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| ~ ∞ ~ In Search for the Meaning of Life – The Essence of Life ~ ∞ ~ |
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When we are exploring the Essence of Life, we are inevitably faced with a series of big questions. Therefore, some would say that from the very beginning, people in all corners of the Earth have been trying to find the answers to life-long questions. These questions arise not only because of our curiosity as human beings, but also because we are thirsty, spiritually speaking, you see?
We are curious beings by nature – just as we want to know who we truly are, we also want to know why we are here, and what is the purpose for our existence here on Earth. And these questions, my friend, arise from our unending desire for fulfillment. You see, driven either by lack, desire, or simply thirst – we are constantly searching for more.
By virtue of the aforementioned with regard to our unending desire for fulfillment, one should be inclined to ask the following question: Are we not, through all of our efforts, searching for more – be it more material possessions, more money, more status, more power, more excitement, more love, more knowledge, or something else along those lines? And is it not true, then, that we discover again and again that the latest attainments provide only temporary satisfaction?
You see, eventually the novelty wears off and the inevitable realization sets in: there is nothing in this physical world that can fill the deepest longing of our heart; this void cannot be filled by excitement nor by material things; this thirst cannot be quenched by any water of the world – it can only be quenched by the Water of Life.
So, can we therefore conclude that within each of us, there is, indeed, a search for something permanent, is there not? Indeed, there certainly is. You see, even today, more so than ever before, people are searching for the ultimate answer to life, to love, to health, to happiness, to success, and to freedom.
It is no surprise, then, that in today’s world, we are drowning in self-help books, podcasts, videos, websites, workshops, workouts, lectures, courses and retreats that promise to explain everything, that promise us success, that promise to teach us how become perfect versions of ourselves, and basically promise to fix all our problems for us.
From this, the question arises: What is it that we are seeking? At first, we search for a way to relieve our own suffering; we look everywhere for something that will quell our hunger and quench our thirst. In our exploration we may try many different approaches only to abandon them when they fail to satisfy our basic craving. We do this in hopes of finding some solace, in hopes of finding peace.
The honest truth is, though, that if we are spiritually lost, wandering through life like a ship lost at sea, and therefore cannot be reunited with the source and ground of our being, everything is temporary and fleeting – like sand running through our fingers, even the feeling of peace and solace, you see? Furthermore, if we don’t find our true purpose, we cannot find meaning either, and so it goes that in our search for meaning, we continue the same cycle over and over – craving begets craving, ignorance begets ignorance, and suffering begets suffering, doesn’t it?
Considering all the aforementioned, one should be inclined to ask the following question: What is it that most of us are truly seeking? Well, most of us are seeking some kind of happiness, some kind of inner peace and harmony, are we not? Beyond that, we seek meaning, purpose, growth, and most of all – we seek connection. Do we not, therefore, seek through all of our efforts something permanent, something lasting, something which we call Truth; something which we call True, Real, God? From this, the question arises: How does one go about obtaining all that and perhaps even more – such as Satori, Samadhi, or even Enlightenment?
Well, let us continue by noting that each of us has the potential for growth; potential for greatness that knows no bounds; potential for creativity; potential for a deeper connection with our True Self, Spirit, and the Divine. By the same token, we would do well to remind ourselves of the fact that not all humans are ready to awaken or to be awakened.
Hence, they will never be able to realize their full potential – unless, of course, something sparks the curiosity within. You see, it is one thing to make a conscious choice to pursue personal growth, and quite another to never try at all and just ponder and wonder. It is for this reason why so many unanswered questions arise in the minds of people.
This is why writers, poets, philosophers and thinkers in many fields throughout history have tried to provide answers – many of whom have never actually done the work on themselves. We have searched for the answers everywhere in the world; we have been looking far and wide, high and low, above and beyond, and yet we have failed to see that the answers we seek lie within each and every one of us.
The question of the meaning of life is the most fundamental of the many questions we face about our existence. After all, we are the only intelligent, sentient bipedal species known to exist in this universe – which, in and of itself, is enough to arouse our curiosity to find answers to the deeper questions, isn’t it? The search for life’s meaning has produced much philosophical, scientific, theological and metaphysical speculation throughout history.
The answer to this question as we generally perceive it is derived from philosophical and religious contemplation of, and scientific inquiries about existence, social ties, consciousness, and happiness. Many other issues are also involved, such as symbolic meaning, ontology, value, purpose, ethics, good and evil, free will, the existence of one or multiple gods, conceptions of God, the Soul or Spirit, and the afterlife.
Because of this, for thousands of years, generation after generation, people have sought to find their place in relation to the larger universe. Thus, even today, we often stare up at the heavens and wonder about the extent of the universe, its origin and its meaning – hoping to find an answer to our existence. As a result, we have invented something called philosophy, which aims to fulfill our intellectual craving by which we try to alleviate our spiritual thirst for deeper fulfillment.
This type of inquiry starts with wonder, leads to thinking, and ends up with even more thinking – eventually leading to nowhere at all – it’s like a dog chasing its own tail. And so it goes that in the midst of this, we end up chasing our proverbial tails, which is another way of saying that we lose our perspective and ourselves in the process. For you see, it is one thing to ponder these questions, and quite another to attempt to answer them; it is one thing to speculate, and quite another to provide answers that arise from experience.
And so you see, in search for the meaning and purpose, we easily get carried away and forget what is really and truly important in life, what is here and now, what is within each and every one of us. The honest truth is that we cannot find meaning in this life by filling ourselves with the things of this world. You can have it all and still want more, you can have it all and still have nothing, you can have it all and still be empty – without meaning, without purpose, without contentment and happiness.
It is only through one’s conscious effort, dedication and will, through which one strives towards higher evolution, towards inner transformation, by which inner peace, happiness, contentment and fulfillment is attained and maintained, meaning found, and purpose realized. Are these not the things many people in the world seeks after, alongside with health, happiness, and love? Are these not the reasons why one seeks to develop the self in the first place?
When one experiences oneself as being one with Life, one with Living Consciousness, one with Living Awareness, one with the Totality, one with the Divine, one with God – it gives ultimate meaning to one’s life. In other words, the only thing that truly brings meaning to life is God. And so you see, no matter where you seek – far and wide, high and low, above and beyond.
Ultimately, there is but one Truth to be found, one Truth to be realized: there is but one God to merge with, there is but one all pervading Spirit, and it is called the Truth, by which The Miracle of Life is made possible – it exists in all Creation, it is timeless, universal, and self-existent; there is but one First Cause that has its Being of itself, and on which all other beings depend; there is but one Infinite Being, so there is but One God – see?
Furthermore, considering the aforementioned, one can say that without God, we are hopelessly wandering through life like a ship lost at sea at night without the guiding light from a lighthouse, drifting farther and farther off course, and like a ship lost at sea, we need to find that ray of light to center us back on course.
And so you see, if we choose to use our free will to see that light and find that hope, we will overcome any obstacles we may face; with patience and persistence we will prevail, and in so doing we continue to move forward. With God in our lives, we have hope and peace, but also contentment and meaning; with God in our lives, we have a compass directing us in life, you see?
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~ ॐ ~ Sambodhi Padmasamadhi ~ ∞ ~
Get the Book: Awaken the Living Awareness Within – Discover the Keys to Happiness, Inner Peace & Harmony
~ ॐ ~ Sambodhi Padmasamadhi ~ ∞ ~
Get the Book: Awaken the Living Awareness Within – Discover the Keys to Happiness, Inner Peace & Harmony
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