WHAT is the purpose of life?
2006-09-20 16:33:27 · 19 answers · asked by bigbrotherofmany 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I think the meaning of life differs from person to person. But, there is one constant, and that is self-actualization. I think everything else falls into this category. If we all strive to truly understand ourselves as individuals we can find our purpose for being here. For example, through learning, through the constant hunger for new information about all subjects, we find ourselves seeing the true essense of who we are. The reason we are who we are. The reason we do the things we do. I believe our purpose is to try to understand life. To look at all sides of every argument. Now, whether true self-actualization is possible, I don't know. I hopefully have many more years to explore the subject, but I can tell you this, I think you are on the right path. You are asking the big question, and actually putting a little more thought into life than what Brad and Angelina are doing. I wish everyone respected life and saw it as more than just a day to day thing, but for the big wonderful experience it is! Continue on your journey, because it is a beautiful one!
p.s. I am sorry if I am rambling, I am so tired tonight!
2006-09-20 18:41:57 · answer #1 · answered by Philosophy Buff 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The coming into this world by birth and the natural death at end of the life are not under your control. The child hood mostly passes as the best time for those who have atleast the basic things provided by parents. The youth you should try to live earning for the old age, continuing the creation by producing children. The old age one should guide, help people and know to bring peace and prosperity and show way to others. This is the purpose for any ordinary human being. For those of higher order they decide the purpose of their own and others also.
2006-09-20 17:24:19 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Fact 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As I have observed the earth there are certainties I can perceive. That that which created 'all' is big time on evolving. That even as we speak, process's of evolution still continue all around us. Even the Universe, is still expanding. We find that there are creatures that we cannot see with the naked eye living in our rugs. Micro organisms living within ourselves.
To quote Einstein, thought is energy, energy is matter, and matter cannot be destroyed...Only changed. Therefore our 'thought' is eternal.
Now we are at the heart of the matter. Everyone talks about physical evolution as THE form of evolution. But I say consciousness is evolving as well and that there are only two ways to evolve, through the physical or through the consciousness. All great philosphers and Prophets from all faiths have evolved higher states of consciousness, usually derived from a period of seclusion and meditation, self study.
I went to all this work to figure it out, and do you know what I found out? That these ancient concepts that go clear back to the pyramids. It has been passed down in the highest echelons for thousands of years. Know thyself. Study where your idiosynchrasies lay and correct your 'wrong thinking' as it occurs and you will have little 'awakenings' that become stronger as you keep applying yourself. Examine everything that you believe with 'new eyes' and eliminate the things that you have only 'repeated' without actually fereting out for yourself, or judgements that were 'hasty'. (For instance, racial prejudice. Religion. Politics. Choices.)
When you reach a certain state of being in a full state of awareness, a sense of transendence will occur and you will feel the connection between yourself and everything thing and one.
This isn't new stuff. This is a carefully studied course of events that is ancient and yet is not being presented to peoples because our sleeping states, just like the movie Matrix, make us easier to contain.
Did you know that Democritus, born at least 400 years bc, knew the nature of Atoms? How? These teachings were from the pyramids which all great philsophers of the time, studied. There is knowledge which is ancient and awareness is intermixed with these studies.
The purpose of life is to evolve our consciousness to it's highest levels. Then we will be 'ready'. For what I know not, but it must be something that inbues love for all those that have achieved it, the greatest prophets that have walked the earth, having achieved it felt, love for all.
2006-09-22 16:56:31 · answer #3 · answered by honorbright24 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was always taught that there was a meaning to you being here, it could be a little thing in life, that we don't understand. I bought a book called tuesdays with maury, which is the type of work i do, but my daughter bought me the next book by mitch, the five people you'll meet in heaven. I suggest anyone that doen't think, they made a difference in life read it. And you will think about the little things, even when you were young and brought that old neighbor flowers, that you stole out of the other neighbors yard, because she lost her husband. She is 84 now and still remembers me bringing her flowers. I am 45 now. Thats the purpose of life. Just being kind, and caring.
2006-09-20 16:57:53 · answer #4 · answered by tinamaries43 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is such a vital, basic question!!! I am not sure I can answer it but I can say that perhaps it is to recognize that there is a creator, this is why we humans can reason and other creatures cant. To worship Him and to live in accordance to the laws that He put in place in the physical and spiritual world. If we break those laws we hurt ourselves if we reacognize they exist and live accordingly (life a good life) then we will understand more deeply the purpose of our lives. I think it is an ansolvable question and one must ask this question many times during his/ her life to be able to find more and mmore answers.
2006-09-20 17:24:24 · answer #5 · answered by Incredula c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, let me say that I know philosophy does not use the Bible as reference. However, I do in my philosophy. I believe the purpose of life is a time to prepare for the next life which has no end. If we only have hope of this life "we are of all men most miserable". How we are to enjoy this life, help ours, and prepare for life after death in found in the Bible.
2006-09-20 16:57:23 · answer #6 · answered by Dan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The aim of human being is to be happy. So man tries to find happiness in the external world by various means of enjoyment ,entertainments and other forms of actions in which he gets at least some happiness. But all these happiness are ephemeral or temporary. The effect wears of immediately.The purpose of man's life is to find the permanent never ending happiness.
2006-09-20 17:03:41 · answer #7 · answered by Brahmanda 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no unifying purpose in life. Once I realized and accepted that, I felt a lot more at ease about myself and my life. And I think you will too.
2006-09-20 20:18:22 · answer #8 · answered by Subconsciousless 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To serve God .
to have pure thoughts.
To love all things God made over man made .
To choose Good over Evil.
If you are not meeting the devil head on every day then you must be going in the same direction .
the purpose is who will win the tug of war .
2006-09-20 16:56:16 · answer #9 · answered by Elaine814 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the purpose of life is to prepare your soul for what comes next. the same way the "life" in the womb prepares you for your life in the world. i hope you're gathering up all the experience and knowledge you can!
2006-09-20 19:00:31 · answer #10 · answered by Zu 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋