Voltaire said:
“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.”
Wise words, as it’s through asking questions that we grow, evolve, and make progress. Raising new questions can give rise to new possibilities and to the ability to regard old problems from a new angle.
The crux lies in the underlying intent of the question. Because questions can be asked in a variety of ways, for example…:
- With genuine interest in the answer…
- Without really caring about what the answer is (like many “how-are-yous” and “what’s ups”)…
- Or in a rhetoric way, either to point out something blatantly obvious with a rhetorical question that doesn’t require an answer, or to put someone on the spot by giving them a hard time.
The latter case is often used as a subtle way to try and discredit the messenger with a question that’s impossible to answer. The lack of a (satisfying) answer is then used as an argument that everything they say must not be true or worth mentioning.
While I get all types of questions, this particular kind is one I receive with a certain degree of regularity. Occasionally the question is a subtly disguised attack on me personally, other times it goes somewhat along the lines of:
“You think you know the answer to everything… So since you’re obviously such a smart-ass, answer me this: What’s the meaning of life? Bet you don’t know the answer to that one…”
Now truth be told, the age-old question of “what-the-hell-it’s-all-about” is an interesting one to ask. Many of the greatest minds of all ages have devoted their lifelong attention to it.
But since a lot of us are still asking it, it doesn’t seem like a universally satisfactory explanation has been found yet.
So then the “smart-ass” must know, right?
Now I admit:
During my relatively short time here on this plane of existence, I’ve asked myself this question too. Many times actually.
And I’ll tell you my personal answer in a minute.
But first, a little background…
(Smart-Assed) Backdrop
Let me make one thing abundantly clear:
In no way whatsoever am I trying to be some big-time guru with all the answers. Nor would I ever pretend that I know the answer to anyone’s questions.
In fact, in my experience, those who pretend they know the answer to everything there is to ask (particularly the ones that shout the loudest), are usually merely confirming that they don’t.
All I can do is share with you what I have come to understand from my own experience. Then it’s up to you to see if that resonates with you, and if it’s something you can put to use for yourself.
The truth is, no one does have all the answers, because we’re all having a subjective experience. The language of life and ‘the universe’ is one of paradox. And ultimately, only you have the answer to your particular questions.
As for me, I’ve been asking my questions of “what-the-hell-it’s-all-about” from an early age.
In part, this was probably encouraged by the situation I grew up in. I have two younger brothers who both have a mental/intellectual handicap, one of whom is also autistic to top it off. Since this was just always the way it was and in a sense I simply never knew any better, for the better part of my childhood I never really gave it any thought.
But ultimately, I started to wonder:
Why was I gifted with the intellectual abilities that allowed me to roll through grammar school and get me two university degrees without much trouble, on educational fields that I didn’t even like, while my younger brothers were more like the exact polar opposite?
In a situation like that, a dude is bound to ask questions, such as:
- Where does this extreme intellectual contrast come from?
- Was I just ‘lucky?’
- And [recalling a vivid memory of an actual event] what the hell am I doing here analyzing the financial viability of this plan for optimizing this middleware application for decision-modeling evaluation of whether or not to state-subsidize local shrimp farms in this far out ‘no-man’s-land’ corner of this insignificant country I live in anyway (even though I’m paid well for this meaningless and mind-numbing ‘work’)? What’s that all about?
- Who am I anyway… and what the hell are we all doing here anyway?
I had to admit that I didn’t know… which only added to the inner friction I felt at the time.
So the next step was to try and put it all in perspective, by making sense of the rest of the world. I read newspapers and watched the news… and all I saw was war, famine, disease… you name it.
So again, in a situation like that, a dude is bound to ask questions, such as:
- Am I just lucky?
- Who the hell am I anyway?
- What the hell are we all doing here anyway?
- What’s this fuss all about?
In short, I stumbled upon the age-old questions that wise-cracking sages of all times and from all over the world have bent their wise heads over.
Many people go through the twists and turns of their own lives and ultimately reach a point where they start asking similar questions. And when they can’t seem to find a satisfactory answer themselves, they look for others to answer their questions for them… such as religious leaders, political leaders, clever professors, “smart-asses,” and so on…
But for me personally, none of them were ever able to give me any answers that were satisfactory to me.
So for years I kept pondering, giving myself a hard time because everything I did with my life seemed so insignificant. But I kept doing what I was doing anyway, wondering why the hell I was even doing it…
And I can tell you one thing:
Devoting my life to doing what I really didn’t want to do, while not seeing any perspective or purpose in what I was doing, did not uplift my spirit…
In fact, the whole thing became rather depressing, and after a while I even started manifesting in some ‘physical’ health issues.
But then one day it suddenly occurred to me… ironically through a song I heard that was titled “The Answer:”
“Oh, the answer lies beyond the pain
All the questions in our minds, we surely ask in vain”
I suddenly understood that there is no single answer to all the questions of life. My experience had already confirmed that idea, because every new answer I found merely brought up a new question. As such, in the words of the song, they were all asked in vain.
Now you may wonder:
“How the hell does that help me?”
Well, stick with me for just another moment… Because once this realization really kicked in, it was one of the most liberating experiences of my life… and it also became my answer, as well as my pragmatic approach to the question of the ‘meaning of life.’
Wanna know what it was?
Sit down for this one:
For all intents and purposes, life might as well have NO MEANING AT ALL.
No really, let me explain…
“How Can Life Possibly Have No Meaning??”
Our lives are just a subjective experience of ourselves (and our inner states). However, that doesn’t mean it’s just a mere shuffle from cradle to grave with some weird stunts and streaks in between. Instead:
For the pragmatist, the key is to give it meaning… i.e. to deliberately and actively bring meaning to it yourself.
That’s ultimately the decree of what I’ve referred to as ‘creative mode’ in other articles. (<– For example, learn more about ‘creative mode’ here…)
But hey, I’m just some ‘smart-ass’… Don’t take my word for it. Here’s a video of a wise sage dedicating a few words to the topic: (<– The most relevant part in the context of this article starts at about 1:45 minutes in and runs until about 3:08…)
Now that’s a smart aleck!
Or otherwise, take Viktor Frankl… He was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who spent years as an inmate in bestial Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War.
While his father, mother, brother, and his wife died in the camps or were sent to the gas ovens so that his entire family perished (except for his sister), he himself is well-known today as a Holocaust survivor.
So how in the world could this guy… with every possession lost… every value destroyed… suffering from hunger, cold and brutality… expecting extermination on an hourly basis… find a life worth preserving?
He chronicled his experiences in a book, and wrote the following:
“Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life. To life he can only respond by being responsible.”
So sure, you can keep asking questions (in vain), but you’ll never find anything but new questions… Because there will never be an answer until you deliberately embody whatever yours is. And that realization is the only thing any guru or (or smart-ass for that matter) will ever be able to help you with.
Once you stop trying to fill supposed voids in yourself and decide to release the pain, anger, guilt, frustration, or whatever it is that’s holding you back… you’ll know what it is that will bring meaning to your life.
That’s why all my articles, materials, and communications merely try to give you tools and insights to help you see beyond barriers that you may or may not have noticed yet… even harmonize the fundamental inner imbalances that may be distorting your entire outlook and causing those barriers… and thus to get you to learn to think for yourself from an undistorted, honest, genuine place.
This way, you can come up with your own answers, and respond to life in a way that’s an expression of who you define yourself to be.
Remember that song “The Answer” I mentioned? It concludes as follows:
“Now I know the answers never meant a thing
And with each instant that I breathe, I feel the joy that life can bring”
And that brings us to the conclusion of this article…
So What To Do Now?
Here’s a thought:
Bring meaning to your life in the way that genuinely gives you the feeling of doing so. That’s how you live on purpose instead of ‘at random.’ And that’s how you’ll make yourself happy and fulfilled.
No one can tell you your purpose, or the meaning of your life. We all need ask that to ourselves. And we all must accept the responsibility that our answers prescribe.
In this regard, it’s worth noticing that life constantly gives you hints. To begin interpreting those, ask yourself:
- What gives me genuine joy and fulfillment?
- For me, what would give a sense of meaning to my life?
Your answers to those questions will provide clues to what would be the right direction for you.
Often, it’s merely a matter of admitting to yourself what you really want out of life. From there, seek out ways in which you can either make that happen all by yourself, or somehow make an active contribution to a relevant endeavor that extends beyond yourself alone and allows you to align with like-minded spirits.
That’s how you give yourself a sense of purpose, and that’s how you bring genuine meaning to your life. Because you’ll step into a mind space that’s built on your concept of genuine happiness and fulfillment. And that’s a prerequisite to stepping into your authentic ‘flow’ in life.
You don’t immediately have to stop everything you’re doing and start dedicating your entire life to whatever it is for you… Nor do you have to figure out the whole caboodle and all the details of how to it in advance… Just take some initial strides to get yourself going… and the next steps will reveal themselves along the way.
And as you continue on that path and remain consistent, you’ll find that life will reflect the happy and fulfilled inner state that results from this, and will thus start delivering more and more of what you really want.
“Famous Last Words”
So what are you waiting for? Find a way to bring meaning to your life, and then take the steps to actually do it!
It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. We’re talking about your life here… not some random shuffle from cradle to grave.
And besides the fact that this is the only way to bring a sense of true happiness and fulfillment to your own life experience, the truth is that this isn’t just about you… There’s actually a lot more to it:
We’re often conditioned to think that making ourselves a priority in life is egostistical and selfish, but in this sense it’s not. (<– That is, as long as you come from ‘creative mode,’ and especially if your gifts are ultimately put to use for the benefit of others – whether that’s directly or indirectly.)
The dance of your life is part of a much larger play… the beauty of which nevertheless does depend on your individual performance… at least in part.
Author Steven Pressfield perhaps said it best: (<– emphasis mine…)
Opinions are like noses, almost everyone has one, but can only breath with his own!
IT is a very challenging question, if and when asked to thyself daily. However, it encourages to explore into untap events and activities that i haven’t participated or partake to experience and realize its negative and positive results, then weigh both results. After understanding the results, it is the experience that helps and guides ones thoughts on how to act decisively being a human being.
So what is the meaning of life-as thinking, talking and dramatizing beings, it is upon humanbeings to procreate events and activities and explore what one thinks and pursue to really understand the meaning of how your thought directs you in the things you really love best.
Cheers
Pisai Gumar
Life has meaning in two diverse perspective, Good and Bad. Life is Garbage in , Garbage out; meaning what you take in you give out. You have no meaning to a man without meaning and you can never give what you don’t have and can never know what you don’t. First and foremost, God said to us to go into the world and multiple, be fruitful and share the message of glory. According to the word of God again Love was pointed out as the greatest of all, for God so love the world. The meaningful life is the life of love. I love you all.
One “smartass” to another.
Life is simply a state of mind in which one exists seeking answers one already knows to questions one has not yet asked…I am so happy to find your site Hank and to read so many comments by these beautiful beings, well on the “Path”
Thank You for being here
Dear Hank,
I knew what “the answer” would be before I got to it, since this is exactly the same thing Neale Donald Walsch teaches.
On the other hand, people who I consider to be fully “Awake” have said that at the deepest level, the Divine/God/the Universe separated from Oneness into Manyness so that it could come to know itself.
Or as I have heard it translated from The Holy Quran:
“I was a Hidden Treasure, and I longed [or loved] to be known”
At the deepest level of oneness, the one who is Awake becomes the eyes through which God sees, the ears through which God hears, etc.
Hello folks,
I´m lucky. My birth initials are IAM. I´ve really enjoyed all the work I´ve done throughout my life which has varied from travelling the world at age 21 working in the Bureau of cruise liners, then working in a London Estate Agency and becoming a partner in that and several property development companies, then starting several businesses of my own (an antiques market, restaurant, etc.) then losing my capital by investing in a factory for someone else to run (and he ran off with it!) then working as a journalist…. Retirement didn´t suit me so I have decided to celebrate my 80th year by starting a website, which is still new as I am having to learn the programme wordpress before I can manage it properly. But it has given me a renewed interest and the excuse (if needed) to network a wide social group again. I agree with Henk and Nicholas. Do what you love doing. Why retire from life? 🙂
Great answer. The best work of life is service to human being. In fact we come to this world to SERVE. To serve God, to serve all fellow being. These give the meaning of life. So the answer lies in our heart of action. Never demand or ask, but give and serve whole heartedly.
Very good! enjoyed it very much.
Very well said… thanks for such wonderful thoughts…
Life is a school and each of us has three lessons we must understand and master before we can graduate to a higher plain of existence. The first takes gaining enough awareness to ask the questions along the lines of what is being discussed here. What is the meaning of life? Why am I here? What should I be doing to fulfill my promise to my higher self that I made before coming here? The second lesson is to answer the questions
being asked here which is based upon each individual and their free will to choose to understand. The third lesson is to come up with a conclusion based upon what answering the first three questions have taught you. Then you must choose. “Here’s a hint” I Choose Truth, Personal Responsibility, Compassion, Forgiveness, Love Freedom and Joy to you Shoshone
Good one Henk!
And great poem Kevin!
well finally someone who knows how i feel…now that’s liberating…
If we never would of arrived here…..there would be no meaning. Since we are here, then the question is of great MEANING.
As A man thinks so is he….The best is yet to come….It is up to each of us to find his best….And then the meaning will come….
“Life has no meaning” is easily translated into “Life is worthless”. Which is why people get upset. I think the big problem with Gurus is that they don’t give a definition of the key words they use. It seems obvious that life has no inherent meaning as the same event means a lot of different things to different people. I do not understand why you encourage people to continue to give meaning to life, isn’t it illogical if life doesn’t have meaning? Sure, it feels like freedom if we finally get to a point where we can give our own meaning to our life compared to living according to o
ther people’s meaning about our life and ourselves. But it still keeps us trapped in the mind, doesn’t it?
And what people want is to a large extent determined by the often unconscious meaning they have given to life events. Same with purpose. If we keep asking ourselves why we want something (purpose is the reason why we pursue something, right?), we almost always end up at a point where we have given a meaning to a certain outcome, something like “if I have this, I am good, worthy, important, sexy, attractive etc”. So I don’t get it. If you really believe that life has no meaning, why do you encourage people to continue to give meaning to life? In order to experience true life, we would have to stop giving meaning to it, wouldn’t we? It’s hard to let go of fantasy world, I guess.
Thanks. I guess we do make our lives meaningfull with whatever we give meaning to. For Mother Theresa it was just about giving. The operative word seems to be giving…so meaningful living may be about giving… just a thought. Thanks for inspiring me.
We all too often look for the complexities when the simple truth is there in front of us all the time.
you are my man!
you always do a great job!
You are absolutely right. I don’t know if you have read “Conversations with God” by Neale Donald Walsch but that is exactly what it says in this book. I can highly recommend it as Neale states that he has no need for you to believe that he has had this conversation but I think you will find that not only does it make so much sense but whether you know it or not more and more people are uncovering these truths.
I love the poem.
I would just like to say bless you Sagarikatanwar and maybe you should not try so hard. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Start by being kind to yourself.
Mary-Ann – Bless you also. don’t be afraid. You are never alone and if you feel alone, find someone to talk to. If you have no-one you can talk to me. I give Henk and Nicholas permission to give you my email address.
Love Valerie
Hi and thanks for the Wisdom on life. I do appreciate your insight and would like to share in it. From the start you mention that no one has the answer for anyone else and I agree however this whole concept has its background in the area of phenomenal philosophy. As such, the term “Life” transcends our common reality and is the host of a duel nature. To not understand this duel nature creates the lack of our understanding of, the meaning of life. My question would be, what or which life are we seeking the meaning of? When the definition of Life lacks understanding, the word truely has no meaning.
ha ha ha hi hi hi fun
amazing, you are great…thank you.
thanks again for your full meaning articles , you do the best .
im looking forward to your new articles .
be well
reza
Thanks – confirming the simplicities of life – that’s the wake up and pay attention bell – sweet to hear and awesome to see and know — unique truth. Thanks again!
My opinion is this: we are here to create because Earth is the creative planet and we are here to learn to love which is true in all realities of God. Furthermore if we go through our entire life not knowing what our purpose is but we LOVE then we are on purpose.
Hey Henk, It seems you have run across some of my ‘friends’ or ‘family’ or both ( God forbid) and I am so sorry. I know the experience wasn’t enlightening in any way for either side, or even enjoy-able in the least. Never having seen, or had the pleasure of meeting your ass in person, I can still say, with relative surety the yours is smarter than theirs, whomever they were. And I, for one, would
now like to thank you for the issues you tackle and the answers you do give. I know answers given for relative queries pertain to the point of view of the one giving the answers and may or may not pertain to my given set of circumstances. Still, I thank you so much for the pleasure of seeing your your views in print and having the opportunity to save or print them as I see fit. I would love to have a chance to sit and talk with you some time, in an unrestrained atmosphere, just to learn more, both of you and from you. You have challenged my own views on things from time to time, and I find myself realizing I had previously just accepted a viewpoint without question and for some unknown reason. You do make me think, and question, and sometimes, conclude, but not just concede. For all of that, I thank you again. I realize that sometimes an answer is just that, and may be right or wrong …or not, but it’s still ok and appreciated. You do make me upgrade my education, and even my memory. Thanks again. So, if ever you feel like an unappreciated smartass, Let me know. I would like the opportunity to help you change that, maybe by just pointing out the source of the feeling instigator. I feel sure you’ll never call on me for that help, but I’m here should the occasion arise, and Thanks Again!!!
Warmest regards,
Ray!
dear henk,
i am just laughing to the statement, that you use to description of some body ,who knows the answer, to the questions of every ones, it means SMART ASS .
also i appreciate you for your nice articles .
Many great expressions here! :)) I like this saying. “IF I DON’T GO WITHIN, I GO WITHOUT.” It is the responsibility and privilege of each person to master their mind, their thoughts and allow their authentic self/spirit to express itself fearlessly!! Fear is nothing but the mind “thinking” it is alone in this dream, this brief visit to this thing we call life. It is no business of the mind to understand the meaning of life. It is the business of heart/spirit to be it’s authentic self and express itself, for we are all holograms (made in likeness) of the source, god, great central sun, or whatever other moniker one wishes to apply to home. Still the mind and be true to thyself. The answer does lie within and each of us must find their own courage to go and live what is true within. Anything other than that is HELL ON EARTH!!
dear,i do not agree. life has no purpose ,love has no purpose meditation h as no purpose and even God has no purpose,the beauty lies in their purposelessness.Purpose lies only in mundane things.Why seek purpose? Live and enjoy life, do not search purpose otherwise you will miss it swami shukla
How accurate! Makes me smile! Keeping sending the words that help all to RE-Member who we really are!
Why would a ‘God’ not have meaning in the life he/she created? #l…you can’t know the
meaning from your ego….only from your ‘soul’ or ‘spirit’…which is who you really are.
Moving to your soul is not as difficult as you may think….#2…Many have died and returned…with mostly the same answer to that question. #3..Many gifted talented authors
have written about the answer to that question and have written believable, deeply moving renditions….take Neale Donald Walsch….’Conversations with God’. I would write the answer to ‘the’ question, but it takes a little longer than the space given here…The answer is not as much of a secret as you may think… Namaste…. Jerry
Hi There!
I wish I even KNEW how I got on this mailing list, but I am glad that I am.
First, I enjoyed this. I LOVE REALNESS!!! I happen to be REAL myself.
Also, You write very well AND IT IS PRETTY to look at AND FUN to read! I happen to appreciate that! A LOT! Also, I appreciate your expressiveness and openness. The CONNECT feels GOOD!
But I have a question?????? If ANYONE calls you a name, why not either hit DELETE? or write, Dont call me names — THATS WHY YOU HAVE KIDS!!! (Just kidding)
They aren’t ready to embrace new information into their own heart and decide what is good or not good for them. THEY LOVE THE DRAMA OF THE ARGUMENT!!! In fact they ARE the drama of argument!
You are very brave.
I wouldnt be writing this but I have been called “smart ass” more than is comprehensible and it hurts because
I am LOVE! DARNIT!!!!
It was many years ago when a friend of many years and I met on the street. When I inquired of how she was she told me how she remarried and it was to a man she had once told me she couldn’t stand and was so glad he was out of her life. I was surprised and asked her why she would remarry a man she said she couldn’t stand. She shrugged her shoulders(maybe he wasn’t so bad as she had originally thought; after all we were in our early twenties then)made that face people make so often and said simply, “It’s something to do.” I thought about this scene for many years and realized after time that perhaps she had the answer: LIFE IS SIMPLY, ‘SOMETHING TO DO’. and of course, what you do with it is up to you and everyone else around you. Personally, I like to keep our Creator/God first and follow my heart with God as Divine director, but, I think she has a good point. Peace and God bless us all.
Yes in this big world of ours we are all students and teachers some are better teachers than others but all are just as valuable every lesson we learn is well worth learning no matter what it is. Life is also for living the best we can with the knowledge we have at the time. So live it well and most of all be happy, remember when we were told School days are the best days of your life, well live life every day as a school day, and have some fun.
Love your straight talkin’ tell-it-like-it-is style!
The world needs more people like you, who cuts through all the B.S.
Thanks!
Thks. It is the first time I have ever heard of an answer like this reagrding to the question of ” The Meaning Of Life”. I am impressed and happy. Thanks again for the sharing.
Sk
The answer DOES NOT come from “inside you”.
It comes from God.
It is the very first lesson of the catechism and answers the Question:
Why did God make me.
dominus vobiscum,
frank
this sentence said it all
“Living on Purpose “- great line, one to remember, take to heart and ACT UPON!
The question should not be “what is the meaning of life”? The question should be “what is the meaning of meaning?
The answer is great song becuase it says, that, if you seek the truth, you’ll find that all is well.
Excellent article. Definitely looking forward to reading the next part. Reminded me of one of the statements in the excellent book by Richard Bach entitled “Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah” from which you can read pages here:
http://www.amazon.com/Illusions-Adventures-Reluctant-Richard-Bach/dp/0385319258/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291262125&sr=8-1 .
The statement that came to mind from the book while reading the above article was “In the path of our happiness shall we find the learning for which we have chosen this lifetime”. I highly recommend the reading of “Illusions…” as a supplement to the above article.
Life is what you make of it.?if you get it wrong you have to come back and try again?
LIFE IS FOR LEARNING??
A wise man once told me “You choose your life.” Everything from choosing your parents to each and every decision that you have made right up to this moment. Maybe the “Meaning of Life” is the ability to choose the life that we wish to have.
We can choose to be creative and enjoy the things we do. Or, we can choose not to.
It’s our choice.
We can choose to be responsible for the outcomes of whatever it is that we have chosen to do. We can choose “Failure” as an option, or we can choose “Feedback” to work out why we haven’t achieved the desired outcome.
If you have a natural ability, why not choose to turn it into a successful opportunity, financially or creatively. Who knows, you might choose to be successful with your venture and make a career from whatever it is that you’re good at.
So, go on, make a choice. Good Luck!!!
I knew that, thanx for reminding me, it’s always good to hear the truth.
you right life doesn’t have a meaning, i am just waiting for death to pick me up, i wont look for it, but yeah i am waiting for it, at least i am 1 step closer to god, and in the mean while(in life) i’ll try my best to please god, and thats all in life there is, and yes you can do what you like (passionate about) while waiting just make sure is something that pleases god, end of story
please reply or comment about it
not that i am unsure about this, but this is the first time i share it with anyone else
thank you
Henk, well said.and MARK,here is a little story from my India you and others might find useful to explain who is a SMART ASS: A king was fond of hunting. he had a weather expert who used to predict what the weather would be so the king could have a nice time.once the king checked with the weather-expert that the weather would be fine for some hunting and set out with his team.on way,he was greeted by a farmer who had was working the field with his donkey.farmer asked–where to great king? king–off for hunting! farmer–if i were you, i would stay home today.king–why?farmer–weather gonna be nasty today.king–rubbish,i checked with my weather expert….and so the king went on…and it rained cat,dogs and buffoloes.king returned in a foul mood and ordered the weatherman hanged.he sent for the farmer who stood trembling before him.king–ok farmer, you were right.now come,be my weather-expert.farmer–naaaa, me no weather-expert.just a simple man.king–how come,you predicted the real thing,then?farmer–i did not predict anything…my donkey did.king–how?farmer–you see, when the weather gonna be fine,my donkey ears are all up and when it gonna be rain, my donkey has his ears down.yesterday,donkey ears were down.the king thought it over,then said–ok,farmer.you go back, send me your donkey! and folks since than all the SMART ASSES are sitting and shitting on the top desk.MARK,mark my words–this is the most happening place on the net at this blog here and i am a changed man because of this genius–HENK.enjoy!
Meaning is basically ‘ to actualize the optimum of any value/resource’… like onself with one’s personal capabilities as well as that of the men and money in one’s reach .
It is the right use without any misuse or abuse of any of the three,
Meaning taken as some ‘permanent goal or aim’ is of a person then it is elusive… for each person’s life is unique enough and hence each of his transactions with the world is different..
So it is best to ‘be prepared’ to answer the ‘next possible or probable situation’ and to tackle it with a resolve to go further it – if it is of consequence or else ‘let it pass by’ if it is not consequential to one’s gamut of interests.
This reminds me of Landmarks Forum’s mantra:
Life is empty and meaningless and it is meaningless that it is empty and meaningless.
But see some reactions here:
http://forum.rickross.com/read.php?4,55321,55594
The “answer” that I found inside, was unconditional love. Of course I have to keep reminding myself when I’m tempted to be judgemental of someone, like some of our politicians!
When that answer came to me, a poem popped into my head that I entitled, “The Answer”.
Thank you! Well said.
This is such a beautiful way it has been put that i really am sitting back and thinking “what i really want”…. and i want to be selfish now… to know my wants and fulfill them… its fabulous …thank you
THE PATHLESS PATH
There is no answer
There never has been a answer
There never will be a answer
That’s the answer.
It’s like a blow… I feel so frighten…
perfectly said 2 rules only in this world you can not hurt another human or there property rule 2 theres no exception for rule 1 closed circut be happy and keep rollin
I’ve thought about the same question for over 18 years now, and to tell you the truth, this is by far the most satisfactory answer i’ve gotten. “Life has no meaning but the meaning I give to it.”
Thank you so much. That answer is worth running with!
The meaning of life-doing what makes your heart sing, following your soul purpose so you wake up every day brimming with passion and energy ready to serve others and create value. That makes the difference for bringing abundance,fulfillment and leaving some kind of legacy in this world. You need to invest time in working out your unique gifts and start following your path,anything less, will always throw you back to being disillusioned and looking outside of yourself for happiness which will never give you it.
Tell you what I have learned, I hate religion, but love Jesus our creator and my Lord and
Savior. A man would have to be a fool to believe there is no God. After all the universe
didn’t create itself and our world and our bodies and all the stuff you see didn’t just happen it all was created. Also He gave us one of the greatest computers that no man has yet to duplicate.
Sure man has been able to make several breakthroughs in the past few years. Just look
at the Bible, man and the devil has tried to get rid of it for thousands of years and yet it is
still here. If you read it you will see why we are and our purpose. First you have to ask God
to come into your heart so His Holy spirit will open it up to you. Jesus is the way the truth
and the life.
You can snub me on this, but life here is 80 to 100 years at the max and that is like a
grain of sand, compared to eternity which is like all the sand in the world. So why be so
stubborn and trade a few short years for a eternity from God? See He gave us the great
gift of choice, yes we get to choose our own destiny.
Just look in the world, there are tow families in it, one is Gods and the other is the devils
and you can see how he is destroying people and the earth. The United States turned from Him and how it is paying with all the things happening here. Our newest tragedy is
the oil leak in the gulf below Louisiana. What is funny they say oil is running out, yet there
are millions of gallons being wasted in the ocean.
Man is so intelligent in so many ways and yet so stupid in other ways. There hasn’t been
any peace for thousands of years. People are so greedy and want what others have. Well
I am tired for now. Any one wants to refute my claims bring it on. I know where my HOPE
and FUTURE IS. Do you know where yours is?
“What is the meaning of life?” I don’t know! I’ve always been a risk taker, entreprenurial, and given meaning to my life by way of setting goals, and living on purpose. I practice positive thinking throughout the day, and make every effort to do right by whomever I interact with. Being the self-uplifting person I am, I give myself a good work out, physically, mentally, and spiritually — and whenever my life sometimes feels upside down, I exercise ever more agressively, meditate with ever more focus, and practice breathing techniques with more self-control. These give equillibrium and meaning to my life – physically, mentally, and spiritually. Though – the meaning/mystery of life continues to evade me. At brief moments, and at times I really feel alone, that God, the Almighty, the Absolute, has abandoned me – I immediately reverse to optimism, and ponder how grateful I should be for the breath that is life within me, and for the good health I have as I approach 60 without pain, or medication, etc. To appreciate and value life, is to love me, so that I can love others even as I love myself. To me – this is the true meaning of life. After all – what worth is it that we gain the whole world and lose our soul?
Thank you for this – so true – can’t wait for the rest –
One can’t change anybody but yourself – you can’t control the thoughts, opinions, or actions of other people. I choose to focus, instead, on self-improvement. After all, there is only one person I have power over: myself!
HI..its different for us all,from my(I AM ) point only ,,ok.
I AM 60 NOW HAVE CONSIDERED THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME I STARTED THINKING THIS AT ABOUT 12 YEARS OF AGE. WHO AM I .WHAT AM I HERE FOR .WHERE DID I COME FROM .WHERE AM I GOING .THEN IT WAS PUT ON THE BACK BURNER ,LIFE WENT ON. NAVY /ARMY WAR LIFE FAMILY PAYING BILLS WORK ONLY TO ARRIVE AT A POINT ? ,THEN ILLNESS THEN HEALING WITH THE MIND AND ON A PARTICULAR PATH HEALING PHILOSOPHY. THE MASSING OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION,HOPING FOR WISDOM AND TRUTH .ONE OF THE CLUES IS/WAS. I AM,? NOW I UNDERSTAND THIS IS SAID BY US ALL. I ALSO THINK ITS SAID BY ALL BEINGS OF ANY SPIECIES WITH A SOUL ANYWHERE IN CREATION ,EVEN ANIMALS TO SOME LEVEL OF THERE BEING ,YOU SEE I BELIEVE A SOUL CAN BE ANYTHING IN ITS LIFE TIME, IN ANY EXSISTANCE EVEN A BUBBLE IN A VOLCANO ON A FAR DISTANT PLANET JUST BUBBLING AWAY CONTEMPLATING LIFE AND ITS REASON FOR BEING (NOT THE BUBBLE) THE BEING .WE ALL DO RIGHT .I QUESTIONED AND ASKED FROM WITHIN AND VERBALLY ALOUD ,LIFE WENT ON, LEARING KNOWLEDGE.I BECAME MORE IN LINE WITH MY SOUL MY SPIRIT LIFE HERE AND ELSEWHERE .THIS IS THE SHORT VERSION -I WAS DRIVING ALONG WITH MY POOR WIFE WHO GETS ALL MY THOUGHTS KNOWLEDGE WHICH I HOPE HELPS HER ?OR SHE ONLY GETS AN EAR ACHE ,ANYWAY (FOR ME ONLY NO VISIONS OF GRANDEUR OR IDEALISM OR ANY SWELLED HEAD .BECAUSE I THINK IT FOR ALL OF US ,IT AS TO BE IT CANNOT BE ANY OTHER WAY )THE ANTENNA WENT UP AND IT CAME OUT OF THE BLUE, IT SAID YOUR GOD. I SAID TO MY WIFE SOMEONE JUST SAID I WAS GOD. WE ARE ALL CONSCIECNESS RIGHT, ALL CONNECTED ALL GOD ,ALL CREATORS CO-CREATORS ,JUST TO COME AND EXPERIENCE LIFE AT ALL LEVELS TO GROW EXPAND AND EXPERIENCE LIFE AS BEING HUMAN ,WHY! BECAUSE WE CAN ,ITS WHAT WE DO WITH PURPOSE BECAUSE EVERYTHING I AM, YOU ARE ,GOD IS ,WE LEARN AND EXPERIENCE BY DAY MAYBE IN ALL PLAINS ALL DIMENSIONS AND DOWN LOAD IT IN SLEEP STATE AT NIGHT WHILE THE SPIRIT GOES ROAMING .THE HUMAN HOST IS MY HOME FOR THE DURATION OF THIS LIFE AS WHAT I HAPPEN TO BE THIS TIME AROUND, I KNOW I HAVE BEEN MANY THINGS IN MANY LIFE TIMES ,WE CREATE IT .THERE IS A REASON ,LIKE ANY GAME ITS TO GROW SPIRITUALLY TO EXPAND WITH KNOWLEDGE, TO FEEL THE RAIN ,TO HEAR THE SNOW / LEAVES BEING CRUSHED UNDER FOOT WHEN WE WALK, TO EXPERIENCE LOVE TOUCH ,TO FEEL THE WIND, TO SMELL THE FLOWERS .TO EXPERIENCE AND BE HAPPY WHILE WE DO IT BEING OF SERVICES TO OTHERS COMES INTO IT MONEY IS OR SHOULD NOT BE NEEDED ON THE PLANET WE LIVE ON ,THIS OUR PLANET NOT THE ROYALS OR BANKERS ,WE HAVE GIVEN OUR POWER AWAY WE NEED TO TAKE IT BACK AND SOON .KARMA COMES INTO IT. ITS ANOTHER WAY TO BALANCE KARMA THE TEACHER ,THE DARKER SIDE OF SOME IS BEING INFLUENCED BY OUTSIDE ELEMENTS.BUT WE ARE ALL GOD CONSCIOUSNESS APART OF THE GREATER WHOLE AND HUMAN KIND IS BEING DEFEATIST IT FEARS EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF THIS CONTROL FROM THE OUTSIDE,WHEN IT CREATED THAT WHICH IT FEARS MOST, FINDING OUT HOW POWERFUL WE /THEY ALL ARE ,WE JUST NEED TO BELIEVE AND TAKE THE POWER THE BACK .I ONLY SAY THIS FOR ME ,YOU HAVE TO COME TO YOUR OWN REALISATION OF YOUR TRUTH .EVERYTHING IS NOTHING CANNOT BE THE CREATOR THE SOURCE GOD CONSCIOUNESS ,YOU JUST PLAY AT BEING HUMAN FOR THE DURATION OF THE STORY LINE TIME AND SPACE DO NOT EXIST NOTHING IS REAL ,WE CREATE IT OUT OF NOTHING (ATOMS ELCTRONS SUB ATOMS NUETRINOS DARK MATTER THE FLOW /RIVER OF LIFE ///TAKE CARE ALL.ENJOY IT OTHER WISE THERE IS NO POINT
Such a very interestin article, i totally agree with what u said. In my experience of lifes purpose i think we all no ur purpose but choose not 2 remember as life gives u cause 2 forget, thoughts take over n create ur moment n u forget ur purpose. Meditation n truth bring ur purpose bk u then no the answer. Then u stroll through life waitin 4 that purpose of life. thank you x
A very interesting answer, reminds me of the answer to another great question ‘is there a God’. That answer too began with a denial – ‘there is no God; but added, but God’ (Allah)
-the basic Credo of Islam its ‘First Kalima’.
That is a brilliant explanation indeed of the meaning of life. Trouble is that the difficulties, the grind the pain in life leads most to to first conclusion, there is no meaning in life. AND STOPS THEM THERE!
A Life Coach is sometimes very necessary so that we do not loose our way in our lives.`,”
Kevin, I loved the poem! Very self empowerering ~
keep it up, very well said
it can be confusing to determine a direction in life if you are left bewildered about “why we are here”. we need to be needed, therefore, that makes a lot of since. life is nothing without the subjects of it. i used to think that we were made for someone’s entertainment. that is a disempowering reality. in considering that this personal life given to me is something that i can bring magnificence to on my own is an obviously empowering thought. that’s a big difference in 2 places we can come from with this thought. i love some insightfulness.
grateful to you,
karen denise
No, No, NO!! … You’re Wrong!! … You’re All Wrong!! … The meaning of life is just so simple, it escapes everybody!! Here’s the answer.
I would like you all to go along to your local “Receiver of Revenue” office, stand at the counter, and ask — “What’s the meaning of life?” — then they’ll frisk you, grab your wallet, demand your pin number for your bank savings — then shove you out the door, with the warning that they want you back again next year , so you can ask the same question.
What more can you ask of life than that?
I think that the Greek Phylosopher Epitetus said something like. “Man is the measure of things”… So man gives meaning to all things, and every person does it accounding to his/her own capacity. Thank you for pushing in a good direction!
A very interesting article.Thanks and keep it up.
The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
That is wnat makes life meaningful, and when it ends makes it worthwhile.
Meaning of life is….. To live your life as you see it gain all the knowledge that is right for you by or means past on your knowledge to others but as they listen or read it, they to. Will interoperate it as you did when it was told to you.
I am 68 years old and have lived a very trying life. And yes, I have discovered that all the trials and tributes I have encountered in my life journey have led me to where I am today ~ a life coach helping others through their grief. Now I look back with grace and gratitude for all the experiences I have encountered along the way, as for now I am able to guide others through their darkness back in to the vibrant light of life.
The energy of God and Creation has slowed down enough to create a form, called Kathleen – a Spiritual Being in a human form. God wanted to experience HerSelf as form – therefore created us and nature, etc. We have each been bestowed with unique gifts and talents – it is our Purpose to contribute them for the growth and evolution of humanity and the planet. So the question really is, “Who’s LIfe is it anyway?” My life is really God’s Life in this unique form – Kathleen – the I AM that I AM. To the degree I suppress my Authentic Self and what I am here to contribute – I am living as if my life is mine, and ego expresses those parts as my adapted self – playing small – as if ‘I don’t matter’. If God created me for His/Her expression – through me and as me – who or what am I to misidentify the Truth that has been gifted to me.
Beautiful..
Life is precious, and the meaning of life is to enrich the life of others. There is no time to show and demonstrate good work at least the time we are still alive. We obtain so many things because we are alive. Life is a gift from God.
THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NAMASTE
GREAT ARTICLE!
I am certain as the mystery unfolds,it will certain dawn on me the answer to the question that is troubling me `WHY AM I , I & NOT SOMEONE ONE ELSE?`
looking forward to learn how to release whatever that is holding me back
GOD BLESS
To me the meaning of my life is the one thing I would follow whether or not other things followed with it. For me that is something I love beyond all other things. It may be true love.
Life….
Begins with a thought.
Always the EXACT experience.
Why think?
“BE”!
“BE” what?
What do you choose?
Imagine.
“ME”!
When we’re out of touch with PURPOSE, we are out of touch with MEANING. That is, unless and until we know the PURPOSE for which something was created, we CANNOT KNOW the meaning of any use or abuse of it.
The barefoot guy used shoes for tacking up pictures on the wall, banging in brads with the heels. And he used shoes as planters, for flowers; and for bookends, and for paperweights, and to throw at yowling cats…
Who is to say that ANY of those uses MEAN ‘correct’ or ‘incorrect’, UNLESS WE KNOW that the PURPOSE for which shoes were created IS TO PROTECT FEET.
According to God, humans are created to know God and to worship God (purpose of life? To know and to love), and in THIS context, all actions in life either develop/enhance a human’s knowledge and love (in the discrete or the aggregate) OR the action impedes and obstructs a human’s knowing and loving capacities.
Meaning requires PURPOSE to be meaningful.
Life is like is an onion. The more you peel the more you cry.
Life to me is a process of learning, unlearning,and relearning.lt is to touch,move and inspire and leave a legacy behind.
Purpose of life is L I F E it self.
L – live
I – I (You)
F – For
E – Each other.
” Do to others what you expect them to do to you.”
Vilas.
Life is a big zero. We try to fill but it can never be filled. It is a container that has no base. Then why do we try to explain and describe a ‘zero”, when it is indescribable. Life cannot be sought, and what you seek is not real, an that which you claim to be real is not the truth. Truth must be universal, and it must descend upon us. Our actions cannot culminate in truth; only superficiality and conflict. Only actions that have no consequence are real. Life is an action that has no consequence. Its our action and its consequences that we assume gives meaning to life. Perhaps intent is relevant, but not to stretch the mind, and life might just reveal itself to us “in person.”
gc
what has been wanting to manifest in me and through me since i started reasoning as a child. Finally has been revealed for me so simple. A big thank you for this insight
Life is a HOLE.
I will follow this up with a poemof my own about life. Need to translate it.
Hi
Spot on – as always.
Namaste
Ian
Well sad, that make me think about what somebody sad long time ago, Man creates Haven, Man can creat haos to, what if we all share the good, when we have more then we need, share with those in need, it is allot of people who have more then they need, but their not happy, because they don’t care about the meaning of life. Jesus already give as the answer, if we all live to love it is the best purpose we can have, the purpose of life is to live it. Why is so hard to end poverty, why is so hard to make Peace in the world, could it be because people look mostly for somebody to agry with them in stad of looking for the truth.God is Love and Love is God, If we all live in a patt of Love, we can create Haven. Jesus show as the meaning of Love, people who understand the meaning of Love, they know the meaning of Life, they have purpose every day, they are happy, they are peacemakers, so are you, thank you.
I used to have a “What’s the meaning of Life?” fear.I worried I was missing my meaning.I can’t miss anything.I’m here .I’m learning and remembering. And my meaning may change when I come acrossed something that excites my creativity. The closest explaination I have is this is a wonderful school for my learning experience.To me it’s not a meaning but a purpose to be my Personal Best.Not best for you but my personal best all the time.Others may not see me as best some days but it’s the best I can do that day and that’s okay.
I just came out of major surgery and my personal best for weeks was just standing up and walking.I didn’t see much in that while I was doing it but I have people coming up to me saying they took something from my courage to do that being in the mass pain I was feeling. Others said they thought I was crazy for trying. I wasn’t doing it for either of them.I did it for me.I didn’t require someone telling me I had courage because I knew I had it. As for the ones who thought I was crazy ,they can go home and not visit with negativity. I am learning so much from this operation that will help me as I go long this journey. Instead of the “Meaning of Life”,I prefer “The Journey of Life”
I love you all and Happy Journey !
great , rightly said. I would like to add a few , LIFE is HOW U SEE It, so at the end of the day it is how U are. Isn.t it ?
So obvious and so many appear to miss it because of the simplicity of the logic.
Made me think of this song…
Nature Boy (Eden Ahbez, 1947)
There was a boy
A very strange enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far, very far
Over land and sea
A little shy
And sad of eye
But very wise
Was he
And then one day
A magic day he passed my way
And while we spoke of many things, fools and kings
This he said to me
“The greatest thing
You’ll ever learn
Is just to love
And be loved
In return”
The way I have learned it and the way I would say what you said is:
You are the maker of meaning;
Without you and your unique point of view, there is no meaning to anything.
On the other hand, the purpose of life is joy. Find what has the meaning of joy for you and do that. As long as it has no hurt or harm to anyone.
Aloha
Loren
it is gud but i m tryin for my purpose for many years but still i m at same please
it is for you releasing that everything’s around you is doing you feeling good and achiving high LOVE for everyone and everyting. But it’s a deep level, hard of understand.
So the meaning of life is JUST for you EXPERIENCE LIFE
The article is good and the comments are evidence that we came here to experience a unique individuality that can not be experienced otherwise. It’s beautiful!
Here’s what works for me . . . when in moments of quiet reflection my “I” can connect with the “unity” of infinite intelligence that we are:
Life can be found in that balance between thought and action,
imagination and reality, idealism and pragmatism.
The high points and the low points in the sine-wave of life are
where the seeds of creativity, imagination, and desire are found.
Between these poignant highs and lows are where reality, pragmatism,
and action take these seeds to the higher ground of progress;
the fulfillment of the desire that is born in the extremes.
And thus is the wonderful and exciting dance of life.
You rock Henk . . . Carry on!
Nice,I liked it,it made a lot of sense.
I always thought the meaning to life was just to find joy and happiness and to become fulfilled.I still believe that’s really important to life,but it can relate to your meaning of life also.
: )
LIfe is something we willed through the five senses and it is not real but a manifestation, thus it has to be a game, one that must be played to the rules that man himself agreed upon…….by proof of what he has done over and over, survived.
Life is a wonderful gift and once in a life time gift. The unfortunate thing is that most of us do not know its value. May be because it is given to us without any effort.
Are we aware that we may not this life once again ? We may not have the same parents, same friends, same family everything. Then why this nonsense of killing and looting others.
Each one us a gifted with immense potential. Right from the sweeper to the richest and the most intelligent. It calls for realisation of this truth.
Life itself doesnot give meaning. It is we who have to give meaning to our lives. Shake off the indifference, fear and charter a new path to glory and to glorify the Almighty.
Thanks for dwelling on such thoughts.
I lvoe you all
Hariharan