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The Purpose of Life?
by Swami Nityamuktananda
We have all asked ourselves at one time or another: Why am I alive? What is the purpose of my life? In a way, one could say, that the more sophisticated man becomes, the more stupid the questions he asks.
It has something to do with our cultures emphasis on the left/rational brain, which often gets dangerously isolated, making us into “one-dimensional man”. Getting proudly stuck in our rational mind, we then ask these questions…beginning with “why?” Asking “why”, means that we assume there is a “reason”, a purpose behind the questioned object/issue. It reveals our underlying concept of assuming that the world can be fathomed by a “reasonable” human brain. The word reason (from Latin ration)…relates to thinking in a manner of stating a fact (real or assumed) in order to defend an argument!
So when we ask, why are we alive, or what is our purpose? We assume there is a purpose for which a reason can be established and argued about! We assume there is an answer…to our questions, and that answer corresponds to “our logic!” We expect answers to such questions as: Why am I alive? Or: What is my purpose?
Richard Dawkins aptly says:
'We humans have purpose on the brain. We find it hard to look at anything without wondering what it is 'for'… The desire to see purpose everywhere is a natural one in an animal that lives surrounded by machines, works of art, tools and other designed artefacts; an animal moreover, whose waking thought is dominated by the personal goals. A car, a tin opener, a screwdriver and a pitcher, all legitimately warrant the 'what is it for' question…..The illusion of purpose is so powerful… homo sapiens is a deeply purpose-ridden species.' (God’s Utility Function (Orion Books; 1995)
It is, as though we imagine we have been given a purpose by our designer just like a tin opener has been designed for a purpose - yet we have forgotten ours.
Why do we keep asking? Because we want to be assured that what is happening is appropriate, is right - right for what?
We don't trust ourselves, we need to hear confirmation that we are right because we have forgotten who we truly are; and what part we play in the universe….which, so we assume, would give us a clue to what is the path that fulfils our destiny, our potential? Fulfilling it makes us stand out, proud …to be achievers! Great tonic for the EGO!
We need outside confirmation; we need a reason! (“a thought, that defends our own inner “arguments and opinions”.) Where do these arguments happen…within our own mind!
Meaning: Even if we find a purpose, it is subjective to our own mind!
Understanding this, the question naturally becomes much wider…a more open question, as to what is the purpose of life, itself. Unable to fathom that, we turn to the question…not What, or Why? But of HOW?
How do I fit in, how can I live in such a way that I fulfil my potential? We might even ask:
what is my duty…towards life! “Hold it”…my duty towards life….?
We are used to ask, what does life, what do people, owe me? But, we don’t like to hear of our duty. Duty towards whom or what?
Yoga and much of philosophy would say: as human beings, our duty is simply to become fully human? What does that mean? What am I, when “I am fully human”?
We know who we are: a mother daughter, secretary, friend, consumer, rebel etc.etc. But these are mere labels, of roles…just as the bottle opener fulfils the role or purpose of opening bottles.
Who are you despite the time and situation bound roles?
What is your essence; your potential as a human being?
This lifts the question out of the frame of time and space; it’s not talking about the past or the future; …but talks of our potential irrespectively of learning or experience (all of which are conditionings in the past).
“Being truly Human?” What can it mean?
In one way we are animal; an animal needs food, shelter, reproduces etc. – and yes we are human animals. What makes us special though is that part of our mind, which becomes aware of itself!
From this point we can be aware …of ourselves within the context of the world/universe
So to become fully human, then means to realise the potential of a greater knowing of life beyond the animalistic tendencies, beyond our individual interests; beyond our personality/self/ego.
It means to give up our self-obsessed concern for the small “I” and see the bigger picture…
We don’t expect a flower/ or a planet to ask, what’ is “my purpose” . It simply is as one aspect of the universe, in harmony with the universe; One “small I”…fitting into the larger scheme of unlimited existence. But we refuse to see ourselves in that way.
The ancient Wise Ones talked about themselves, as though they were one cell in the body of the cosmic “person”; comparing individual existence to one blood-cell fulfilling its task, within one large, cosmic universal body!
The small “I” has a place (but is not the be all and end all) within the cosmic “I”; yet there is something greater than the animalistic human, within the greater existence beyond our ken.
There is divine life/ existence within a Divine Universe! (“Divine” meaning beyond human)
So the “purpose of our life”, has little to do with the brilliant, argumentative inventions of our mind (reasons), but with being aware of the purpose of life as expressed in humans itself.
For that we have to go beyond the mechanical orientation of our logical mind; break out of the limitations of our perceptions that are bound to a mechanical universe, which is literally archaic.
The time where we can think of the universe as a machine, and humans as part of this is long past.
Yes, Shakespeare said: we are 'merely players' but today we know, in tune with science - as ancient wise ones have known all along, that we are also :
the script writer, the script , the audience and….. we have also existence 'off-stage' .
“Who am I “…is the age-old question after that, which we are “off stage”, not performing?
Who are we when we are our true selves?
The secret of that can only be revealed in the space of our own inner wisdom. Only there lies the answer of total truth, total honesty. We have to dare to look at our own mask, our 'persona.'
Is it possible to be aware of that true 'Me', hidden by the mask?
Once we have seen our true face even if it is for one second, we will never forget who we are and what our true potential is.
Once we become aware of our true nature, then there can be no more question of living to fulfil a technical purpose, but the issue is how simply to live “in this world, but not of this world.”
Have you ever watched a real gardener; one that is at one with the task in hand? He pulls the rake with honesty and directness; straight, strong pulls. It’s moving meditation. No fancy playing, no unnecessarily rests, no looking for distractions, just him and the rake and the ground, total, clear unadulterated union of being and action.
As our lives get more complex, this simple direct union is not so easy; we think we have much to lose with our fancy interactions, pretend reasons, avoidance tactics etc. Many demands are made upon us and the more we have to accommodate, the more we have to bend this way and that to accommodate it all. And so we lose sight of our own worth, and our own nature…
We need to be reminded; that is one reason for sacred scriptures. Toward the end of the great Indian story, the Mahabharata, Bishma, the ageing king, describes the noble life, the life of virtue:
…be truthful and above reproach, self-restrained, humble and righteous.
…he should surround himself with men who share his noble qualities.
…Malice should have no place in his heart… Self-restrained is sacred.
Its fruit are nobility, calmness, contentment, faith, forgiveness, simplicity, humility, reverence for superiors, benevolence, compassion for all creatures, frankness…
Living out a noble life, is that fulfilling our potential? Is that fulfilling the purpose of our life? Could it all be so simple? What does it mean, living a noble life? It is being consistently truthful and honest; is seeing to issues as they arise promptly and appropriately; is giving the right quality time to those who need it. It is allowing ourselves time for our own spiritual practices and rest; is tending to the needs of our bodies with food and sleep in the best way possible.
We exist, that’s a fact, doing it well, is fulfilling our existence; not our purpose!
Existence- Sat (Sanskrit) is a given; to exist with consciousness, with awareness is Chit (Sanskrit)! Such life is guided by a longing and working towards the highest realisation of our small self, within the cosmic Self! The Chinese call it ‘Te’. The highest potential of each being is revealed in the written Character of 'Te.' This symbol has three parts: the first one means as much as: flawless, perfect, without deviation, the second is the symbol for the human heart, and the third is a symbol for walking. Thus 'Te' becomes a symbol for the answer to the question of our purpose, our raison d'être.
Flawlessly and perfectly walking towards self-realisation!
Then it does not matter whether we are a writer, shoemaker, mother, or husband. It is irrelevant whether we are a teacher, a poet, a president , a nurse or a Guru; it is not the roles that are important, it is not the achievements we gain which is our purpose, but the awareness off who we are, and how we are; both rest on the realisation: that we are …..SAT….Chit. Both of these address our existence within the universe without our self-important Ego-fixation.
A short while ago, in a friends house, I picked up a book, about the Universe.
It had marvellous pictures of our earth, galaxy and even the known universe. It’s amazing to look into the magnitude of the universe as it exists; and it drives home the marvel and wonder of existence.
Then I talked to an other friend recently about how one mother, one couple, exists in time and space linked in existence in time and space to all previous and all future generation. Each individual being a link in a chain of humanity…no more, no less.
Looking at the magnitude of things, the individual is no different from the one-day-fly, that we pity for its short life….The marvel lies not in the purpose; not the “why” nor in the “what”….
but that we are!!!!! ….and moreover that we have the capacity to be aware, that we are!
How absolutely wonderful! We are one extremely amazing part of this fantastic creation!
To realise that, is divine bliss, is Ananda.
This realize this inherent “perfection” makes us truly human…and it makes us truly divine?
How? The key lies in understanding the universe as it is!
When I looked at my friend’s book about the universe, it struck me that there is such similarity between us, our bodies and its functioning and the entire universe. Planets rise and fall, just as breath rises and falls, just as thoughts rise and fall!
Yes, and it is amazing to watch how this globe we call Earth (the ancient called it Gaia) is breathing; the layer of atmosphere expanding and contracting with spring and autumn; in-breath and out-breath.
Furthermore: Planets have their origin in light, in pure energy and unfold from there into a multitude of forms, just as a seed is born through sunlight and unfolds to “the most wonderful camellia tree!”
And yet the time comes where both collapse into what we see as darkness… or decay. But that in itself is light (even from a scientific angle) … from which something else comes forth…a permanent pulse of creation and dissolution. There is not even the question of why…planets arise… only of how! There is no question of purpose… only wonderment of existence.
Let’s get out of limiting ourselves to thinking about our existence as technicians; and the universe of a clock-maker, where a cog has a purpose in the machine of time.
Let’s see clearly, that we simply exist in a wondrous web of connections within the entire universe.
That is the greatest wonder! To live this existence, with simplicity, awareness and integrity; from a point of truthfulness and in harmony with all – that is joy! No matter what the circumstances!
To live this existence, to be alive, that is the miracle….!
However our original question needs contemplating from yet another aspect. The “Purpose of life”? What do we mean by life? …..Or even by “my life ?”
It’s worth looking at this… it leads us to amazing shores! We know that the beetle on the carpet is alive, because it moves…. “Life” is that which changes all the time. We consider something alive, because it moves, it changes.
Yet, a cliff changes into sand…in time; yet we do not consider a cliff to be alive?
When we watch a fire burn in the fire place…the fuel changes very quickly…we don’t call it alive.
In science this became a key question of modern times; inquiry was literally set of by contemplating fire in a fireplace:
A fire in the fire place burns…it changes fuel fast into energy…. But… we don’t get tanned!
When the sun shines, it burns changing fuel into energy…. and we do get a suntan.
The difference between one fire and the other, and the enormous differences in their effects (one actually producing life) is the speed in which change happens. The very speed of change of transformation in the sun causes the vibration (and hence the frequency) which makes all the difference.
It seems, its not just change which is the sign of life, but the speed of changing; i.e. its frequency. Life is change at such enormous speed and complexity, that we are not equipped to see the multitude of changes, the “steps”. We see just a whole group or better ‘flow of changes’ and call it alive.
- We get a taster of what is meant here by looking at a slow motion film of a flower unfolding.
- A slow motion film of water (or even a ball) cascading down some stairs…is another way of understanding the principle.
Lots of changes, in quick succession appear as flow, in many dimensions it appears as “being alive!”
Anything in the universe changes constantly on so many levels., in so many dimensions, in such enormous complexity….that we can’t,… we are not equipped to, compute such masses of data, the quantum (Latin for mass) of info is simply too vast!
Looking closely we would see: …..there is one thing (A)…. which changes….then there is A1.
Slowing down the film, we can see the form of A…. we can see the state of A1…but we can’t perceive what/how the “change-over” happens. This change-over in quantum theory is called non-locality. What ever is changing is neither “here nor there….!”
This “In- between stage” though, is crucial, as it determines the form of the future …i.e. “A1”.
It holds all the potential, all creativity, all options.
This stage “In-between” is what holds the mystery of life. This Quantum jump, this pause that holds all potential….is what the ancient called Shiva! (The ascetic that holds all potential expression within).
From that moment “In-between” all is possible, somehow a decision is made – not top simply repeat A but results in A1. This decision is made with intelligence, with consciousness, no chaos results!
A1 follows A; from the point of Mystics, that creative power is Shiva; He is consciousness itself.
From the point of science the question comes: can there be Intelligence per se? That is the Mystery!
But let’s go back to “the simple stuff”.
So life can be observed /described as “being- billions- of- constant- changes”…it means that there is not this body, this plant or bird…they are just millions of manifestations of phenomena in ever-changing patterns. Life itself then is the power “in-between” that propels the changes; there is intelligence that initiates this constant massive change.
We experience this in meditation when we observe breath or thoughts rising and falling ; there is the “in –between” of the unknown potential; we call it “still-ness”; science calls it: “non-locality” or “discontinuity”; …. the state “in between.”
Access to the understanding of what life is hides neither in matter, nor in thoughts….. but in “the Space in between these”. Asking, “what is the purpose of Life” then is really asking “what is the purpose, of the Space in between”. It is interesting to listen to Quantum theory, it says:
The “in-between” provides the coherence; the coherence amongst frequencies!
When there is no more coherence, there is no more life experienced; a jump follows into a different set of coherence. All objects are energy, energy vibrates in certain frequencies in coherence or harmony together…sounds a bit like resonance in music!
It means, we see an object - as an object , - as long as that bundle of frequencies is coherently vibrating together. A tree is alive as long as its energy is coherently vibrating at a certain frequency…..and so is the dog and so am I and You.
One coherence frequency for the tree, one for the forest; one for the forest, one for the county, one for the world, one for the universe. Coherency patterns than are the glue of the universe? The glue of existence? Vibrating coherence between all that exist means: there is only ONE LIFE!
Not my life or your life, but life!
Back to our question: What is the purpose of life?
If there is only ONE LIFE…it cannot have a Purpose! Nothing is there outside itself…which it can serve as a purpose for! …
There is only Life being, no subject-object split! Wow, the snake bites itself in its own tail… as so many ancient cultures show it!
It is only due to our limited equipment of perception, that we see many different objects (frequency bundles) but not the coherence factor “in between”. Meaning the world and the universe can have no purpose; its always connected, always inter-dependent; nothing exists separately! Not even “Me”.
This great cosmic One-ness…is beyond our ken; the phenomena we see and experience are never separate- but connected through “intelligent- space- in-between “ which we can only describe as silence; a still-point filled with consciousness which holds within itself the potential for the next manifestation of the eternal intelligence.
T.S. Elliot: recognises that still point in his poem: “Except for the point , the still point, There would be no dance, and there is only dance!”
This mysterious “Still-point” is the enigma of our world; troubling scientists and enjoyed by Mystics.
Both call this point consciousness…because here choices are made …“with knowledge”
“Con… science”. That’s all! Making consciousness into the driving force of the universe and our life.
How can we live in a world that has no purpose?
How can we live our lives…without purpose?
By living life “from the still-point “with-knowledge”; recognising our interdependence, vibrating in coherence, in harmony with all others. Isn’t that what all the great religions advocate?
“For the good of all”/ flowing with the Tao; merging into the emptiness; surrendering the Ego to the cosmic “I”; recognising the self in Fullness of All etc. etc.
Why do we look so serious when we contemplate not having a purpose?
Celebrate!!! Be glad that there is no purpose; because it makes you free; a great weight can lift of your shoulders. You are free; you exist only, to realise your original nature and enjoy the miracle of life! Enjoy the miracle of being alive aware of the many forms of the One existence.
Existence, Consciousness, Joy (Sat-Chit-Ananda) - that is the fibre of the universe; that is the nature of your life. Existence you know, now be aware of how. Cultivate awareness within yourself and awareness of your surrounding; awareness of the earth, the universe even and then live in harmony with that; loosing your small self within Existence, Consciousness, Joy!
Ohm Tat Sat
