First of all I think there is no meaning to human existence. I don't believe in a divine plan for our being alive. If we were to have some purpose for our lives it would be well defined, we would have figured it out by now. During the readings for class there was a part explaining that whether we die rich and powerful, or penniless and friendless there is no difference. If we were created for a point then I feel as though there would be some sign of it. But many of us just devote our lives to enjoyment and living for pleasure as the Hindus believe.
Religion in many ways solves people's problems with the unknown. People want answers to life's questions so they turn to believe in a greater being as to put their trust in. I don't understand how you would give up your own search for answers and instead just believe that it will all work out because someone else is in control. Don't confuse that I think we are able to understand everything about the world around us, yet I think we won't learn more if we stop looking. It is human nature to follow a leader, those who lack leadership or believe in another's ideas more then their own are destined to follow. Children are brought up learning to follow rules and standard imprinted upon them, in this way they also follow in their spiritual ideals. Its widely known that its easier to follow then lead, this is why we praise leadership in our society. But more we should praise those with new ideas and force others to think about their basis of ideas.
If there is a meaning to life then it seems as though we aren't suppose to know it. many think there needs to be a meaning to their life before they die to feel as though they have done something. In the end it won't matter. Yes you can impact people still alive and make life easier or better for them but does that really matter for your own benefit. Maybe our purpose is to work together as to constantly better our situation and quality of life. This is what most people try to accomplish everyday, at work or at home. Therefore people should focus less on their own purpose and look towards the whole human race. How we can help each other to be a success as a whole, to make everyone's life meaningful to someone?
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According to one of your findings in one of the readings, "whether we die rich and powerful, or penniless and friendless there is no difference." Can you agree with this? Do you think for example there is no difference to dying friendless as opposed to dying with friends around you? Or how about someone supporting a friend through cancer or some other deadly illness from which there was no recovery. What kind of statement is, "there's no difference to dying friendless" here? It seems to me that meaning in life is found in precisely these moments, when life is at its most profound; when a person yells out to the heavens, 'why me?' This reminds me of "The Death of Ivan Illych," by Tolstoy. Ivan contemplates (and I'm paraphrasing), 'all men are mortal, Socrates is a man, therefore Socrates is mortal. But he asks what does this have to do with him. He's Ivan Illych. His reflection has to do with the human condition where death is the final stop. But he says, 'but not me; I'm Ivan Illych. I'm not Socrates, I can't go.' The question is, however, why not him? He looks back at his life and he wonders at its meaning. It's only at the very end of his life on his deathbed, with his wife and kids around him, that he understands.
Of course I'm not saying that there must be a meaning to life or purpose. There are plenty of examples that show that there is no meaning. What I'm saying is that here is an example of a possible way to see life as having meaning or purpose. Of course, it's not a very cheerful one; but then again, much of life isn't very cheerful either.
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