The Seven Great Spiritual Questions – 4 of 7

4. What is the purpose of life?

This question is on a much larger scale than the question of why we are here. Life in general...all life...may or may not have a purpose. For this blogger, it has a purpose. I reason that the Universe, with Its precise, mathematical chaos, has a purpose. Is it a concious purpose? Perhaps. I am not so self-centered or anthrophilic as to believe that humans are the only ones with conciousness. That presupposes much about the nature of everything, though. So, being a person who likes to consider all sides of a question, I'll try to start with some simple concepts, break it down, make it complicated, and then answer it in the best blind fashion possible. :) After all, what we are, all of us, whether we are scientists, philosophers, or holy people, we are blind – stumbling in the dark to make sense of our world as we perceive it.

This is not to say that any of these perspectives lack value. In fact, science is invaluable to understanding how the Universe works. Perhaps, with an explanation of how, we can get closer to the why. Garrett Lisi's Theory of Everything, for example, may be promising enough to tie in how our Universe works...an overarching explanation to unite all the particles and forces of the cosmos. Still in its birth stages, this Theory may very well come to be known and accepted in the future. This would explain quite a bit. But would it explain why?

No, because that's not the job of science. Science explains how – and that's all – it does not explain why, and that's good – that's where philosophers and shamans come in, right? Certainly!

For me, knowing the Theory of Everything would help me understand the why in some way...knowing the “mind of God” in a manner of speaking. It's like looking at a piece of fine art – knowing how the artist painted it (materials, time spent) helps me understand the inspiration behind it. Looking at the creation helps me to understand the creator. That's just me...

Well, all this dancing around the question, circling the airport...and I still haven't gotten to the heart of the matter. What is the purpose of life?

In my short time on this earth (in this life, anyway), I keep coming back to the same answer. The purpose of life is to continue. That's all there is to it...the purpose of life is to BE – to EXPERIENCE it for the sake of itself. To live!

I recently encountered a delightful person on Twitter who has a website regarding life after death and his own near death experience. I highly encourage all of you to read his message. It really does help increase our understanding regarding life after death. http://www.dharma-talks.com/. It is an amazing account.

However, I don't wish to dwell too much on the afterlife...but, it's fascinating to know that life simply perpetuates. Life continues. Life IS.

Enjoy.

Namaste,

The Transpersonal Psychologist

Reference

Highfield, R. (2007). Surfer dude stuns physicists with theory of everything. Telegraph.co.uk. November 14, 2007. Retrieved from the Web August 14, 2009 from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/large-hadron-collider/3314456/Surfer-dude-stuns-physicists-with-theory-of-everything.html.