I held that are wrong. That's the nature of the truth. The good things is that in being offended helps to show us that we are defending our feeling and positions which is natural. The choice is then ours to change or not. I however think some of us are confusing the question the question is What is the purpose of life? many of us are answering the question What is the meaning of life? Meaning is found or discovered when purpose is found. not the other way around. Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life. All the things we do will affect the globe positively or negatively, that is because all of life is integrated. We should love one another but Love doesn't mean allowing someone to do all they want, or continue in behaviors that are harmful to them and others. Love also disciplines, Love also tells the truth in a way to cause positive change and bring growth and at times Love must say that's enough you need to be removed and dealt with sternly. The things is that when most of us talk about Love today we don't want to talk about tough love that offends but causes us to change for the better.I agree that we should love each other, make others happy, write music, dance, laugh, smell the roses and all the good stuff... but those are things we do along the way of fulfilling our purpose, or should I say purpose may be fulfilled through these acts but the act is not our purpose in it self.

[devin]

Feb 12, 2009, 12:48am, squids wrote:I believe I'll have a margarita. Great thread!Grab two squids...I'll reserve your chair until you get back!I know I'm wrong at least 10 times a day (closer to 1000) about stuff that I can actually go and measure...so I certainly can't tell other folks how to live.But I'm convinced there's deeper stuff going on than just me & y'all.Hey ONOFFON...what The Bleep?!? Check out Scott Adams last chapter of "The Dilbert Future". At the end of a very funny book, he lays out some serious stuff about altering reality. And dang if it hasn't worked for me 80% of the times I try...whoa. Switching back to my biological side, I guess I'm the only one to postulate here (on page 5 of the thread) that "The purpose of life" may include having something to do with "creating more life to keep the whole cycle going?"

[jonathanm]

Feb 12, 2009, 4:21am, devin wrote:But I'm convinced there's deeper stuff going on than just me & y'all.Amen to that, bro. And thank goodness!I also think you're right in saying that folks like you and me who can't seem to help but mess up shouldn't be telling others how to live. My own ideas of how the world should work are tainted by my personal preferences and, frankly, guiltiness. I'm always going to want to slant my beliefs in a direction that, well, makes me less guilty.To combat my own bias, I'm a big proponent of relying on the statements of someone with authority. Whether you favor philosophers like Eckhart Tolle or spiritual leaders like Buddha, Mohammed, or Jesus Christ, you have to look at (1) what they say, (2) how they lived their lives, and (3) evidence for their claims.After looking at His words (not just the nicey-nice stuff everyone quotes, but the rubber-meets-road stuff I'd prefer to skip), how He lived His life, and the historical evidence, I am increasingly convinced of the truth of the statements and person of Jesus Christ. I'm going through a study right now of the actual words of Christ. His message is pretty brutal, but, I'm convinced, true.Jonathan

[stephen]

Devin and Jonathanm we agree there is deeper stuff going on than all of us, and I agree with you as well that we are all flawed, but I disagree with part of that statement in that we can't tell folks how to live. We do it everyday and for a very good reason. Don't we all tell and or teach our children by our lifestyle that in order to live in this house, community, nation, world there are certain things that are acceptable and not acceptable. Because of this all countries have laws; to tell us what to do and what is acceptable and by extension this is the way to live as part of this community. The reason we needed laws is because we are all flawed and will want to do what is right in our own eyes and pleasing to us personally. Because life is integrated even the things we do in our own personal space affects other and that's why we should all live with others in mind how will this affect someone else even though it pleases me. Jonathanm you mentioned Christ and that's how he lived. The difference between Christ and other great teacher was his confession that he was the Son of God and he is the only way to perpetual life and peace. Indeed, he was brutal because that's the way to deal with a lie. Back to my point the fact is that human beings are selfish from birth and we all will want to do what pleases us. All the law does is show us that we are full of fault and flaws that's why someone who has gone the way before gives us direction on how to live our lives. The problem is that after we recognize that we aren't spotless we need to for an internal change only the will the external behavior be rectified. That's why we have rehab and jail for folks who didn't live life the way we they should. I still put it to us the even jail and rehab is not enough.

[hummingbird]

Feb 12, 2009, 4:12am, stephen wrote:I agree that we should love each other, make others happy, write music, dance, laugh, smell the roses and all the good stuff... but those are things we do along the way of fulfilling our purpose, or should I say purpose may be fulfilled through these acts but the act is not our purpose in it self. what if it IS that simple? what if our purpose is simply to be consciously alive and respect all other life as a living embodiment of creative inspiration?

[davekershaw]

Once you've had children Brad,you either won't need to ask this question,or you won't have time!

[devin]

Feb 12, 2009, 9:33am, hummingbird wrote:Feb 12, 2009, 4:12am, stephen wrote:I agree that we should love each other, make others happy, write music, dance, laugh, smell the roses and all the good stuff... but those are things we do along the way of fulfilling our purpose, or should I say purpose may be fulfilled through these acts but the act is not our purpose in it self. what if it IS that simple? what if our purpose is simply to be consciously alive and respect all other life as a living embodiment of creative inspiration?I believe it is...I have so far to go, but I'm really enjoying the journey. I've heard of the "24 hour challenge"...where you try to go an entire day without a single negative thought (or, better yet, no thought at all ).Feb 12, 2009, 7:31am, jmeraz wrote:I'm always going to want to slant my beliefs in a direction that, well, makes me less guilty.JonathanVery well said...you've struck me with this one...how insanely true!Yet, I don't beat myself up (anymore) for my imperfection here...I'm allowed to get it wrong sometimes too. I fear no consequences now, or in the future, as long as I'm doing the best I can in each situation.And the whole temptation thing...well, I am a musician.

[mojobone]

Quote:"what if our purpose is simply to be consciously alive and respect all other life as a living embodiment of creative inspiration? "Well, that hardly seems likely. I've really enjoyed reading the posts from all y'all, and I want to stress that I'm not perfect, either. (sometimes I'm not even good) I try to learn all I can, teach all I can, and spread divine love as far as I can every day, but I'll confess right here in front of everybody that I don't have the answer to the question of life, the universe and everything. (and I think it's probably the wrong question) I know MY purpose in this life, (see the second sentence of this post) and I think that's probably all a man can ask to know with any certainty . I'd like to mention also that in Stephen's thoughtful post, when he used the words "sad and stupid" he was referring to what Ern was told by a stranger on a plane, and not to Ern or anything he said in his also thoughtful post. And Ern, I've been a minister for nearly fifteen years and didn't know I was a Universalist 'til now.