What is the meaning of life?

Question

Anybody out there feel as if they are spending all of the present preparing for tomorrow and never actually experiencing today?

Answer 1

i do not live in either today or tomorrow. not even yesterday for that fact of matter. i am to consumed with my mental issues, my addictions & worsed of all, my drive to work myself to the bone. i do not spend any of my time nearly as wisely as i sould...

Answer 2

To answer the question in your title: There are 2 answers, neither of which can be proven correct or incorrect.

The first answer is, quite simply, sex and/or getting as much happiness out of life before you die. We're born, we grow, we mature, we (usually) become a functioning member of society, and then we attempt to find a mate. Well, most people try to find a mate.

No matter which way you look at it, (straight, gay, abstinent, whatever) there is and always will be the instinct to procreate. The simplest way to go about achieving this goal is to have sex. Society and culture in general require you to maneuver and manipulate your environment to do so. Think about everything you are doing in your life right now... It is directly related to finding a mate or achieving some form of happiness, isn't it? (Sometimes the two are one and the same.) People that live without any goals or desires whatsoever commit suicide. I'm not saying that everyone that off's themselves truly has nothing to live for, but everyone that truly has nothing to live for will attempt (usually with success) to kill themselves. Basically, they were unable to find any meaning in life. That's the scientific/atheist standpoint.

The other answer is almost completely undefinable. Many religions put forth that life exists because of a single all-knowing and all-powerful being. If this is the case, then there is no real meaning to life. Our lives are already on a set path that will take us to our destiny whether we care or not. The Norse embraced that philosophy, believing that each life's path is predetermined and that each day should be treated as the last. (Think 'college', but with more drinking and pillaging... and very little intellectual pursuit. For some, that still describes college.) They still believed there was meaning in life, they just considered it more of a 'roller coaster' than anything else. In the religious context, you could also say that our reason for existence is to serve [insert deity] in any way possible. It really depends on your own perspective.

I guess you could say that the real meaning of life is your own.

Answer 3

The only purpose in life is to die. Death is inevitable and unavoidable, the only constant in everyone's existence. And besides this, there is no definite purpose to life.
A human being's existence precedes and is more fundamental than any meaning which may be ascribed to their lives. Humans define their own reality, as Sartre (along with many others ie Heidegger) has said, human beings are "thrown" (thrownness) into existence without having chosen it. If man is indefinable, it is because at first he is nothing. Only afterward will he be something, and he himself will have made what he will be.
Embrace your existence, life your lifedon't try and find a meaning or reason for it. People will often create definitions of themselves for validation. Most people can't accept the fact that they are simply here without an underlying reason or cause, that there is no purpose, indeed nothing, at its core. Finding a way to counter this nothingness, by embracing existence, is what you must do. Life is a constant work in progress, and will simply end often without you reaching the finish line.
The world is fundamentally random and irrational, and trying to create structure in it is useless.

Answer 4

In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday. We spend our whole lifes thinking about the future and never living in the moment. Sometimes I wonder what it will be like to suddenly find out I have cancer, then what? I probably still worry about tomorrow. I wish I can do that, not worry about tomorrow. I might never.

Answer 5

Some questions even humans cannot answer.

I remember a quote somewhere, "You should not spend your life worrying about death." You should not spend today worrying about tomorrow either.

I know I am experiancing everything one day at a time.

Answer 6

there is no actual "meaning of life".
its just survive through it.
i am preparing for tomorrow and at the same time experiancing today and just loving life

Answer 7

Actually we need to prepare for our next existance or we will never get out of this place. what do I mean? Well for example We need to realize that we are not this material body, IE; Race, color, nationality, Religion, mind, intellect, senses, job, etc. We are all eternal spirit souls, part and parcel of the Supreme Soul, also known as Krishna, Allah, Jehovah, Vishnu, etc. We never die, only this mortal body dies. This material world is not our real home, it is called Maya (illusion) and is temporary and full of misery, only one fourth of the souls come here, and the rest are enjoying blissful eternal loving relationships with our Maker named above. We fell here due to envying Gods position. He made the material world for those who want to try to live separately from Him (Which is impossible because He is actually everywhere). After many lifetimes of trying to be happy in this temporary world one becomes frustrated and board and begins to question their existence. We then seek out real happiness, and when one becomes sincere God reveals how to come back Home. Those who are intelligent, take up the process of self realization (Bhakti Yoga) which begins with the chanting of the Maha Mantra (the great mantra for deliverance from all suffering and illusion), which gives one real peace, happiness and reality. Then at the end of life they can give up all material attachments and fully surrender to God and return to the eternal Kingdom, where there is no more birth, death, old age, or disease and be eternally happy. If we dont' prepare we are destened to do it all over again and again. I am glad I know how to prepare. We need not wast time on economic development, sense gratification. For info go to harekrishnatemple.com read The Science of Self Realization by Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada.

Answer 8

Helluva question to ask of any teacher preparing lesson plans.

Answer 9

It's 42!!! Congratulations, you've finally found the meaning of life!

Answer 10

I would love to spend everyday like it was my last.... only reality hits and I remember I got a mortgage to pay.